These simple and easy fruit baby food recipes are for Homemade Baby Fruit Purées. Wholesome Homemade Baby Food Fruit Purées and Baby Fruit Recipes, there's nothing as yummy, healthy, wholesome and fresh as homemade baby fruit purées! Your baby will love the tastes of fresh fruits! You will love the ease and simplicity of the fruit recipes!
 Peeling Fruits & Veggies - It is suggested that fruits and veggies are peeled for those babies under 8 months of age. Read more in our Peeling Fruits & Vegetables- Why do you suggest peeling fruits and veggies page
|
Apricot Puree (using dried, un-sulphured apricots)
6-8months+
Vitamins: A, C, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Calcium
1. 1 pound dried apricots
2. 2 c. white grape juice or apple juice.
Plain water is ok but the puree may be a bit bitter. Some babies actually like a bitter taste however. Consider using ½ water or ½ juice if you disagree with the juices or if baby cannot have juice. You can always mix in another fruit such as peaches or bananas and leave out the juice entirely!
3. Bringliquid and fruit to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
4. Reserve any left over liquid to use for the puree
5. Place into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing.
6. Add the reserved liquid as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin puree or
7. Add cereal (if desired) to thicken up
8. Note: puree will not freeze solid, but into slightly soft/slightly frozen cubes.
Are you wondering about Juice for Your Baby? Read our article to find out about juice and the role it may or may not play in a baby's diet!
Apples/Applesauce (Use Gala, Braeburn, Rome or Macs)
(4)6 months+Vitamins: A, C, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium
This recipe is written so that you may use any amount of apples you wish! We recommend Fuji, Gala, Braeburn or Macintosh
1. Peel, core and cut apple into slices/chunks
2. Place slices or chunks into a pan with just enough water to slightly cover
apples
3. Boil/steam until tender; be sure to check on the water level and stir, That's It! Easy Peasy!
Apples may be mashed with a potato masher to achieve a smooth
applesauce consistency. If your masher will not achieve a puree type of
consistency, then follow steps 5 - 7
5. Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the apples
6. Place into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing.
7. Add the reserved water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin puree
8. Add cereal (if desired) to thicken up the
Ask your pediatrician about adding some cinnamon for new tastes!
If your baby is constipated, you might also use the juice that is leftover from the
cooking to mix into cereals, or with water in a bottle or sippy cup.
HINT! You may also buy an "Adult" jar of Natural applesauce from your local grocers! Make sure you buy Natural Applesauce however! Read the labels if you are unsure. The only ingredients should be apples and water or just apples! A few companies may add ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or citric acid to their Natural Applesauce; this is fine!
Baked Apples
6-8months+
1. Core apple and leave peel on
2. Place a wee bit of butter (if baby is ready for or has had dairy) on the inside
of the cored apple (sprinkle a bit of cinnamon in the apple if your desire and if
baby is ready for or has had cinnamon)
3. Place in a pan with just enough water to slightly cover apples – about an
inch of water
4. Bake in a 400-degree oven for 30 minutes or until tender; be sure to check
on the water level.
5. Once baked, either cut apple into little bits and serve as a finger food or
mash as directed above in the Apples/Applesauce recipe.
Avocado(yes, avocado is a fruit!)(4)6 months+
Vitamins: A, C, Niacin, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Magnesium, Calcium
1. Peel and take out the pit of a ripe avocado - do not cook
2. Cut “meat” out and mash with a fork
3. There should be no need to use a machine as just like bananas, avocados
have a very soft consistency and texture. Avocados do not need to be cooked.
How to Select an Avocado -
When selecting an Avocado, you want a dark green color with bumpy texture. The fruit should be firm yet yielding when gently pushed. When an avocado is sliced in half, the flesh color should be a green that gently transforms into a buttery yellow around the pit. Visit our Avocado Topic for more recipes and information
Apple ‘Cado (4)6-8months+
1/2 of a peeled and pitted avocado
1/4 cup applesauce
Mash the avocado half
Mix mashed avocado with applesauce (homemade or natural)
Apples & Pears (4)6-8months+
1 apple – cored & peeled
1 pear – cored & peeled
Dice apple & pear and simmer together until tender. Mash or puree as needed.
