Making your own Homemade Brown Rice Cereal is easy, economical, fun and a great thing to do for your baby.
Like a lot of moms, I started feeding my kids brown rice cereal when they were 6 months old. Even with all my time logged in the kitchen, I never even thought about making it homemade. For that you have to credit the big corporate baby food companies, who perform some of their most impressive marketing when it comes to this tried and true first food. Now it amazes me how while I bought it by the boxful, it didn’t occur to me for the longest time just how easy it would be to make it on my own. It’s a shocking thing to admit given that it’s almost as simple a recipe as boiling water. All you need is a blender and brown rice — it’s truly the easiest meal you can make for your baby.
Packed with iron, magnesium and other vitamins and minerals, homemade brown rice cereal makes a perfect first food for babies. It’s nutritional value way surpasses white rice cereal, where all the good stuff is stripped out, leaving not much behind. The other awesome part about the DIY version besides the ease of making it and the health benefits is that it costs a mere fraction of what we pay for boxed rice cereal. Why spend all that money on one simple ingredient? You’re basically just paying for pretty packaging. Even if you buy the most expensive organic brown rice you can find, per serving you’ll still be paying less than the equivalent amount of rice cereal you’d buy in the store.
And while you’ve got your blender out making a batch of this recipe you could whiz up some Homemade Oatmeal Cereal too. This is something I always enjoyed doing with my kids when they were babies. It’s a great way for them to make early connections about where there food comes from.
Try it and you’ll always have a simple food on hand that your baby will love!
Homemade Brown Rice Cereal
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Short Grain Brown Rice (I like to use organic brown rice)
Instructions
- Place the brown rice in a spice grinder or blender for 45 seconds-1 minute or until finely ground.
- * At this point you can store the rice powder in a sealed container in the refrigerator or in a cool dark place.
To make 1 serving for a 4-6 month old baby:
- Bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil and sprinkle in 2 tbsp of the ground brown rice.
- Whisk continuously for 30 seconds and then occasionally for 4-5 minutes or until the mixture is thick and creamy to prevent any lumps from forming.
- Serve as is or with one of the additions below.
Hi what brand of organic brown rice do you use
but brown rice needs to be soaked before cooking. which makes the grinding more complicated…the rice should be dehydrated before. I don’t know I’m a bit confused about what is best to do right now… blending rice after cooking each time I want to prepare a cereal for baby is not that practical also.
[…] Homemade Brown Rice Cereal using Organic Short Grain Brown Rice […]
Long grain rice should work just fine! I noted short grain as that is what I used in the recipe.
Will long-grain rice work? Is there a benefit to it being short-grain? None of the stores near me had short-grain 🙁
Yes! Being pulsed into a powder helps it cook much quicker.
The organic short grain brown rice I bought says it should cook 45 minutes on the stovetop but I notice this recipe you only have to whisk it for 4 to 5 minutes. Is that because it is pulsed into a powder first? I just want to make sure I am making it right and not giving baby something hard to digest. Thanks!
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Did anyone answer your question Grace? Because I have the same one. The instructions on the back of the box say to place in water for an hour before regular cooking, but if we do this to make the powder we’d need to leave it to dry again first. I’m also not sure if it can be stored if this method is done. Please let me know.
Do you need to wash the rice before grinding? I find store brought brown rice sometimes with little black stones sometimes. We are a rice eating family so for us we wash rice at least once before cooking.
Great, thank your posting is very cool…
You can save the rice powder in an airtight container in the fridge for about 1 week! I imagine it would last longer in the freezer. I’m not sure about canning in the traditional sense of the word.
canning is posible for this recipe? For example in mason jars?
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GREAT AND EASY RECIPE… THANKS A LOT
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how long can you keep the cereal in the fridge for with added breast milk
can I use wild rice instead of brown rice
Hmm I’m not sure. I would think the flour would be ground super fine and would turn into more of a paste than an oatmeal-like cereal. It is definitely worth a try if you already have some on hand!
