Oat fingers

These easy oat fingers require just three allergy-friendly ingredients. Plus, you can add all sorts of nutritious extras, such as sweet potato, apricot and apples!

This year’s Allergy Awareness Week theme (20^th – 26^th April 2020) is childhood food allergies, with a focus on the weaning journey for parents of babies growing up with allergies.

To mark Allergy Awareness Week and support parents, AVEENO® Baby challenged me to create a nutritious recipe that's free-from allergens, uses cupboard staples, and that's perfect to cook both with and for little ones. We're all at home at the moment, so baking is a simple, fun activity to keep everyone happy and entertained.

My simple recipe contains just gluten-free oats, oat milk and bananas, so it's easy to put together and great for little hands to hold on to, plus toddlers can help add their own extra flavours to keep the baking fun going even longer.

In the UK, the 14 major allergens are named as:

• celery
• cereals containing gluten – including wheat, rye, barley and oats (unless labelled gluten-free)
• crustaceans – such as prawns, crabs and lobsters
• eggs
• fish
• lupin - a legume belonging to the same plant family as peanuts
• milk - from animals, rather than plant "milks"
• molluscs – such as mussels and oysters
• mustard
• tree nuts – including almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios and macadamia nuts
• peanuts
• sesame seeds
• soybeans
• sulphur dioxide and sulphites - if they are at a concentration of more than ten parts per million

Our son had a cow's milk protein allergy when he was small, so I know all too well the challenges of feeding a baby with allergies, and I know from my work with parents today that it can be a tricky and sometimes worrying time.

AVEENO® Baby believes ingredients play an important role in baby comfort and happiness, whether it be what fills up their tummy or what they put on their skin.

Oats are a core super-ingredient in the whole AVEENO® Baby range. Oats have stood the test of time, not only as a nutrient, but also externally, as an ingredient known to soothe skin prone to dryness and irritation by helping protect and restore the skin’s natural barrier.

The AVEENO® Baby Dermexa range has been clinically proven to help reduce flare-ups of very dry, itchy skin. The products which moisturise and soothe contain oats and ceramides which are known to help protect the natural skin barrier against external factors and drying, and are also suitable for little ones who may be prone to eczema.

The range consists of:

• AVEENO® Baby Dermexa Good Night Emollient Wash, formulated to gently cleanse skin without damaging the skin barrier.
• AVEENO® Baby Dermexa Daily Emollient Cream, clinically proven to moisturise and soothe skin.
• AVEENO® Baby Dermexa Good Night Emollient Balm, which intensely moisturises and soothes dry skin all through the night reducing itchy sensations, so your little one can sleep well.

AVEENO® products are an incredible source of soothing for my own children's dry skin and eczema-prone skin. I, too, use the AVEENO® Dermexa range as I find the range's emollient properties invaluable in helping protect my natural skin barrier. 

Oats are definitely a winner for our skin, and here's how to make oats for our tummies!

Important note: Always give food at an appropriate size and shape for your baby or child. Cut small, round foods, like grapes and cherry tomatoes, into small pieces. Always keep babies supported upright while eating and supervise your baby when they're eating in case they start to choke. The NHS has some excellent advice on feeding babies. Always consult your health professional if you have any concerns.

How to make oat fingers

Instructions

Basic oat fingers

Preheat the oven to 200C (180C fan).

Put the bananas in a bowl.

Add the oat milk.

Blitz with a hand blender.

Add the vanilla and stir through.

Add the oats.

Stir through and leave for 5 minutes to thicken.

Tip onto a tray lined with baking paper.

Spread, aiming for the mixture to be about 1cm thick.

Bake for about 8-10 minutes. Don’t over cook them or they’ll go rubbery when cool.

Allow them to cool, then peel free from the baking paper and cut into slices.

Enjoy!

Ways to flavour your oat fingers

The great thing about this recipe is that it's easy to add little additions to your oat fingers to make them even tastier.

Here are some ideas to try - the recipe is identical apart from the simple additions, shown in bold. All the ingredient quantities are in the recipe card below.

Apple and cinnamon oat fingers

• Preheat the oven to 200C (180C fan).
• Put the bananas in a bowl. Add the milk.
• Blitz with a hand blender.
• Add the vanilla and stir through.
• Stir in the grated apple and cinnamon.
• Add the oats and stir through. Leave for 5 minutes to thicken.
• Spread onto a tray lined with baking paper. Aim for the mixture to be about 1cm thick.
• Bake for about 8-10 minutes. Don’t over cook them or they’ll go rubbery when cool.
• Allow them to cool, then peel free from the baking paper and cut into slices.

Sweet potato oat fingers

• Preheat the oven to 200C (180C fan).
• Put the bananas in a bowl. Add the milk.
• Blitz with a hand blender.
• Add the vanilla and stir through.
• Stir in the grated sweet potato.
• Add the oats and stir through. Leave for 5 minutes to thicken.
• Spread onto a tray lined with baking paper. Aim for the mixture to be about 1cm thick.
• Bake for about 8-10 minutes. Don’t over cook them or they’ll go rubbery when cool.
• Allow them to cool, then peel free from the baking paper and cut into slices.

