Baby food rusk

Healthy Baby Rusks- An easy teething biscuit recipe

Published: Mar 27, 2017 · Modified: Apr 29, 2020 by My Kids Lick The Bowl · This post may contain affiliate links.

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My youngest baby is now no longer a baby, so this may well be one of the last times I make these baby rusks.

Although not a baby, she is teething at the moment with her canines coming through, these baby risks make a fabulous teething biscuit and are therefore on the menu again.

Hopefully, as I am moving out of the baby phase I won't be making them many more times, so it is high time I share the recipe for others to start making them!

This recipe came about around 3 years ago but has been tweaked and refined as I went. Two original recipes caught my eye when I started making baby rusks was one by Super Healthy Kids which uses banana and another sweet potato teething biscuit recipe that was based on wheat.

I also noticed that many teething remedies included chamomile so I tweaked and played and came up with my own version. I started making these for my eldest, but they have served me well over all three children.

My healthy baby rusk recipe

My baby rusk recipe is easy and is based on oats. I make my own oat flour. Do not freak out, it is not tricky. To make oat flour you literally blitz porridge oats in a food processor.

I quite like oats as a base for baby biscuits, as they are naturally relatively high in iron. I also choose sweet potato (or Orange Kumara as we call it here in New Zealand) as a main ingredient as it too is a vegetarian source of iron, and is typically well-liked by babies.

My addition of Chamomile may or may not do anything to aid with teething pain, but it is just a nice twist and adds a mild floral note to the biscuit. My kids have had them without the chamomile as well.

If you are a visual learner then check out the video a little bit further down which shows how to make these healthy baby rusks

Ingredients

200g sweet potato
Chamomile tea bag
1 Cup oat flour
2 tablespoon coconut oil, or other light flavoured oil

Instructions

Watch the quick recipe video before you get started, scroll up a little to find it
Check the notes at the bottom of the recipe for little bits of extra info and help
Peel and chop the sweet potato
Place into a saucepan and cover with water, add the tea bag to the water
Boil sweet potato until tender
Remove the tea bag and drain the majority of the liquid, leave a minimal amount, 1-2 teaspoon to help with the puréeing
Purée the sweet potato, yield should be approximately ¾ of a cup
In a bowl Add oat flour, sweet potato purée and oil
Mix with a wooden spoon or similar until a ball forms
Line a baking tray with baking paper or a silicone sheet
Place the dough on the baking paper and roll to approximately 5mm thick
Take a knife and score the dough into large shapes that your baby will be able to grasp
Bake at 180 degrees Celsius 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25mins, until firm to touch and golden on the edges
Cool
Snap the rusks along the score marks
Store in an airtight container

Notes

A tip for making these is to make sure the sweet potato is quite dry before pureeing, ie drain well and leave to sit in the warm pot so that it releases more water as steam before you puree

Store in an airtight container for 3 days

These can be frozen and served frozen

These are wheat free but not gluten free if traditional oats are used

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 78Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 6mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 2g

Please know this nutrition analysis is based on the ingredients only, this recipe has not been sent to a laboratory for independent testing

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When Can Babies Have Rusks?

BABY

Last modified on Wednesday 7 April 2021

Find out when it's safe to give your baby rusks and whether rusks are good or bad for babies, plus info on allergies.

This page contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.

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The official advice on when babies can eat rusks

It's best to avoid giving your baby rusks, but if you do choose to offer them, you can do so from about seven months old.

The NHS generally advises that you avoid giving your baby sweet foods like rusks, as they often contain lots of sugar and may encourage your baby to develop a sweet tooth.

It's safest to wait until around six months before giving your baby any solid food, because younger babies may not be able to sit up and swallow well.

Are rusks good or bad for babies?

The NHS recommends avoiding packaged baby snacks, like rusks, baby biscuits and baby biscotti because of their high sugar content. Babies don't need any sugar adding to their diets, and it's recommended that they avoid sugary foods in order to prevent tooth decay, among other health issues.

Sugary snacks may also mean that babies get into the habit of expecting sweet snacks, which can make them more likely to become fussy eaters later on.

Too much sugar can also make your baby put on too much weight, without getting enough nutrients. In some cases, this can lead to weight problems for life. Instead, you can try some healthier alternatives (below).

Still, lots of parents do like to use rusks to introduce their baby to solid foods. But anything sugary should always be given in moderation.

Can I add rusks to my baby's bottle?

Never add rusks (or anything else) to your baby's bottle. It's bad for their teeth, could be a choking hazard, and may mean they put on too much weight without getting all the calories they need.

The only things your baby should drink from a bottle are first infant formula or breastmilk (or occasionally water for formula-fed babies).

