Cookies are not typically considered part of a healthy diet for your baby. Commercially packaged cookies are often high in sugar and fat and provide little nutrition for your little one. Preparing your own cookies at home allows you choose nutritious ingredients that benefit the growth and development of you baby by providing important nutrients. Each of these recipes makes between two and three dozen cookies.
Crunchy Cereal Coated Banana Cookies
Many cookies that have fruit in them or in the name do not actually include real fruit, but use fruit flavoring instead. Using whole fruits to make a cookie allows you to include important nutrients in your baby's treat. Bananas supply fiber and potassium. Mash three or four ripe bananas in a bowl with 1 cup of oatmeal and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Add more oatmeal until the cookies are thick enough to roll into small balls. Roll in crushed whole grain cereal and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Cranberry Biscotti
Dried fruit is a nutritious addition to cookies because it supplies your baby with a small amount of vitamin C and fiber. Peter J. D'Adamo and Catherine Whitney note in their book, "Cook Right 4 Your Type," that biscotti makes a good teething biscuit for your baby. Combine 1/2-cup sugar or sugar substitute with 1/2-cup brown sugar. Add 1/4-cup unsweetened applesauce and stir to combine. Add 3 eggs and stir well. In another bowl, combine 3 cups flour, 3 tsp. baking powder and 1 cup finely chopped dried cranberries. Add dry ingredients to applesauce mixture and stir to combine. Divide the dough into fourths and flatten into rectangles 1/2-inch thick. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool and slice into smaller rectangles. Bake for five to eight more minutes until slightly crunchy.
Gingerbread Raisin Boys And Girls
Babies enjoy playing with their food, and rolling gingerbread dough and cutting with cookie cutters can be an entertaining way to involve your little one in the cookie preparation process, note Carol Fallows and Karen Kingham in their book, "Baby and Toddler Food." Including raisins in this recipe will lend some natural sweetness and will supply fiber and potassium as well. Beat 1/2 cup brown sugar with 1/2-cup reduced fat butter or unsweetened applesauce. Add 1/3 cup reduced sugar maple syrup and 1 egg. Beat well. Stir in 2 cups whole wheat flour and 1/2-cup self-rising flour. Add 1 to 2 tbsp. of ginger, 1 tsp. baking soda and 1/2 cup finely chopped unsweetened raisins. Mix well. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Roll out on a floured surface and cut with boy and girl shaped cookie cutters. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes.
Cereal And Dark Chocolate Clusters
Allowing your baby a small amount of dark chocolate can be an occasional treat. Dark chocolate offers your baby the advantage of antioxidants and flavonoids, which are not present in milk and white chocolates. Place 3 cups of whole grain cereal in a large bowl, which adds fiber to the cookies. Use two or three varieties to enhance the flavor. Crush slightly to reduce the risk of choking, and sprinkle with cinnamon. Melt 1 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks in your microwave until runny. Pour over cereal and stir to coat. Add more melted chocolate 1/4 cup at a time until all of the cereal is well-coated. Use a tablespoon to shape the cookies and place on a plate. Refrigerate until firm.
References
- "Cook Right 4 Your Type"; Peter J. D'Adamo and Catherine Whitney; 2000
- "Baby and Toddler Food"; Carol Fallows and Karen Kingham; 2005
