10 Easy Breast Milk Recipes For Babies And Tips For Cooking

Although unfamiliar to many, making wholesome and nutritious recipes with breast milk is possible. Breast Milk is packed with proteins, vitamins, fats, antibodies, minerals, probiotics, and everything a baby needs for optimal growth and development (1) (2). It is recommended for a mother to consider continuing breastfeeding even after initiating complementary feeding due to its benefits (3).

It is safe to add breastmilk into baby purees and other recipes. However, avoid boiling breastmilk since heat may destroy many nutrients.

Read on to learn some nourishing breast milk recipes that you can add to your weaning baby’s diet.

10 Nutritious Breast Milk Recipes

You can try these interesting breast milk recipes to feed babies and toddlers.

1. Breast milk and avocado puree

You will need:

• ¼ cup avocado mash
• ½ cup breast milk

How to prepare: 

1. Put avocado mash and breast milk into a blender and blend into a smooth puree. Ensure the puree is lump-free and has a smooth consistency.

2. Pour some amount in a feeding bowl and feed. Transfer the remaining puree into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.

3. You can add a teaspoon of dry fruit powder and different seasonal fruits to this puree.

2. Breast milk butter

You will need:

• 1 cup breast milk

How to prepare:

1. Add the breast milk into a clean, sterile jar (preferably a mason jar).

2. Close the lid securely and shake vigorously (it might take around 30 minutes) until the milk turns into butter.

3. Remove the extra milk by draining it, and then give it another good shake to ensure all the liquid is out.

4. Transfer the butter from the jar to a strainer or cheesecloth to eliminate the liquid, or simply squeeze it by hand until no liquid remains.

5. Refrigerate the butter to allow it to solidify.

3. Breast milk yogurt

You will need:

• breast milk
• 2tbsp plain yogurt

How to prepare:

1. Warm the breast milk by placing the milk bottle or container in heated water. Ensure the water is warm and not boiled.

2. Shake the bottle or container and pour the milk into a small bowl. Add plain yogurt and mix well until milk and yogurt are combined.

3. Pour the mixture into a container and place it inside an insulated cooler. Pour warm water (120°F/50°C) around the container, inside the cooler. Let the mixture sit for four to eight hours.

4. Once the yogurt sets, add fruit puree, dried fruit powder, and a pinch of cinnamon to flavorit and up its nutritional value.

4. Breast milk porridge

You will need:

• ¼ cup rolled oats powder
• 1 cup breast milk
• 4tbsp mango mash
• 2tbsp peach mash
• 1tsp dried fruit powder
• Pinch of cinnamon

How to prepare: 

1. Warm breast milk by placing the milk bottle or container in warm water.

2. Pour the milk into a feeding bowl and stir in dried fruit powder, cinnamon, and oats. Mix well to ensure the mixture is lump-free.

3. Add mango and peach mash and mix everything well. Feed right away.

4. You can store the porridge in the refrigerator for about a day.

5. Walnut and banana ice cream

You will need:

• ½ cup breast milk
• ¼ cup banana puree
• 1tbsp sugar
• 1tbsp walnuts (finely chopped)
• ½tsp vanilla bean paste
• 4 cups crushed ice

How to prepare: 

1. Place all the ingredients (except walnuts) in a blender and blend until you get a smooth, lump-free, and semi-thick mixture.

2. Pour the mixture into a bowl and add chopped walnuts. Freeze for at least two hours.

3. Transfer a small amount of ice cream into a serving bowl and feed. Store the remaining ice cream in the refrigerator for up to two days.

6. Breast milk smoothie

You will need:

• 1 cup breast milk
• ½ cup plain yogurt
• ½ cup fresh carrot juice (homemade)
• 1tsp jaggery powder
• ½tsp cashew powder
• ½tsp almond powder

How to prepare: 

1. Blend all the ingredients into a lump-free, smooth-flowing liquid.

2. Pour into a sippy cup or baby cup and feed your baby.

7. Breast milk pancakes

You will need:

• 1 cup breast milk
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 banana (mashed)
• 1 egg
• 2tsp coconut oil
• ½tsp baking powder
• ¼tsp baking soda

How to prepare: 

1. Put the mashed banana, breast milk, egg, and a teaspoon of coconut oil in a bowl and mix everything well using a fork. Once done, set aside to stand for some time.

2. Meanwhile, whisk wheat flour, baking powder, and baking soda in another bowl using a whisker.

3. Pour ingredients from both the bowls into a bigger bowl and mix well. Ensure the batter is smooth and lump-free.

4. Warm some coconut oil on a skillet over medium heat. As the oil heats, pour a tablespoon of batter on it and spread it onto the skillet in a thin layer.

5. Cook for two to three minutes until the pancake turns golden brown. Flip and cook the other side for two to three minutes.

6. Transfer the pancake to a serving plate and serve warm with peanut butter.

8. Breast milk popsicle

You will need:

• ½ cup breast milk
• ¼ cup strawberry puree
• 2tbsp blueberries (finely chopped)
• 1tsp dried fruits and nuts (coarsely powdered)

How to prepare: 

1. Put all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix well to get smooth, puree-like liquid.

2. Pour this liquid into small popsicle molds, place a stick in each mold, and freeze the popsicles for at least two to four hours.

9. Breast milk sorbet (sherbet)

You will need:

• 2 cup breast milk
• ½ cup jaggery powder
• 2 cup mango puree
• 1tbsp fresh lime juice

How to prepare: 

1. Blend all the ingredients, except lime juice, into a smooth-flowing liquid using a food processor or blender.

2. Pour the liquid into a bowl, cover it, and refrigerate for at least seven to eight hours.

3. Then, pour the liquid into a bowl and stir for ten to 12 minutes or until the liquid reaches the desired consistency.

4. Quickly transfer the liquid into a feeding bowl and feed. Store the remaining in the refrigerator for no more than a day.

10. Breast milk gummies

You will need:

• ¼ cup breast milk
• ¼ cup water
• ½ cup apple juice
• 2tbsp gelatin

How to prepare: 

1. Heat apple juice and water in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in gelatin and mix until it dissolves completely.

2. Remove the saucepan from the heat and set aside to cool until it reaches room temperature.

3. Stir in breast milk and pour the liquid into gummy molds. Refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes until the gummies are set.

4. Once done, chop gummies into small pieces and serve them to your baby. Store the gummies in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

 Tips For Cooking With Breast Milk

Just like any other food item, you need to observe precautions while using breast milk for cooking. Here are some tips that you should follow.

1. Ensure that hands are properly cleaned. Also clean the containers that store the expressed breast milk, and devices used to express milk if it is not done manually.

2. Only use freshly expressed or well-stored frozen breast milk for cooking purposes. To maintain hygiene and milk quality, store breast milk in storage bags or food-grade glass or plastic containers with tight-fitting lids.

3. Assure the milk is stored at appropriate temperatures. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored at room temperature (25°C or colder or colder) for up to four hours, in the fridge at (4°C) for up to four days, and in the freezer (-18°C) for upto six months (4).

4. Thaw frozen breast milk before use. Remember, thawed breast milk should not be refrozen.

5. Avoid heating breast milk directly on the stove or in a microwave. Heating breast milk can cause the loss of valuable nutritional compounds and may also burn the baby’s mouth due to hot spots within the milk.

6. Heat or warm breast milk by keeping the milk bottle in a bowl or container of warm water. Shake the bottle well to mix the fat, which may have separated due to heat.