How to feed rusks to your baby

The NHS says that rusks can be given to babies as a finger food from seven months old, though they aren't generally recommended as part of your baby's diet.

They're easier for babies to eat than other types of biscuits, as they dissolve without crumbling, which makes them easier to pick up as a finger food.

Introducing finger foods to your baby's diet will help them to develop hand-eye coordination, as well as introducing them to biting, chewing and swallowing pieces of soft food. Plus, they'll love picking up bits of food and feeding it to themselves!

You can also crush rusks in a bowl and mix them with your baby's usual milk to form a puree. Or you can mix them in with a fruit puree or yoghurt.

Healthier alternatives to rusks

For some healthier snack alternatives with less sugar than rusks or biscuits, you can try breadsticks, toast, pitta bread, or pieces of fruit, veg or cheese as finger foods.

Breadsticks are particularly good for finger food as they introduce babies to a different, more crunchy texture. Just snap them into finger-length sticks, and serve with a dip if you prefer.

Slices of toast are also good for babies, or you can chop a mini pitta bread into finger slices for your baby to pick up, and serve it with a dip too if you like.

For a sweeter snack, most fruits work well as finger food (just make sure to slice round fruits safely, and remove any skin and pips), or you can offer your baby plain full-fat yoghurt.

For more information on introducing your baby to solid foods, check out our article on getting started with weaning.

Vitamins and minerals in rusks

While the NHS doesn't recommend that rusks make up part of your baby's diet, if you are going to feed rusks to your baby it can be useful to know which vitamins and minerals they are a source of. Store-bought rusks are usually fortified with extra vitamins and minerals for your baby, so they contain:

vitamin A (for a healthy immune system, skin and vision)
vitamin D (for healthy bones, teeth and muscles)
thiamin (vitamin B1 - for breaking down and releasing energy from foods)
riboflavin (vitamin B2 - for healthy skin, eyes and nervous system)
niacin (vitamin B3 - for releasing energy from foods and healthy skin and nervous system)
calcium (for building strong bones and teeth)
iron (for combatting anaemia and low energy)

Could my baby have a rusks or gluten allergy?

Rusks are usually made from wheat flour, which contains gluten, one of the main food allergens that can trigger a reaction.

Gluten is a dietary protein found in three types of cereal: wheat, barley and rye, which are also ingredients in things like bread, pasta and cereals.

If allergies, asthma or eczema run in your family, your child may be more likely to develop an allergy, too. You might want to talk to your GP or health visitor for advice before weaning your baby.

When you first start introducing new food and drink to your child, it's a good idea to give them any that can cause an allergy in small amounts and one at a time, with several days between them. That way, if your baby does have a reaction, you'll know what caused it.

According to the NHS, the main foods and drinks that can cause an allergy are:

cow's milk
eggs
foods that contain gluten, including wheat (used to make rusks), barley and rye
nuts and peanuts (serve them crushed or ground)
seeds (serve them crushed or ground)
soya
shellfish (don't serve raw or lightly cooked)
fish

So, try to avoid giving any of these other foods at the same time as you give your baby rusks for the first time, so you'll be able to easily identify the cause of any reactions.

Signs of allergies in babies

The main signs of an allergy to look out for, according to the NHS, include:

diarrhoea or vomiting
a cough
wheezing and shortness of breath
itchy throat and tongue
itchy skin or rash
swollen lips and throat
runny or blocked nose
sore, red and itchy eyes

Gluten intolerance

As well as a gluten allergy, it's also possible to have a gluten intolerance. An intolerance is different to an allergic reaction, but it can cause your baby or child discomfort. Gluten intolerance happens when the body has trouble digesting wheat.

The NHS says symptoms of a gluten or wheat intolerance include bloating, wind, diarrhoea, being sick and stomach pain. Symptoms will usually appear a few hours after eating the food.

Coeliac disease

Coeliac disease isn't an intolerance or an allergy, but an autoimmune condition which causes the immune system to attack the body's tissues when gluten is eaten, which damages the gut.

Symptoms of coeliac disease include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bloating, indigestion and constipation, according to the NHS. It can develop at any age, but symptoms are most likely to develop either in early childhood (between 8 and 12 months old) or later in adulthood.

People with a close relative with coeliac disease (parent or sibling) are more likely to develop the condition, so if this is the case speak to your GP before weaning your baby.

What should I do if I think my baby has an allergy, intolerance or coeliac disease?

If you think your baby may have a gluten allergy, intolerance or coeliac disease, then speak to your health visitor or GP for advice.

The good news is that, according to the NHS, many children with a wheat allergy grow out of it by the time they start school.

Rusk recipes for babies

Rusks can be eaten on their own, or you might want to mix them in with milk, yoghurt, or a fruit puree. Try our recipes below to mix in with rusks, or to offer your baby as an alternative.

