Recipe For Homemade Cerelac

Last updated: January 2026

Quick Answer

Ghar ka bana cerelac (homemade baby cereal) can be a fresh, affordable, and wholesome option for your 6-month+ baby, made from roasted rice, dal, and nuts, without preservatives or added sugar. This traditional Indian recipe can be customized as your baby grows. One thing to keep in mind: many store-bought infant cereals are iron-fortified, and iron is a common shortfall in Indian babies after 6 months — so homemade cereal should be paired with other iron-rich foods (ragi, dal, green leafy vegetables) and discussed with your pediatrician.

Why Make Homemade Cerelac?

Benefits Over Store-Bought

Homemade	Store-Bought
No preservatives	Contains preservatives
No added sugar	May have added sugar
Fresher ingredients	Processed
You control quality	Pre-packaged
Much cheaper	Expensive
Can customize	Fixed recipe
Needs added iron-rich foods	Usually iron-fortified

When to Introduce

• Start at 6 months - Not before (WHO recommendation)
• Continue maa ka doodh - Breast milk or formula remains primary nutrition
• One food at a time - Follow 3-day rule to check for allergies
• Gradually increase - Start with 1-2 teaspoons

Classic Homemade Cerelac Recipe

Ingredients

Basic Version (6+ months):

• Rice (chawal) - 1 cup
• Moong dal - 2 tablespoons
• Toor dal - 2 tablespoons Enhanced Version (7+ months):

Add to basic version:

• Almonds (badam) - 8-10
• Cashews (kaju) - 5-6
• Ragi - 2 tablespoons (optional, for iron) Advanced Version (8+ months):

Add:

• Oats - 2 tablespoons
• Sabudana - 2 tablespoons
• Peanuts - 1 tablespoon (if no allergy)
• Dates - 2-3 (seedless, for natural sweetness)

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Clean and Soak

• Wash rice and dal thoroughly in running water
• Check for stones or impurities
• Spread on clean cloth to dry completely (2-3 hours or overnight)
• Important: Ingredients must be completely dry to prevent spoilage

Step 2: Roast the Ingredients

For rice and dal:

• Heat a heavy-bottomed pan (kadhai) on low flame

• Add rice, roast for 5-7 minutes, stirring constantly

• Rice should turn slightly golden and aromatic

• Remove and cool in a plate

• Roast dal separately for 3-4 minutes until aromatic

• Do not burn - keep flame low and stir continuously For nuts (if using):

• Roast almonds and cashews on low flame for 2-3 minutes

• They should be light golden, not dark

• Cool completely before grinding

Step 3: Grind to Powder

• Let all roasted ingredients cool completely (warm ingredients won’t grind well)
• Grind rice and dal first to fine powder
• Add nuts and grind again
• Sieve through fine mesh to remove any coarse particles
• Re-grind any remaining pieces
• Final powder should be smooth like flour

Step 4: Store Properly

Storage tips:

• Use completely clean, dry, airtight container
• Store in cool, dry place
• Keep away from moisture and heat
• Use clean, dry spoon every time
• Shelf life: 1 month (room temperature), 2-3 months (refrigerator)

How to Prepare for Baby

Basic Preparation

Ingredients:

• Homemade cerelac powder - 1-2 tablespoons

• Water - 1/2 cup

• Breast milk or formula (optional, for added nutrition) Steps:

• Add powder to water in a small pan

• Mix well to prevent lumps

• Cook on low flame for 3-4 minutes, stirring continuously

• Add more water if too thick

• Cool to lukewarm temperature

• Test temperature on your wrist before feeding

• Add expressed breast milk or formula for extra nutrition (after removing from heat)

Tasty Variations

With Fruit (7+ months):

• Mash ripe banana and mix in

• Add apple puree (cooked)

• Mix in mashed chiku or mango With Vegetables (7+ months):

• Add mashed sweet potato

• Mix in carrot puree

• Add pumpkin (kaddu) puree With Healthy Fats (all ages):

• Add 1/4 teaspoon ghee

• Mix in 1 teaspoon coconut milk

Age-Wise Serving Guide

Age	Amount	Frequency	Consistency
6 months	1-2 tbsp	1-2 times/day	Very thin, watery
7-8 months	2-3 tbsp	2-3 times/day	Slightly thicker
9-12 months	4-5 tbsp	3 times/day	Thicker, can have some texture

Remember: Maa ka doodh remains primary nutrition until 1 year. Solids are supplementary.

