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Breakfast Polenta

January 4, 2011

Kids get very accustomed to the foods we normally serve them for breakfast every morning. So whenever I break out of my usual routine and try something new, I always pause wondering if my guys will like it or send me back for what they're used to. Occasionally, I play around with recipes just to see how my little ones will react and that's where the idea for this sweet polenta recipe came from. Normally, I make polenta savory with Parmesan cheese for lunch or dinner, but I wanted to see how a sweet version for breakfast would go over. Polenta is such an unusual change of pace for breakfast in my house that even I was shocked at my kids' reaction -- they were delighted. Even my 22 month old, Chloe, kept asking for more.

See what your gang thinks. It's a simple and inexpensive recipe that you can prepare ahead of time and keep in the fridge so all you have to do in the morning is give them a quick sauté and serve with your favorite topping. It's an easy and inexpensive breakfast that may be new, but I'm guessing your family will love it!

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Breakfast Polenta  (Serves 6-8)

  • Prep Time:40 minutes,
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes,
  • Total Time: 50 minutes,

Ingredients

  • 7 cups water
  • 1 13 oz box instant polenta
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 3 tablespoons butter, plus more for sautéing

Preparation

  1. 1. Line a sheet tray with foil and coat with cooking spray.
  2. 2. Bring 7 cups of water and salt to a boil.
  3. 3. Add polenta in a slow stream while whisking continuously to avoid lumps.
  4. 4. Turn heat to low and continue to stir with a wooden spoon until polenta thickens, 5-8 minutes (you may add more boiling water as needed to keep the polenta a smooth consistency).
  5. 5. Turn the heat off and add brown sugar, spices and butter and stir to combine.
  6. 6. Pour onto a sheet tray and spread polenta out with the back of a spoon to cover the tray evenly and cool.
  7. 7. Refrigerate the polenta for 30 minutes or covered for up to 2 days.
  8. 8. Remove the sheet tray from the refrigerator and use cookie cutters to stamp out fun shapes (this is the time to get your kids involved and let them be creative).**
  9. 9. Heat 1 tbsp of butter in a sauté pan over medium heat and cook the polenta shapes for 3-5 minutes on each side or until golden.
  10. 10. Serve (you can also serve these cold).
  11. * Once sauteed, the polenta can stay refrigerated for up to a week.
  12. **Shapes can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Accompaniments: maple syrup, honey, raspberr-wee sauce

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Comments






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  1. Katie M

    September 23, 2012 at 7:19 pm

    Reply

    We called this corn meal mush when we were kids. Recipe was on the corn meal box. We made it in a loaf pan. Not a very appetizing name but yummy none the less.

  2. erinmw

    September 18, 2012 at 5:41 pm

    Reply

    I had my other half help me pour the polenta and he was useless! I told him SLOW and steady but he just threw it in the pot while I whisked and shrieked “slower…..SLOWER! Lol….. So we have lumps but I’m sure our son won’t mind. Thank you for the recipie I am soo looking forward to breakfast now!

  3. Mary

    September 8, 2012 at 3:03 am

    Reply

    Oh dear disaster they are very runny in the middle and not looking like the picture at all maybe I didn’t fry them long enough will try again later

  4. Mary

    September 7, 2012 at 8:19 am

    Reply

    I too couldn’t get rid of the lumps hoping that my dear daughter will demolish it tomorrow am, as it’s my turn to get up!

    • catherine

      September 7, 2012 at 11:56 am

      Reply

      Make sure to add the polenta slowly, sort of like you’re sprinkling it into the pot and whisk the entire time!

  5. cucee sprouts

    April 10, 2012 at 2:57 pm

    Reply

    How cute are these? :) Definitely have to try your recipe. Here is my recipe with pictures http://cuceesprouts.com/2012/04/blueberry-almond-breakfast-polenta/

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  9. Brandan WH

    May 2, 2011 at 11:35 am

    Reply

    I didn’t cut these into shapes but served it “as is” and this was delicious! My daughter is a pretty good eater anyways, but I think this put us all over the top! Your recipes are saving me from boredom. Thanks a bunch!

  10. Ashley

    February 8, 2011 at 11:21 pm

    Reply

    I have three different sizes of sheet trays. What dimensions are you using for this recipe?

  11. Kimberlee

    January 24, 2011 at 1:37 am

    Reply

    i bought polenta from trader joes in a tube. how can i use it to make this recipe? i’ve been dying ot try it out, but didn’t look closely at the ingredients before heading to the store! :(

    • Andrea

      February 16, 2011 at 4:34 pm

      Reply

      I believe for this recipe you’ll need the instant polenta because you have to add the other ingredients when still in liquid form. I’ve been making it every weekend since Catherine posted the recipe and my kids love it … and me and my husband too!
      Hope this helps :)

  12. Heather

    January 19, 2011 at 4:58 pm

    Reply

    I couldn’t find instant polenta, had to use the stuff that takes 30 minutes to cook, but it was worth it. My 2 year old devoured them for breakfast this morning and was pretty delighted that his breakfast was shaped like hippos and frogs!!! Thanks so much for the recipe, I have the rest of the shapes in the freezer. I love the recipes that let me make batches I can freeze!