Can I use Brown Rice flour instead? And if no, why not?
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Hi,
I understood the process, so you don’t use any heat other than the boiling water? But when I tried it, the mixture stays raw. Whereas others do the same process but whisk the flour on low heat so the rice is cooked, I don’t l.ike to do the latter because I feel that many of the vitamins are lost, but your way leaves the rice raw. Am I missing something? Your prompt reply would be highly appreciated!
Many thanks, please continue the great work.
Any idea how to make the actual flakes like what come in the box? That’s what I need to figure out..
I just blended up my first batch of brown rice for my baby’s first food during our Easter brunch. I used organic brown basmati rice though. Silly question, but does it make a difference which kind?
[…] kinds of healthy recipe ideas in the 6-9 month category that sound scrumptious, including one for homemade brown rice cereal (shown). As for some small appliances that might come in handy, the Beaba Babycook and the Baby […]
[…] After some experiments, I am very happy with my homemade rice cereal. The original recipe came from weelicious, I tweaked it to reduce arsenic in the rice, and also made it […]
So excited to try this! Why have I not thought of it?
After I rinsed the rice, I dry roasted them in the oven at 275 F for two hours before grinding them. It worked well, and the rice cereal has a roasted taste. Hope it helps.
I have heard that rice [white and brown] have natural arsenic, which is why you’re supposed to soak [or at least rinse] the rice before you cook it. Would this still work if you are blending? It seems like if the rice is wet and you try to blend it you will have a sticky mess, but I haven’t tried it yet. Anyone have any suggestions?
That should work just fine!
Can I use long grain brown rice?
hi! thank you for the brown rice cereal recipe…so easy!!! i can’t wait to make it and feed it to my little guy 🙂
Question please! My dh brought brown basmati rice…can use this for my 7 mth old???
do we need to boil the rice powder? Coz, i just buy this kind of rice in the market, on the instructions they said, add a milk only. So, i put EBM in it. Can i do the same, if i made my on rice powder?
An outstanding share! I have just fodrrawed this onto a colleague who has been doing a little research on this. And he in fact bought me dinner due to the fact that I discovered it for him lol. So allow me to reword this . Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending the time to discuss this matter here on your website.
I’m curious about the need to freeze the powdered rice. I’m planning on travelling overseas with a baby and would love to take some pre-ground rice to make into cereal. But I’ll have no way to refrigerate or freeze it. Suggestions?
Trying to find recipies for my 10 month old Grandaughter as I babysit her many times during lunch or snacks.
I used a coffee bean grinder. Worked well took maybe a minute to make into the fine powder.
Do you notice that the rice once frozen seems to be too firm when it thaws?
I found a recipe that you can do in batches.
1/2 cup uncooked rice (I like organic brown rice)
4 cups of water
put uncooked rice in food processor and mill to fine powder. Add milled rice to water in pot, cover and bring to boil, then turn heat down to low and cook/simmer 20 minutes. Check consistency and add water is you need it thinner for your babies needs.
Put in storage containers, refrigerate or freeze.
For individual servings I use ice cube trays and freeze then after frozen pop them out and put in freezer bags labeled and dated, Then you can take out what you want and set in small containers to thaw or microwave, if you choose. This is also a good thing to do when you have to take your little on to day care. Use smaller take and toss containers and put a cube of rice cereal and a cube of what ever mix in you want, this leave no guess work for the daycare provider and less stress for you.
I tried this recipe today and had a question (well, 2 really): Can you boil a kettle or does it have to be on the stovetop? Also, my rice cereal, as fine as I thought it was, was creamy but chunky.. Do I need to blend it more? Thank you!!
Refrigerate for up to 5 days, freeze for up to 3 months!
So since the blended rice has to be refrigerated, how long does it keep for? I am wanted to making a bunch all at once and just store it then in jars. (Quinoa, oatmeal, and rice)
How would you make this recipe if daycare doesn’t have an oven/stove to warm water? They only have a microwave…..