Raspberry puree for babies
Apple puree for babies
Banana puree for babies
Baby porridge
Applesauce muffins

Weaning by baby feeding guru Annabel Karmel is a must for every parent's bookshelf and has all the information you need about your baby's first foods. See more details here at Amazon.

The Baby-led Weaning Cookbook by Gill Rapley has over 130 recipes that the whole family can enjoy. See more details here at Amazon.

Looking for more tips on feeding your baby? Check out our articles below, or swap tips and meal ideas with other parents in our forum.

ᐉ Fleur Alpine Organic Baby Crisps Wheat mini from 3 years old 100 g (4056114005291)

Delivery

Seller of goods: Vita Natura_UA
Seller's other items

Main characteristics

Brand: Fleur Alpine
Child's age: from 3 years
Product properties: organic, no sugar, no gmo, no palm oil, no preservatives, no colors, no flavors

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Description Baby croutons organic Fleur Alpine Wheat mini from 3 years old 100 g (4056114005291)

Mini croutons for children fleur alpine wheat, from 3 years old, 100 g

Description:

Children's mini croutons fleur alpine wheat will appeal to children and parents:

Great alternative to bread
Free of milk, eggs, palm oil and added sugar
Baked with sunflower oil
Organic, produced and certified in accordance with European Union Regulations No. 834/2007 and No. 889/2008 on organic agriculture
Produced in Germany
Important information: may contain traces of milk and sesame. When introducing new foods into a child's diet, a pediatrician's consultation is required.

Crispy and airy mini croutons made from spelled flour will introduce your child to bread for the first time. Croutons do not have sharp corners, so they are safe to use. Comfortable for small hands.

Try mini fleur alpine wheat croutons as a standalone product, as an accompaniment to soup, second courses, along with jam, nut or chocolate paste.

Adults will like mini croutons fleur alpine as a light snack in combination with cheese, slices of thinly sliced meat products and as an addition to various salads.

Mini fleur alpine wheat crackers are baked twice - this technology in Germany is called "zwieback", that is, "double baking". Thanks to her, crackers are crispy, airy and tasty.

The essence of the technology is as follows - first, flour, yeast and salt are kneaded together with water. After a long “rest”, the resulting dough is baked in long forms, then the finished product is removed from them, cools during the night, becomes harder and cut into small square croutons in the morning, which are sent to the oven for the second time.

Store mini fleur alpine wheat croutons in a dry place, at a temperature not exceeding +25°C and relative humidity not exceeding 75%. After opening, store under the same conditions for 7 days in a tightly closed container.

Composition:

Wheat (spelt) flour*, sunflower oil*, sea salt, baker's yeast

* organic agriculture complies with EU legislation (EU regulations No. 834/2007, No. 889/2008)

May contain traces of milk and sesame.

Per 100 g of product:

Energy value -1668/395 kJ / kcal

Proteins - 12 g

Fats - 7 g

Carbohydrates - 69 g

Salt - 0.37 g

Age: from 3 years old

Net weight: 100 g

Shelf life: 12 months

Storage conditions:

Store in a dry place, at a temperature not exceeding +25°C and relative humidity not exceeding 75%. After opening, store under the same conditions for 7 days in a tightly closed container.

Barcode: 4056114005291

Show full description Hide description

Specifications Fleur Alpine Organic Baby Crackers Wheat mini from 3 years old 100 g (405611400529one)

Peculiarities: Fleur Alpine WHEAT mini croutons for children from 3 years old, 100 g
Description:

Fleur Alpine WHEAT mini croutons for children will be to the taste of children and parents:

An excellent alternative to bread
Without milk, eggs, palm oil and added sugar in the composition
Baked with sunflower oil
Organic, produced and certified in accordance with European Union Regulations No. 834/2007 and No. 889/2008 about organic agriculture
Produced in Germany
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: may contain traces of milk and sesame. When introducing new foods into a child's diet, a pediatrician's consultation is required.

Crispy and fluffy mini spelled crackers introduce your child to bread for the first time. Croutons do not have sharp corners, so they are safe to use. Comfortable for small hands.

Try mini Fleur Alpine WHEAT croutons as a standalone product, as an accompaniment to soups, second courses, along with jam, nut or chocolate paste.

Adults will like Fleur Alpine mini croutons as a light snack in combination with cheese, slices of thinly sliced meat products and as an addition to various salads.

Mini Fleur Alpine WHEAT croutons are baked twice - this technology in Germany is called "Zwieback", that is, "double baking". Thanks to her, crackers are crispy, airy and tasty.

