Carrot Pancakes for Babies

Name: Carrot Pancakes for Babies
Prep time: 12 min
Cook time: 4 min
Total time: 16 min
Yield: Makes about 10 mini pancakes
Cuisine: Baby food
Ingredients: 1/2 cup smooth carrot puree (120 g), ideally homemade and salt-free; 1 plain yogurt (about 1/2 cup / 125 g); 1 egg; 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (100 g); 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1 tablespoon neutral oil (sunflower, canola, etc.)

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Carrot pancakes for baby (from 8 months)

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In the recipe: Carrots Vegetables

Today, we’re turning a simple carrot puree into super soft little pancakes for baby. This is exactly the kind of all-purpose recipe we love to keep on hand: a few pantry ingredients, leftover carrot puree, and you get wonderfully tender little pancakes that are salt-free and sugar-free, perfect for baby’s snack or dinner.

The carrot puree gives the pancakes a pretty orange color and a very soft texture. The yogurt keeps the batter moist, and the baking soda helps the pancakes puff up slightly. This is a simple recipe that can generally be offered to a baby from around 8 months, once they are already comfortable with very soft pieces and finger foods.

As always, adapt this recipe to your baby’s development and your pediatrician’s advice!

Ingredients

(Makes about 8 to 10 mini pancakes)

1/2 cup smooth carrot puree (120 g), ideally homemade and salt-free

1 plain yogurt (about 1/2 cup / 125 g)

1 egg

1 tablespoon neutral oil (sunflower, canola, etc.)

3/4 cup all-purpose flour (100 g)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Optional:

a small pinch of cinnamon for snack time, or cumin / curry for dinner (to add a light flavor)

How to make carrot pancakes for baby

Prepare the carrot puree

Start by making sure you have a very smooth carrot puree.
If you’re starting with fresh carrots at home: peel them, cut them into small pieces, steam them or cook them in a little water until they are very soft, then blend finely with a little cooking water. Let the puree cool slightly before adding it to the batter. (My recipe for super smooth carrot puree for baby is here)

Mix the wet ingredients

In a mixing bowl, add:

the plain yogurt
the egg
the oil
the carrot puree.

Mix well until smooth and combined.

Add the dry ingredients

In a small separate bowl, mix:

the flour
the baking soda
the spices, if using

Then add this dry mixture to the bowl, a little at a time, mixing gently with a whisk or spatula. You should get a batter that is thick but still pourable, a bit like classic pancake batter.

If the batter seems too runny, add a small spoonful of flour.

If it is very thick, add a little more yogurt if you have some left, or a little water.

Let the batter rest for a few minutes

Let the batter rest for 5 to 10 minutes. This gives the flour time to hydrate and the baking soda time to start working. The pancakes will be softer!

Cook the carrot pancakes

Heat a small nonstick pan or crepe pan over low to medium heat. You can very lightly oil the pan to keep the batter from sticking.

Drop small spoonfuls of batter into the pan (about 1 tablespoon each) to form pancakes. Let them cook for a few minutes: the surface will start to set slightly and the edges will take on a nice color.

When the top is no longer liquid, gently flip the pancakes with a spatula and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. The pancakes should be cooked through but still soft.

Personally, I cook them over medium heat for 4 minutes on each side, but adjust according to your stovetop and your pan.

Let them cool until lukewarm before serving.
You should be able to easily mash the pancakes between your fingers, which makes them perfect for baby’s little hands.

For older children, you can drizzle a little agave syrup on top once they are cooked; it’s delicious for snack time. Alix and Sasha loved them at home!

What age can baby have these pancakes?

These carrot pancakes are generally suitable for a baby from around 8 months, when they:

already handle thicker purees well,
are starting to feel comfortable with very soft pieces,
can easily handle small finger-food shapes.

As always, adapt according to your baby, their development, any specific needs (prematurity, oral-motor difficulties, etc.), and your pediatrician’s recommendations.

How to serve these carrot pancakes to baby

You can offer these pancakes:

as finger food, cut in half or into strips so baby can easily hold them,
as a snack, for example with:
- a little plain yogurt,
- or a no-added-sugar fruit puree,
for dinner, with vegetables and starches (soup, puree, etc.)

The idea is to keep these pancakes as a soft vegetable/starch base around which you can build a complete meal.

Storage

In the refrigerator

You can store these carrot pancakes for 24 hours in the refrigerator, in a Tupperware-style container.
To serve them again, you can:

let them come to room temperature,
or gently reheat them in a pan (over very low heat) or for a few seconds in the microwave, always checking the temperature carefully before offering them to baby.

In the freezer

These pancakes freeze very well!
You can freeze them flat on a plate first, then transfer them to a freezer bag or Tupperware-style container.
They will keep for about 1 month in the freezer.
To serve them to baby, let them thaw in the refrigerator, then reheat gently.

Variations

Carrot and sweet potato pancakes
You can replace part of the carrot puree with sweet potato puree for an even milder version with a naturally sweeter flavor (my carrot and sweet potato puree recipe is here).
Carrot and cheese pancakes
For older babies (and if dairy products are well tolerated), you can add a small handful of shredded cheese (Emmental, Comte, etc.) to the batter for a more savory version, best served for dinner. It’s delicious!
You can also switch the vegetables
The same base works very well with other vegetable purees: butternut squash, zucchini (well drained!), broccoli, etc. Keep the same proportions and have fun varying the flavors and colors.

Frequently asked questions about carrot pancakes for baby

What age can baby have these carrot pancakes?

These carrot pancakes can generally be offered from around 8 months, when baby is already comfortable with very soft pieces and finger foods (very cooked vegetables, small pieces of pancake, etc.). As always, adapt according to your baby’s development and your pediatrician’s advice.

How many pancakes should I give baby at one meal?

It depends on the size of the pancakes and baby’s appetite. For mini pancakes (about 1 tablespoon of batter each), you can use these general guidelines:
around 8 months: about 1 to 2 small pancakes, alongside vegetables, some protein at lunch, and a little starch.
after 10/12 months: 2 to 3 mini pancakes.
These are only guidelines: let baby eat according to their appetite and adjust the amounts with your pediatrician’s help if needed!

Can I serve these carrot pancakes as a snack?

Yes, these pancakes can also be offered as a snack (as I mention in the recipe, you can add a little cinnamon to the batter), for example with a little plain yogurt or a no-added-sugar fruit puree. Keep the snack balanced and avoid serving these pancakes every day if baby tends to lose interest in fruit or milk!

Can this recipe be adapted if baby does not have cow’s milk?

If your baby does not consume cow’s milk (intolerance, allergy, or another reason), you can replace the plain yogurt with a plant-based yogurt (for example soy yogurt fortified with calcium, according to your pediatrician’s advice). The texture will stay soft, but the flavor may change slightly. Keep the same quantities and check the plant-based yogurt’s ingredients carefully to avoid overly sweetened yogurts.