20 Easy Porridge Toppings for Toddlers (No Pancakes, No Sugary Cereal, No Stress)
We all know breakfast matters. But if you’re anything like me, breakfast is the meal I find hardest to get right – not because I don’t care, but because plain porridge every single day gets boring fast, and I don’t always have the time (or energy) for pancakes or omelettes before 8am, especially when you’re trying to get ready for the school run. As much as I have taken the easy route before, I’m determined not to give into sugary cereals.
So here’s an easy alternative. With a few simple swaps and toppings – most of which are already sitting in your cupboard or fridge – porridge can go from “again?” to genuinely exciting, without any extra cooking.
Here are 20 easy ways to change up your toddler’s porridge, from stir-ins to toppings to full-on “build your own bowl” mornings.
A few quick notes before you start: always check your own child’s allergies first. Round fruits like blueberries and grapes should be squashed or cut up to avoid a choking hazard, nuts should be finely chopped or ground, and honey should never be given to babies under 1.
The List
1. Banana & Cinnamon — Let your little one mash the banana with a fork, then stir it into the warm porridge.
2. Jam Swirl — Put a small spoonful of jam on a teaspoon and let your toddler swirl it into their porridge themselves.
3. Peanut Butter Swirl — Add a small spoonful of smooth peanut butter and let them stir it through until it melts in.
4. Yoghurt Swirl — A spoonful of Greek yoghurt on top, then let your toddler make swirls and patterns with their spoon.
5. Crunchy Cereal Porridge — Sprinkle a small handful of Rice Krispies, Shreddies or hoops over the top just before serving. Let your toddler do the sprinkling — this one’s a personal favourite of mine too!
6. Blueberry Purple Porridge — Slightly squash the blueberries, then let your toddler stir them in and watch the porridge turn purple. My daughter’s favourite!
7. Tinned Fruit Porridge — Pour a little of the tinned fruit syrup into a small cup and let your toddler pour it into their porridge, then add some of the fruit for a naturally sweet, fruity breakfast.
8. Strawberry Face — Use slices of banana and strawberry to make a silly face on top of the porridge.
9. Chocolate Banana — Mash the banana, let your toddler sprinkle unsweetened cocoa powder over it, then stir it in to make “chocolate” porridge.
10. Apple Pie with Nuts — Let your toddler add soft apple and a pinch of cinnamon, then sprinkle over some finely ground or chopped nuts.
11. Honey & Cinnamon — Put a small amount of honey on a teaspoon for your toddler to swirl through, then let them add a pinch of cinnamon. Not suitable for under-1s — use a low-sugar alternative instead.
12. Peanut Butter & Raisin — Make a little “raisin road” of finely chopped raisins across the top for your toddler to follow with their spoon, swirling in peanut butter as they go.
13. Coconut & Mango — Give small pieces of mango and desiccated coconut separately so they can choose how to decorate their bowl.
14. Carrot Cake Porridge — Finely grated carrot, cinnamon and mashed banana. Call it “carrot cake porridge” and let your toddler sprinkle the carrot on top.
15. Jam & Toast Porridge — Add tiny pieces of toast and a little jam, and let your child decide where to put the toast before stirring it through.
16. Cheesy Porridge — Stir a little grated mild cheese into warm porridge and let your toddler sprinkle extra on top. A great savoury swap when they’re sick of sweet.
17. Porridge Pizza — Arrange colourful fruit — raspberries, pineapple, kiwi, blackberries — around the bowl like pizza toppings and let your toddler build their own “pizza.”
18. Dried Fruit Porridge — Put little piles of finely chopped dried apricot, dried apple and raisins on the table and let your toddler choose which ones go in. Call it “breakfast treasure.”
19. Chocolate Spread Swirl — A small swirl of chocolate spread on top for your toddler to pattern with their spoon before mixing in.
20. Porridge Topping Bar — Set out little bowls of fruit, yoghurt, nut butter, coconut, cereal and dried fruit, and let your toddler build their own combination.
Save This for Busy Mornings
Pin this one so you’ve always got a fresh idea on hand – no more staring into the cupboard at 7am wondering what to do with plain porridge again.
One top tip — if your little ones are anything like mine, they may not have a huge appetite in the morning, so there’s no need to over-do the porridge portions. There’s nothing I hate more than scraping half a bowl of congealed porridge into the bin!
If mornings in your house look like t-shirt negotiations, running away from shoes, lying on the floor instead of leaving, or rigid little bodies that won’t bend into the car seat or pushchair – I’ve got you.
Grab my free Morning Routine Games Starter Kit and turn the chaos into a game, one tiny task at a time.