Recipe Variations

Ragi Cerelac (Iron-Rich)

Ingredients:

• Ragi - 1/2 cup
• Rice - 1/2 cup
• Moong dal - 2 tbsp
• Almonds - 5 Benefit: Extra iron for preventing anemia

Multi-Grain Cerelac (8+ months)

Ingredients:

• Rice - 1/3 cup
• Wheat (gehun) - 1/3 cup
• Ragi - 1/3 cup
• Mixed dal - 2 tbsp
• Mixed dry fruits - small handful Benefit: Variety of nutrients, different textures

Sweet Cerelac (Natural Sweetness)

Ingredients:

• Basic cerelac ingredients
• Dates (khajoor) - 4-5 (seedless)
• Dried fig (anjeer) - 2 Benefit: Natural sweetness without sugar

Tips for Success

• Dry ingredients completely before roasting - moisture causes spoilage
• Roast on low flame - burning makes it bitter
• Cool before grinding - warm ingredients won’t powder well
• Use clean, dry utensils - always, for storage and serving
• Make small batches - fresh is better than stored
• Start simple - basic recipe first, add variety gradually
• Watch for allergies - especially with nuts

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Making too much at once - Fresh powder is more nutritious
• Adding honey - Never give honey to babies under 1 year
• Adding salt or sugar - Not needed for babies
• Storing in damp container - Causes mold and spoilage
• Using wet spoon - Introduces moisture
• Making too thick - Baby may choke
• Heating breast milk - Add after removing from heat

When to Seek Help

Consult your pediatrician if:

• Baby refuses cerelac consistently
• Signs of allergic reaction (rash, vomiting, diarrhea)
• Concerns about baby’s weight gain
• Unsure about introducing new ingredients
• Baby has constipation after starting solids

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Cerelac 6 mahine se pehle de sakte hain?

A: Nahi! WHO and IAP both recommend starting solids at 6 months, not before. Before 6 months, maa ka doodh alone provides all nutrition. Starting early can cause digestive problems and increases allergy risk.

Q: Store-bought Cerelac better hai ya homemade?

A: Both can work. Homemade lets you control the ingredients with no preservatives, is fresher, and is much cheaper. Store-bought is convenient and is usually iron-fortified, which can be helpful since iron deficiency is common in Indian babies after 6 months. If you go fully homemade, just make sure your baby also gets iron-rich foods (ragi, dal, green leafy vegetables). Discuss the right mix for your baby with your pediatrician.

Q: Kya nuts allergic reaction de sakte hain?

A: Yes, nuts can cause allergies. Current guidance is not to delay allergens unnecessarily — introducing them around 6 months (as a smooth paste or finely ground powder, never whole nuts, which are a choking hazard) may actually lower allergy risk. Add only one new type at a time and follow the 3-day rule (same food for 3 days, watch for reactions). Watch for hives, swelling of lips/face, vomiting, or wheezing. If your baby has eczema, an existing food allergy, or a strong family history of nut allergy, talk to your pediatrician before introducing nuts. 🚨 If you ever see swelling of the face/lips/tongue, difficulty breathing, or sudden floppiness after a feed, call 112 or 108 or go to the nearest hospital immediately.

Q: Kitne din tak store kar sakte hain?

A: Room temperature: 1 month in airtight container. Refrigerator: 2-3 months. Freezer: 3-4 months. Always use clean, dry spoon. If powder changes color, smells different, or has any moisture, discard it.

Q: Baby khana nahi kha raha - force karun?

A: Never force feed! It creates negative association with food. If baby refuses, stop, try again later or next day. Some babies take weeks to accept new textures. Maa ka doodh is still providing nutrition, so don’t worry too much.

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This article was reviewed by the Babynama Pediatricians team. Homemade baby food can be a good choice when made hygienically, but make sure your baby’s diet covers iron and other key nutrients.

Need personalized guidance? Book a consultation with our pediatricians or explore our Care Plans for 24/7 expert support!

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Related Tools

• Baby Food Chart

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This article is for general information for parents in India and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Feeding guidance here follows WHO and Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) recommendations. Every baby is different — always discuss your baby’s diet, growth, and any allergy concerns with your pediatrician.