The essence of the technology is as follows - first, flour, yeast and salt are kneaded together with water. After a long “rest”, the resulting dough is baked in long forms, then the finished product is removed from them, cools during the night, becomes harder and cut into small square croutons in the morning, which are sent to the oven for the second time.

Store Fleur Alpine mini croutons WHEAT in a dry place, at a temperature not exceeding +25°C and relative humidity not exceeding 75%. After opening, store under the same conditions for 7 days in a tightly closed container.

Composition:

wheat (spelt) flour*, sunflower oil*, sea salt, baker's yeast

and sesame.

Per 100 g of product:

Energy value -1668/395 kJ / kcal

Protein - 12 g

Fat - 7 g

Carbohydrates - 69 g

Age: 0.3 years

Net weight: 100 g

Shelf life: 12 months

Storage conditions:

Store in a dry place, at a temperature not exceeding +25°С and relative humidity not exceeding 75%. After opening, store under the same conditions for 7 days in a tightly closed container.

Barcode: 4056114005291
Does not contain: No dairy, no eggs, no sugar, no GMOs, no palm oil, no preservatives, no colors, no flavors
Product properties: organic, no sugar, no gmo, no palm oil, no preservatives, no colors, no flavors

Main characteristics Fleur Alpine Organic Baby Crackers Wheat mini from 3 years old 100 g (4056114005291)

Brand: Fleur Alpine
Type of: wheat, crackers, cereal
The weight: 100
View: dry, not crumbly
Child's age: from 3 years
Packing type: cardboard
Taste: cereals
Shelf life: 12
Producing country: Germany

Features and accessories subject to change by the manufacturer.
Product color may vary due to monitor settings.

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Holle Bio Baby Dinkel Zwieback Organic Spelled Crackers, 200g

Holle Bio Baby Dinkel Zwieback Organic Spelled Crackers, 200g 6+ Months

Description:
Organic Spelled Crackers, 6+ Months Instructions for

Application: Recommendations for serving
after 6 months:
Crust milk porridge: Break
3 slices Holle Organic Spelled Baby Crisps (about 34 g) into small pieces and place on a plate. Boil 120 ml whole milk and 60 ml water and pour evenly. Let it absorb briefly and finely mash with a fork or puree. Stir, let cool to 37 ° C - ready.

Cereal croutons:
2 slices Holle organic spelled baby croutons (approx. 22 g) Break into small pieces and place on a plate. Boil 140 ml of water and pour it evenly. Let it absorb briefly and finely mash with a fork or puree. Add 100 g of freshly grated fruit (apples, pears, bananas) or 100 g of organic fruit from a Holle jar. Allow to cool to about 37 ° C - ready.

To enrich it with valuable fatty acids, Zwieback-Brel can be enriched with 1 teaspoon of Holle Organic Baby Belkost Oil.

Nutrition statement:

nutrition information	per 100g
heating value	1723kJ / 411.5kcal
fats	6g
of which: saturated fatty acids	0.9 g
carbohydrates	71.5 g
of which sugars	1.7 g
protein	14.7 g
table salt	0g

nutrition value	per 100 g of product	per slice** 10 g
energy	1723 kJ (408 kcal)	172 kJ (41 kcal)
thick	6g	0. 6 g
of which: saturated fatty acids	0.87 g	0.1 g
carbohydrates	71.5 g	7.2 g
of which sugars	1.7 g	0.2 g
his strength	57.1 g	5.8 g
protein	14.7 g	1.5 g
table salt	0.005 g	0.0005 g
thiamine	0.55 mg	0.06 mg

*contains natural sugar
**per pack of about 22 servings (each with crackers)

Ingredients:
spelled flour ** 83%, flour spelled whole grain, sunflower oil* yeast*, thiamine (fortified law)
* from organic farming
**from biodynamic farming

Allergens:
Spelled

Storage conditions: Protect from heat and store in a dry place. Once opened, use within 2-3 weeks.

Country of food origin:
Germany

Producer address:
HOLLE BABY FOOD GMBH
Baselstrasse 11
4125 Riehen
Switzerland

unsweetened (contains natural sugar)
may contain traces of sesame seeds
contains gluten

Generic:

as snack
in the form of rusk milk porridge
as fruit puree from breadcrumbs
for older children and adults
Spread butter, jam or cream cheese for breakfast

Holle Organic Spelled Baby Crust is made from selected biodynamic/organic ingredients. The crackers are not sweetened, and ingredients such as eggs, milk, whey, salt, and palm oil are deliberately avoided. Holle Organic Spelled Baby Crumbs are suitable for feeding babies over 6 months of age, either as a snack to nibble and chew or to make baby porridge.

Important Instructions:
Please do not let your child chew unsupervised and do not let the biscuits lie down to prevent choking.