I get it from Trader Joe’s in the rice section!
I can’t find short grain brown rice, maybe I’m overlooking it. Is it normally in the regular aisle for rice or would the kind you get be with the organics?
Trader Joes!
Where do you buy your organic brown rice?
White rice has been bleached and then fortified, brown rice is natural, both are about the same in nutritional value. As for white rice being easier to digest. Brown and white rice are the same to digest it is just a matter of preference.
Brown rice is known to be very healthy. Can brown rice be replaced with any other cereal like well grounded normal white rice since they are more easy to digest.
You can reheat it. It will get thicker after sitting in the fridge, but just add some more water or other liquid to thin it out! It will keep for about 4-5 days in the fridge!
Make that “Quick” question. Mommy didn’t get much sleep. Wee one eats my brain cells!
Quite question — could this stuff be made ahead of time and then reheated in the microwave?? Mine wee one gets fussy waiting for it to cool. It end up sticking it in the freezer to quicken the cooling period! And she just gets irritated — she’s fine once she gets her rice cereal for the day — but the waiting is tough on her — and confusing.
I cook mine with formula. I mix the formula in a bottle ahead of time and stick the bottle in the fridge just like I would normally. Then pour it in the pot and I’m good to go.
1/4 cup water = 1 Tablespoon rice powder = 1 scoop formula. (same as a 2 oz bottle)
1/2 cup water = 2 Tablespoon rice powder = 2 scoops formula (same as a 4 oz bottle)
1 cup water = 4 Tablespoon rice powder = 4 scoops forumla (same as 8 oz bottle)
Yes you can! That is actually a recommendation in the recipe!
Wonderful recipie, but instead of cooking it with water, could I cook the powder with some breast milk? ( I was thinking I can make porridge for adults w/ cows milk, so why not brown rice cereal with breast milk for baby?)
Yes, you can use long grain rice! Short grain rice is ideal because it cooks up softer than other types of rice. 🙂
Loving the site.
Have a quick question, can long grain brown rice be used instead of the short grain?
It does! It has all the nutrients of brown rice plus all the nutrients of the milk or formula you use to cook it!
this cereal has all the nutrients that store bought does?
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You can! It will cook much faster!
I milled minute brown rice, can I turn that into cereal for my baby?
Thanks so much for this. I needed a diary and gluten free cereal for my daughter and this is so easy to do. She loves it!
[…] I’ve been researching first foods. I love the idea of making our own food when possible, and this recipe for brown rice cereal is a great starting point. Check out Weelicious if you haven’t […]
No, it needs to be uncooked rice so that you can grind it!
Can I use pre cooked brown rice?
Candace,I am totally with you on this oh my gnosoeds! My children do the same thing! My husband, not so much, but it drives me mad, and I keep telling them over and over and they just don’t get it what in the world?Tuesdae
When you’re stirring it make sure to scrape the bottom of the pan. Yes, lowering the flame will also help! 🙂
I have a question I just made this recipe and it’s delicious I actually added some salt and pepper and am eating it with my dinner…lol will have to make more for my 9 month old tomorrow I guess…but my question is: How do you keep it from sticking to bottom of pan?? I whisked it often should I have lowered the flame???? Please help I really want to keep making this
Yes you can! Follow the directions for the rice. I’ll be putting up the full written version for the oatmeal soon! The amount to give your baby really depends on him or her and how much they eat in one sitting. I would start with 1/2 cup water plus 1/4 cup of the ground rice!
how much would you make for a 9 month old? and I can really do the same thing with oatmeal???
Can’t find short grain brown rice anywhere. I use long grain brown rice. Would that work?
[…] also has great recipes and guides on her site including how to make your own brown rice cereal (super easy and will save you a […]
No definitely not enuogh food for you, you should be havering about 1800 calories a day, the amount your currently having is about 700-800. If your active which you are, you need even more calories to keep up with you energy use. I was bulimic, and I used to eat less then that plus 2 hours+ of exercise and force vomit. And it was really not good. Start fixing your diets habit before it becomes too late! XxReferences : Bulimic
I have brown rice flour which I use for baking sometimes – would I be able to use it to make cereal for baby instead of grinding my own?
