Amaranth Baby Pancakes - Two Peas In The Pines

Amaranth is gaining popularity in the health food world, however this ancient grain has been around for ages! It has an earthy, nutty flavor and is packed with protein, fiber, antioxidants and micronutrients – specifically iron, phosphorus, manganese, and magnesium.

I was particularly interested in using amaranth to boost iron intake with my son when he started eating more solids and finger foods. I purchased amaranth flour to make porridge and pancakes. Since he really prefers to feed himself, I have been making more pancakes lately so he can be more independent with finger feeding. This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons.

Iron is an essential because it is a central part of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood from the lungs to the body’s organs and muscles. Iron is also important for brain development, which we all know is so crucial during this time of exponential learning and development.

Iron is particularly important for babies when they begin eating solids. When solids are introduced, naturally, consumption of breastmilk or formula decreases. Babies are born with a reserve of iron thanks to mommy’s blood while in the womb. They continue to receive adequate iron from breastmilk or iron-fortified formula for the first 6 or so months. However, babies will need to supplement this with iron rich foods beyond 6 months or when they begin eating solids. The US National Institutes of Health recommends 11mg of daily iron intake from ages 7-12 months (https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/)

Another reason I was focused on iron intake is because we consume a diet high in plants with minimal animal products. Iron is increasingly important for those that consume vegan or vegetarian diets due to there being two types of iron – heme and nonheme. Basically, heme iron is found in animal products and is more easily absorbed by the body. Nonheme iron is found in plants and is less easily absorbed by the body. Therefore, if you eat a primarily plant based diet, you should be more conscientious of iron consumption.

All of this led to brainstorming and searching for food ideas and recipes for increasing iron in my son’s diet. These Amaranth Pancakes are super easy to whip up in the morning and store easily in the fridge as leftovers. I cut them up into bite sized pieces and my son devours them! Also great for anyone following baby led weaning.

Amaranth Baby Pancake Recipe

1 ripe banana (mashed)
1/4 c amaranth flour
1 egg
sprinkle of cinnamon

Mix well and spoon into hot skillet. Flip once. Makes 4-6 small pancakes (approx. 2-3”diameter).

*Note: If using frozen bananas, you will need to use approximately 1/2 c amaranth flour due to the increased water content once the bananas have thawed. You can also try to pour off some of the excess liquid.

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Need more breakfast ideas? Check out these Easy Ways to Spruce Up Baby Oatmeal.