Baked Rice Pudding - Naturally Sweetened with Apple

Table of Contents

Baked rice pudding is an excellent option for parents introducing their little ones to solids through the baby-led weaning method. This comforting recipe is soft, ensuring it's easy for tiny hands to grasp and nibble on. Prepared with tender pudding rice, gently baked with milk, and a touch of natural sweetness from apple like mashed bananas or apple puree, baked rice pudding offers a delightful combination of flavours and textures. Rich in essential nutrients like calcium and carbohydrates, it provides growing babies with the energy they need for development. Whether served warm or cold, this wholesome treat is an ideal addition to a baby's evolving palate, making mealtime an enjoyable and nourishing experience.

Calcium plays a vital role in a baby's diet, contributing to the healthy development of bones and teeth. During infancy and the early stages of childhood, when bones are growing rapidly, calcium is essential for ensuring proper skeletal formation. Adequate intake of calcium helps prevent conditions like rickets and promotes strong, healthy teeth. Additionally, calcium is involved in blood clotting, nerve function, and muscle movement, all crucial aspects of a growing baby's overall health. It is vital for parents to provide a calcium-rich diet, including sources such as breast milk, formula, yogurts, cheeses, leafy greens, and fortified foods, to support their baby's optimal growth and development.

Pudding rice is an excellent choice for introducing solids during baby-led weaning. This type of rice has a soft texture that is perfect for little ones who are just starting to explore different textures and tastes. Pudding rice is easy to cook and can be prepared in a variety of ways to suit your baby's preferences. Whether you choose to steam it, bake it, or cook it on the stovetop with breast milk or formula, pudding rice offers a gentle and easily digestible food option for introducing grains into your baby's diet. Its versatility allows you to mix in pureed fruits or vegetables to enhance the flavour and nutritional value. With its mild taste and soft consistency, pudding rice is a reliable choice for baby-led weaning, ensuring a positive and enjoyable experience for your little one.

There are numerous reasons why you should consider making baked rice pudding for your baby. Firstly, this delightful recipe is not only delicious but also packed with essential nutrients. The blend of creamy rice, gently baked to perfection in a rich, velvety milk, creates a texture that is easy for your little one to manage. The subtle sweetness of the dish comes from a small piece of apple making it a healthier alternative to store-bought desserts. Additionally, baked rice pudding is a versatile dish that can be customised with various flavours and toppings, ensuring your baby's taste buds are continually stimulated. Our recipe guarantees that your baby will obtain essential carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins necessary for their growth and development. So why not treat your little one to this delightful and nourishing treat? Their tiny taste buds will thank you!

Ingredient information

Pudding rice - You will need pudding rice to make this recipe it will not work with any other rice.

Milk - I have used whole milk, the main reason being that it is a little bit sweeter than semi skimmed milk/skimmed milk. The pudding needs the sweetness as there is no added sugar.

Apple - Adding a tiny cube of apple is the perfect sweetness this recipe needs.

Cinnamon - This spice is perfect for a rice pudding. You could additionally add a pinch of nutmeg too.

Serving suggestion

This is perfect served on its own, you could serve with more cooked apple or with some apple puree and greek yogurt.

Storage instructions

The rice pudding can be stored in the fridge in airtight containers for up to 4 days, or you can store in the same way in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Equipment used to help with this recipe

Silicone muffin cases - I love reusable kitchen stuff! These silicone muffin cases are dishwasher and freezer safe and can be used in the oven up to 230 degrees C! Ideal for individual baby portions.

Muffin tin - A non-stick muffin pan that will easily clean any spills from the muffin cases. You will need one of these to easily hold the muffin cases.

Airtight container - I much prefer the click-shut lids on these containers compared to others. They are also dishwasher and freezer safe and BPA free, so very suitable for food use. 

Recipe | Baked Rice Pudding

Ingredients

Makes 6 portions

• 70g pudding rice, 2 teaspoons per muffin case

• 1/4 apple, peeled and cut into 6 cubes

• 320ml whole milk

• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

• Start by preheating your oven to 160 degrees, and prepare your muffin tin and silicone cases (using silicone cases means you do not have to grease the tin or cases)

• Take 2 teaspoons of the pudding rice and add to each of the cases.

• Place one piece of the apple into each muffin case.

• Sprinkle each muffin case with cinnamon.

• Pour the milk equally between the muffin cases. Stir each muffin case and pop in the oven for 30 minutes. Take our the oven and stir and place back in the oven for a further 30 minutes.

Hope you and your family enjoy!

Recipe notes

You can of course make this recipe vegan by replacing milk with an oat milk.

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