I have precooked parboiled rice, can I use that?
I add 1/2 cup ground brown basmati rice to 4 cups cold water, cover, bring to a boil than reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Comes out perfect. I leave 3 servings in the fridge and freeze the rest.
I was wondering the same thing. It seems like it should come out the same way as long as the cooked rice is cold first.
Can you use Brown Rice flour in the same way you use ground rice, to make rice cereal? I would boil it obviously.
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This recipe is so great! We’ve featured it on our site this week 🙂 Such an easy way to get some iron into their meals!
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Do you lower the temp after reaching a boil and whisking or continue to cook on high heat?
Do you have to cook or brown the rice first, or is this a step you can safely skip?
Wow Who knew it was this easy to make your own rice cereal! Thank you so much for all of your help on this site. 🙂 BTW I just launched a new cooking site myself,I would be super excited if you checked it out (just in baby stages mind you) MyLoveForCooking.com. Thanks! 🙂
Hello, I toasted brown rice then blended it. I added 2 teaspoons to my baby’s formula (5 oz) and put it in the bottle.
Questions:
Do I have to add boiling water to the powder eventhough I toasted it ?
Is ok to put rice cereal in the bottle?
My baby is 4-1/2 months, is ok to start her on solids?
Thank you for your answers.
Can it really be that easy??!! I am going to give away my unopened box of rice cereal and make this myself – Thanks!!!
can you freeze the rice cereal once it’s prepared with the water? or is it best to just make it fresh each time? Looking for best way to take to daycare for my little one.
I found out that you have to use a whisk. I also have a fine wire strainer that I put it through first to remove any lumps that there may be. Took me a couple of tries, but the last few times have been lump free 🙂
Thanks so much for your recipes and ideas! I have been making this for my kittle guy but for some reason it remains lumpy. Also, when I add the rice powder to the boiling water it becomes glue in an instant. Help!
Could you cook this by boiling formula instead of just water, or does that not work? Just trying to figure out how this will work for my girls. Thanks!
hi
brown rice i have to blend and then cookor wat
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Yes it would 🙂
I love this idea!! Thank you!! I always did it the other way around, cooked it then vitamixed with extra liquid- but always made way too much and ended up having to freeze it.
I’m curious, would this work with quinoa or oats? Blending raw then adding hot water?
Its perfect!
I have long grain brown basmati rice, is that not good to use?
Thanks for this great idea. I still cannot make it right though.. my baby doesn’t like the texture, making sour face and shaking off 🙂 I will try again later as I really like this recipe idea. Blending after cooking didn’t work either as it was all to sticky, even adding water or milk didn’t help.
Is there any reason not to do this the other way around? I mean cook the rice and then puree it with a hand blender? i used to do that with oatmeal and it turned out a great texture.
Thanks so much for this recipe! It will definitely help everyone out there realize how easy it is to make.
Such an improvement over commercial rice cereals – especially for those children with allergies. Our son is allergic to dairy, soy, gluten and nuts, so we searched everywhere for rice cereal that did not have soy or soy lecithin in it for weeks! Finally, there was only one brand we could find, and it was special order from our local health food store.
Our lesson learned? Home made is always better (and less expensive!)
You would need to prepare the formula with water first. This way you can thin it down until the desired consistency.
So if it’s too thick you can take the prepared formula (like you would have in a bottle for baby to drink) and add it until it’s thin enough for your baby.
You said we can add in formula milk into the brown rice. Do we just add the milk powder alone and stir the brown rice? Or do we prepare the formula milk powder with water first, then add into the brown rice?
You used one of my all time favorite imaegs! Soooo pretty! What a great card!Thanks for joining the Wild Orchid Crafts Challenge this time around!Hugs, Dena
How long did you cook it for? The longer you cook it, the more thicker it gets.