Apricot oat fingers

• Preheat the oven to 200C (180C fan).
• Put the bananas in a bowl. Add the milk.
• Blitz with a hand blender.
• Add the vanilla and stir through.
• Stir in the chopped apricot.
• Add the oats and stir through. Leave for 5 minutes to thicken.
• Spread onto a tray lined with baking paper. Aim for the mixture to be about 1cm thick.
• Bake for about 8-10 minutes. Don’t over cook them or they’ll go rubbery when cool.
• Allow them to cool, then peel free from the baking paper and cut into slices.

Blackberry oat fingers

• Preheat the oven to 200C (180C fan).
• Put the bananas in a bowl. Add the milk.
• Blitz with a hand blender.
• Add the vanilla and stir through.
• Put the blackberries in a sieve over the bowl and press with the back of a spoon. Keep pressing until as much juice as possible is released into the bowl. Stir through. (You can discard the blackberry pulp, or add it to your own morning porridge).
• Add the oats and stir through. Leave for 5 minutes to thicken.
• Spread onto a tray lined with baking paper. Aim for the mixture to be about 1cm thick.
• Bake for about 8-10 minutes. Don’t over cook them or they’ll go rubbery when cool.
• Allow them to cool, then peel free from the baking paper and cut into slices.

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect oat fingers

Are oat fingers easy to make?

These oat fingers are very easy to make! There's only four ingredients, and it takes just a few minutes prep before you're ready to put them in the oven

If you decide to add other ingredients to the recipe - which is very much encouraged - be mindful not to add too much of any one thing, especially if it's something very wet, as it will make the fingers less likely to hold their shape

Have a browse among the suggested additions in the main article to get a feel for the quantities you should use.

Will I need any special equipment for oat fingers?

No equipment that you shouldn't be able to find in the average kitchen is needed to make these oat fingers. A stick blender is very useful when it comes to mixing the milk and bananas together, but mashing them with a fork and then giving them a thorough beating with a hand or electric whisk works well too.

Where can I buy oat milk?

Oat milk is available in all major supermarkets in the UK, and increasingly in many smaller local shops too. You will likely find i  somewhere near the dairy section or the “free-from” aisle. May brands of oat milk are shelf-stable before being opened, so it may be on a shelf rather than in the chilled second.

If you're having trouble finding oat milk but have access to a liquidiser or food processor you can also make oat milk using nothing more than... porridge oats! The process takes a few hours from start to finish, but is overall very easy to do. It's also a very, very cheap way of making oat milk which might be a consideration if you go through a lot of it. Have a search online for a recipe that works for you - they are all very similar.

How can I tell if oat milk has gone off?

Assuming the oat milk has been stored in the fridge, the first thing to do is to pour the oat milk into a glass if you're not sure it's still good. Check that the consistency hasn't changed and that the colour hasn't altered - if it has and become thicker or is off-colour then there's a good chance it's gone bad.

If the colour and consistency seem ok then give it a smell. Unsurprisingly, fresh oat milk smells almost exclusively like oats, with maybe a hint of sweetness. If they smell like anything else, or it just smells plain odd then it's best to not use it.

Lastly, if you're still not sure, you can take a small sip and see what it tastes like. If you don't notice anything particular about the taste you should be good to use it.

Do remember that while many shop bought oat milks will be shelf stable at room temperature once opened oat milk should always be stored in the fridge.

Are oat fingers suitable for vegetarians? Are oat fingers suitable for vegans?

As the fingers contain absolutely no animal products of any kind they are suitable for both vegetarians and vegans.

Are oat fingers gluten-free?

These fingers are totally gluten-free - in fact, they’re also suitable for anyone avoiding any of 14 major allergens named in the UK, which includes cereals containing gluten.

It's best to talk to anyone with a gluten issue who will be eating the oat fingers, especially if you have any concerns about their restrictions. In the UK to be allowed to be labelled 'gluten-free' a product must have less than 20 parts per million of gluten, but it's likely that some people can have an adverse reaction to gluten found in smaller amounts.

As always, it's best to check the ingredients you're using to be sure, as not all brands offer the same guarantee of 20ppm or under and thus are no gluten-free. For instance, some porridge oats can't guarantee they are gluten-free due to the crop rotation system used by the farmers or simply being produced in a factory where cross contamination could occur.

Are oat fingers keto-friendly?

While oats are packed with health benefits they are also high in carbohydrates, making this particular recipe unsuitable for a keto friendly diet.. unless you were to just have a couple of nibbles rather than a full bar

Are oat fingers healthy?

These oat fingers are filled with all the health benefits of fruit and oats, and all the extra ingredients/additions suggested such as apples or sweet potatoes are also nutritionally dense. While oats do contain a relatively high amount of carbohydrates these oat fingers can be happily worked into a healthy lifestyle multiple times a week.

Are oat fingers safe to eat while pregnant?

There's nothing in this recipe that will pose a risk to pregnant people as long as the oat fingers have been hygienically prepared and the ingredients are in good a condition.

A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice, please speak to a health professional if you have any concerns or questions.