  13. mrs.m

    January 19, 2011 at 9:29 am

    Reply

    I loved this, always love something different for breakfast. My kids weren’t super excited about it, but did eat some. I’ll probably try again another time.

  14. Shawna

    January 16, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Reply

    Well, for some reason it didn’t turn out at all. After it was refrigerated it was still mush. I tried to go ahead and cook it in a pan anyway thinking it might firm up, but it just got mushier. Any ideas on what I could have done wrong? I was so looking forward to this.

    • meredith

      March 11, 2011 at 12:14 pm

      Reply

      You need to cook the polenta until it is hard to whisk and very stiff, it may not have been cooked long enough.

    • catherine

      January 17, 2011 at 7:35 pm

      Reply

      Did you use instant polenta? When polenta cools, it usually solidifies.

  15. Shawna

    January 15, 2011 at 9:51 am

    Reply

    I followed the directions, poured it very slowly and whicked the heck out of it, but still ended up with lumps galore. Are there any tricks to getting the lumps out? I’m hoping it still ends up tasting ok.

    • catherine

      January 17, 2011 at 7:38 pm

      Reply

      You have to slowly pour the polenta in while whisking. This will eliminate lumps :)

  16. SKL

    January 14, 2011 at 7:58 pm

    Reply

    OK
    So can Iuse instant grits? And would the proportions still be the same?

  17. MJ

    January 13, 2011 at 5:09 pm

    Reply

    I can’t find any Polenta

    • rebecca

      January 28, 2011 at 6:39 pm

      Reply

      hope you found it! but if you didnt, I found mine in the baking isle next to flour, & bread crumbs. I only found “Bob’s Red Mill” brand and they call it Corn Grits. Hope this helps!

  18. Karin

    January 7, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    Reply

    Oh the lumps!! I tried very hard to follow your instructions to a ‘T’ to avoid lumps but it didn’t work.
    I just made a batch for tomorrow’s breakfast. I’m hoping that the lumps wont be too much of a disaster when I finish up tomorrow morning!

    • Karin

      January 9, 2011 at 12:48 pm

      Reply

      Well, I’m happy to say that the lumps didn’t stop my family from devouring their breakfasts and asking for seconds.
      This recipe was a success and will definitely be added to my repertoire!!

      • meredith

        March 11, 2011 at 12:12 pm

        Reply

        I am the polenta queen, and to not get lumps, it is crucial to sprinkle the cornmeal in SLOWLY and whisk 100% of the time it is cooking. Though it always tastes delicious!!!!!

  19. Charise

    January 5, 2011 at 2:49 pm

    Reply

    I love polenta. never thought about it for the morning though. I don’t know if we can share hints here (as this is my first time posting) but you can make polenta fries in the oven as well. make the polenta pour into a cookie sheet and let cool in the ice box. then cut into fry shape/sizes and spray tops lightly with olive oil. bake at 450 about 10 minutes in you take them out and flip them and spray the other side with oil. and bake till crispy. time and temp may vary depending on where you live and your oven.

  20. Chelsea

    January 4, 2011 at 11:58 pm

    Reply

    I love polenta. I saw a recipe recently for “french toast polenta”. Basically, you make the polenta as you normally would, cut it into shapes, and then dunk it in the usual egg/milk mix and fry it. I haven’t had a chance to try it yet, but I think it would be delicious.

  21. Aimee @ Chickenville

    January 4, 2011 at 10:45 pm

    Reply

    I LOVE this idea. We are always looking for something interesting to go with our fresh eggs. I’m so gonna try this because they love polenta or grits cooked with cheese. And we’ve had rice pudding (done like oatmeal) for breakfast. This will be a new one on them, but it reminds me of a dish I had at the American Indian Museum in DC.

  22. Irina

    January 4, 2011 at 3:40 pm

    Reply

    I never thought of a sweet version, it sounds interesting. It reminds me of my favorite polenta treat as a child: pour milk over plain cooked polenta and grab a spoon!
    Everyone in my family loves polenta. But not everyone in the family is comfortable with boiling water pots, stirring, watching for the smooth consistency, etc. So we also make polenta in the microwave! We use four cups of water for each cup of coarse cornmeal and cook it in small (3 to 5 mins) intervals, stirring in between, until it is done. This way even the less daring cooks can enjoy their favorite when Mom is not at home.

  23. Lia

    January 4, 2011 at 2:30 pm

    Reply

    Ok so is polenta grits? I just wondered I think this will be great for my kids to have before school in the morning :)

  24. Sara

    January 4, 2011 at 12:11 pm

    Reply

    I love the foods that can be frozen, my father is moving in soon and I will not have time to cook so I am trying to make things now ahead of time. So bring on the food that can be frozen. :-)

  25. anna

    January 4, 2011 at 10:31 am

    Reply

    This is what we in the South call “fried grits” — though non-Southerners are more comfortable when they’re called an Italian name. My mama used to make fried grits from the leftovers (intentional, of course), served with butter and maple syrup. Yum!

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