Love this idea! I tried to make it the other day and using the measurements specified it would not thicken. Any ideas what I am doing wrong?
I have just made a batch. I washed the rice then put it in the blender and the powdered rice was quite dry. The wet stuff seemed to stick to the edges and I didn’t scrape it off. I have put it into an airtight container in the fridge and so far so good.
Do u wash and dry the brown rice first before grinding them into powder? If so, how do you dry the rice?
Hi!! New here!! Baby #3 coming this summer and I plan to make more of his food then I did with the others :).
I made some but not all. I hope to be 90% homemade. (it’s so lazy, I mean easy to toss a non perishable one in the bag for long days out)
What a great idea, I can’t wait to try this out 🙂
Thanks Katherine. I was just going to scour your site for old baby food posts and I couldn’t believe you posted brown rice cereal just yesterday. I’ve been reading your blog since my twins were 8 months old (they just turned 3) and now I am ready to start making my own baby food again for my sweet new daughter, Everly. Thanks for such a fabulous blog!
Trina
some probiotics say to only add to cold food.
Just make sure the probiotic is in the fridge section as their more likely to have the good bacteria in there. Just my 2 cents!
Looks like you can. I’ve got packets of FlorastorKids probiotics that I add to expressed milk when baby gets a bottle. The package says it can be added to apple sauce and other soft baby foods.
With my first child I used Happy Baby rice cereal which is fortified with probiotics and helped ease his gassy stomach (and boost his immune system!!). I wonder if I could buy the supplements and add them in myself when baby #2 is ready for solids (still in utero so I have a while to research the topic!) This is easier than I expected it to be.
I buy an organic molasses that is unsulphured from Whole Foods: http://www.wholesomesweeteners.com/brands/Wholesome_Sweeteners/Fair_Trade_Certified_Organic_Blackstrap_Molasses.html
Just curious what type of molasses do you recommend? I know of blackstrap and fancy. Would either be suitable (I don’t know the difference between them)?
Short grain rice has a creamier texture due to a higher amount of a starch called amylopectin. It’s better suited for applications like rice pudding, for example, than long grain rice. In making cereal, long grain rice might have a different consistency or texture, but nutritionally, really no different. Hope this helps!
I haven’t used long grain, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work! Just pulse it to a fine powder 🙂
I was just wondering why short grain vs. long grain brown rice?
I grind all my own cereals and grains for my son. It’s so easy! So much better tasting than the store bought ones as well. Try organic brown basmati rice for a great rice cereal flavor!
I see from your photo that the result looks very VERY smooth. I never tried this at home because my second child had an alarmingly over-reacting gag reflex. He gagged on textures until months past the date when every other baby was happily eating chunky foods. The pediatrician called him The Happy Puker.
Also, I didn’t know I would be capable of producing such a finely pureed product. I should have tried!
Fortifying is a commercial process. Molasses has tons of iron, so I would add a bit to sweeten it up. My kids loved this cereal with molasses and mashed banana!
Is there any way to fortify this with iron like the commercial baby cereals?
I also did this with oatmeal. I would grind up a cup, cook it and then have some with my baby.
You could keep a portion of it cooked and refrigerated for up to 3 days. Just add a bit more liquid to thin it out a bit.
I used to freeze mine in ice cube trays. Once froze, I’d transfer to a ziplock freezer bag. I think it only lasts a couple of days in the fridge.
How long will the cooked brow, rice cereal keep? Can I make a larger batch afnd keep it in the fridge?
Love that combo. Oh yes, molasses is packed with iron and since it has a sweet flavor it’s a great choice to be mixed with this cereal.
Can babies really eat molasses? My son will be one in the end of March and I would love to give him molasses if it’s true that he can eat it. My mom’s family is from Maine and I was raised eating it. I don’t think I have a single friend that likes it, so I would like to start my son early. By the way, mix molasses with peanut butter, spread it on some homemade biscuits. Nothing quite as good. Mmm…