Is it suitable for babies and toddlers?

If your child is over six months old and happy eating solid foods then these oat fingers will  make a tasty treat.

Always make sure to give your baby or child food in an appropriate size and shape, so make sure to cut up or break off the oat fingers into manageable sizes

Always keep young children supported upright while eating and supervise your baby when they’re eating in case they start to choke.

The NHS has some excellent advice on feeding babies.

A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice, please speak to a health professional if you have any concerns or questions.

What goes well with oat fingers?

I find that these oat fingers are very tasty all on their own, especially when you know you can add another ingredient that takes your fancy - such as dried apricot or blackberries - to the mixture so easily.

With that being said if you were to put a little peanut butter on top of them - and maybe even some raisins on top of the peanut butter - that would work very well.

And as always, if you are making these oat fingers for someone with an allergy do check that any additional ingredients are suitable for them.

I haven’t got oat milk can I use another type of plant milk?

You can happily use other types of milk, but do be mindful of any potential allergies that an ingredient change can bring about. Outside of that, you can use almost any type of milk, plant or animal. Naturally, different milks will bring different flavours.

Can I make oat fingers with water rather than oat milk?

While it won't have quite such a strong flavour you can substitute oat milk for water if you simply don't have any milk available as the wetness it brings to help bind the ingredients together isn’t unique to oat milk.

How should I store oat fingers?

Oat fingers are best stored in an airtight container, where they should last for up to 5 days. You may find that they soften and the texture becomes slightly more chewy the longer you leave them.

Can I leave oat fingers out on the counter?

While these oat fingers can be stored at room temperature I would advise not to leave them uncovered outside of an airtight container. They will go soft and chewy faster if left out and also be exposed to more bacteria and pathogens in the air.

Can I make oat fingers ahead?

You can make these oat fingers a day ahead and have them already sliced into individual portions in an airtight container, ready to be served whenever they're needed. 

Can I freeze oat fingers?

While I haven't tried it, these oat fingers should freeze well. I would recommend spacing them out on a baking tray and freezing them for an hour or so, before placing them in an airtight container or ziplock bag. This way they won't stick together during the freezing process, which will make it easy to take out only what you need out of the freezer.

It shouldn't take too long to defrost the fingers as they're quite small and with a large surface area, so half an hour should be enough. This would also be a great way of making a single batch of fingers that can be popped in a lunchbox in the morning, ready to be eaten as a tasty and healthy treat for weeks or months before having to whip up another batch.

Can I make oat fingers in a different quantity?

Yep, you can make these oat fingers in almost any quantity you like. Simply use the slider found in the recipe card below to adjust the quantities as needed, which will also update the amount of each ingredient required.

Can I make oat fingers in a stand mixer such as a KitchenAid or Kenwood Mixer?

While this recipe is very easy to make by hand you could also use a stand mixer, which would I may use if I was increasing the quantities of oats fingers I was cooking significantly.

I would recommend using a hand blender or regular blender to mix the banana and milk together, but if you have a whisk attachment on your stand mixer you should be able to mash your bananas and milk together a little with a fork before finishing them off with a stand mixer.

While it only takes a minute by hand to combine the milk and banana mixture with the oats you could also use a stand mixer for this step by changing the attachment to something suitable for mixing/stirring.

Can I make oat fingers with a food processor?

You can happily make the milk and banana mixture up in a food processor with a blade attachment. You could switch to a plastic mixing attachment when combining the oats with the banana mixture, but I find mixing it by hand in a bowl is generally very quick. 

How can I make sure my oat fingers are perfectly cooked?

If you have the oven temperature set correctly, and the oat finger mixture has been spread out to a 1cm depth, then they should be perfectly baked when the outer edges are turning a golden brown and the centre is just starting to get a little colour.

Why did my oat fingers turn out chewy or burned?

If you find that your oat fingers have come out burnt the first thing to check that you only had them in the oven for the specified amount of time, as even a minute or two extra can make the edges to burn. It's also a good idea to double check and that the correct quantities of each ingredient was uses.

The next thing to check is that the mixture was flattened out to 1cm thick - if you have made them much thinner than this then they will crisp up and brown much faster.

Lastly, it's a good idea to check that your oven was at the correct temperature as these delicate biscuits will burn quickly if the temperature is higher than it should be.

Why did my oat fingers turn out soft or undercooked?

The most likely culprit for a wet or undercooked oats finger is simply that they haven't had long enough in the oven, or that's the oven was too low a temperature, so check both of these variables first. Simply pop them back in until you see the edges begin to darken if this is the case.

If they simple refuse to firm up double check the ingredient quantities, as it's likely you've added too much milk or not enough oats.

Why did my oat fingers taste bland?

I find the unique flavour of oats combined with the sweetness from the banana a perfect combination for a tasty snack, but if you're used to very sugary treats the flavour may be milder than you were expecting.

How can I add/change the flavours in this oat fingers?

If you scroll up to the instructions you can see many variations of this oat finger recipe  and full instructions on how to make them - from cinnamon, sweet potato, dried apricots or blackberries there's bound to be a variation you'll enjoy, or inspiration for an addition of your own.

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