Are you marking Passover this year and looking for some easy foods to try with your toddler to celebrate the occasion? Check out our food ideas here, which include matzah recipes and cinnamon balls.
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When Is Passover?
Passover starts at dusk on Saturday 12th April 2025 and lasts seven days until Sun 20th April 2025 after sundown. Passover (Pesach) marks the freedom of the Jews when they were led out of slavery from Egypt by Moses. Families gather for a Seder service and meal, the night before Passover starts. All the foods symbolise different elements of the Exodus story. If you’re looking for a fun way to explain the Passover story to your little one, the BBC have a great video here.
What Sorts of Foods Can I Try With My Toddler For Passover?
1. Matzah Bread
Try Matzah – unleavened bread – with your toddler. You can make your own using flour and water. There are traditionally three different Matzah on the Seder plate. The middle Matzah is broken into pieces. Children search for the largest piece, which is hidden. You eat matzah rather than challah bread (which is risen) for Passover as it represents the first food the Israelites ate after leaving Egypt.
2. Matzo Crackers
You can buy dry matzo crackers in packets. Traditionally they are made from just flour and water. Go for wholegrain flour where possible. You can always spread the crackers with butter (or another topping like jam) to taste if your toddler prefers it. Also soak them in water if your baby or toddler is very young to minimise any risk of choking.
3. Breakfast Pancakes – Matzah Brei
You can make matzah (matzo) brei pancakes using eggs and crushed matzah. You can soak your sheets of matzo in water or milk first if you like.
Beat together two eggs with two tablespoons of milk and a little sugar and salt to taste (if you prefer). In a separate bowl, crush two sheets of matzo into small pieces. If you’re planning to soak your matzo, add a ½ cup of water or milk and leave it to absorb for about two minutes or so. Then mix the eggs with the matzo.
For cooking your pancakes, you can use a little butter (kosher butter) heated in your frying pan.
Traditionally you eat these pancakes for breakfast. Serve with cinnamon, apple sauce or jam. See here for more matzo brei recipe ideas, including savoury matzo brei.
4. Cinnamon Balls – Toddler Passover Foods
These cinnamon balls look and sound really tasty! Take two egg whites (save the yolks for other cooking) and whisk them until they’re stiff. Then mix in 2¼ cups of ground almonds, 1¼ cups of golden caster sugar, ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and 1½ teaspoons of vanilla bean paste and a pinch of salt.
Now (and your toddler can also help with this bit), use your hands (dampen them slightly) to make bite-sized balls. Spread the cinnamon balls out on a pre-prepared baking tray and bake for 20-30 minutes in a preheated oven at 140⁰ fan until they’re slightly brown. You can sprinkle them with a little icing sugar while they’re still cooling.
Thanks to BBC Good Food for inspiration with this recipe and method.
5. Matzo Granola – Toddler Passover Foods
Here’s a recipe you can prep with your toddler. For matzo granola, you just need four or five sheets of matzo. Break the matzo into bite-sized pieces and mix it with three cups of chopped mixed nuts. Use a packet for ease or you can chop up any nuts of your choice (of course leave out the nuts if you need to go nut-free).
Mix together six tablespoons of sunflower oil (or your favourite oil) with 4½ tablespoons of maple syrup or honey (avoid honey in under ones) and ½ tsp salt with the matzo and nuts. Tip the mixture evenly onto a lined baking tray and cook in a preheated oven at 180⁰ fan for ten minutes. Mix in ¾ cup of coconut or almond flakes and cook for a further five minutes (watch it carefully so it doesn’t burn). Once it’s finished cooking, you can take it out of the oven and leave the granola to cool and crisp. You can stir in some freeze-dried strawberries, raspberries, raisins or cranberries at this stage too.
Thanks again to BBC Good Food for inspiration with this recipe and method.
6. Hard-Boiled Eggs
In the Seder service, hard boiled eggs hold symbolic meaning, including a determination to keep faith. So if your toddler hasn’t tried hard-boiled eggs before, this could be a good time to do it.
Where Can I Find More Toddler-Friendly Food Ideas For Passover?
Have a look here for one family’s story of how to make your Seder child-friendly and here for how to adapt Passover food for babies and young toddlers, including matzah balls and braised lamb.
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