Apple Peach Banana (4)6-8months+
1 peach – pit & peel
1 apple – cored & peeled
½ ripe banana
Dice apple & peach and simmer together until tender. Mash the banana into the apple & peach mix and then puree as needed.
Bananas(4)6 months+
Vitamins: A, C, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Selenium, Magnesium, Calcium
1. Peel ripe bananas - do not cook
2. Place banana in a food processor/food mill or blender and puree
3. You can also mash the banana in a bowl using a regular fork – heat in
microwave for 25 seconds prior to mashing for extra softness
4. Add formula/breast milk or water to thin or add cereal (if desired) to thicken
up.
Bananas and banana puree may be frozen. Using a bit of lemon juice will help to prevent the browning of a banana (and most other fruits) when freezing it. It is the citric acid or the ascorbic acid that aids in the preservation of fruits.
The exposure to oxygen and the enzymes in a banana (and most other fruits) are what cause it to go from green to yellow, and then brown to black, as it ripens. A blackish or brownish banana is not necessarily rotten or bad.
Banana Applesauce Mush
(4)6 months+
1. Peel, core and cut 1 apple into slices/chunks
2. Place slices or chunks into a pan with just enough water to slightly cover
apples
3. Boil until tender; be sure to check on the water level.
4. Apples may be mashed with a potato masher to achieve a smooth
applesauce consistency or you can puree in an appliance as shown above
5. Peel a ripe banana and mash in a bowl with a fork (heating in the microwave for approximately 20 seconds will soften the banana up if needed)
6. Add applesauce to the banana and sprinkle with wheat germ* or crushed
cheerios*
7. Puree if necessary but mashing with a potato masher will typically get this
mix smooth
*8months+
Banana ‘Cado (4)6-8months+
1/2 of a peeled and pitted avocado
1 small ripe banana
Mash the avocado half
Mash the banana
Mix mashed avocado with banana & serve
Blueberries**(Read our Blueberry Information page)
8-10 months+
Vitamins: A, C, K, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Sodium, Phosphorus, Iron, Magnesium, Calcium
1. 1/2 pint of blueberries (fresh or frozen)
2. 4 c. water
3. Bring water to a boil. Add blueberries and simmer for 15 minutes until soft.
4. Reserve liquid and use a slotted spoon to transfer blueberries to
blender/processor/mixer and puree.
5. If needed, add some of the liquid to blueberries.
6. Add cereal (if desired) to thicken up
*You can save the liquid to serve as juice or to blend in with cereals etc..
Blueberry Applesauce 8-10 months+
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
2 medium apples
Peel, core & dice apples. In a saucepan, add blueberries and apples with 1 cup of water. Bring water to a boil then simmer for 15 minutes until soft.
Puree or mash as needed. Add yogurt or cereal or both for a yummy breakfast, lunch or snack!
Blueberry Peach Surprise 8-10 months+
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
2 peaches
¼ cup oatmeal
Peel, core & dice peaches. In a saucepan, add blueberries, oatmeal and peaches with 1 1/2 cup of water. Bring water to a boil then simmer for 15 minutes until soft and oatmeal has absorbed all the liquid. Stir frequently.
Puree or mash as needed. Add yogurt or cereal or both for a yummy breakfast, lunch or snack!
Blueberry Banana Yogurt 8-10 months+
1 cup blueberries
1 whole banana
1 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons wheat germ
For Babies: Use 1 cup of your already made blueberry puree OR Microwave the
blueberries just until the juices start to run, about 30 seconds. Place the
banana, yogurt and blueberries in a blender and puree until smooth.
For Toddlers: Slice the banana. Microwave the blueberries just until the juices
start to run, about 30 seconds. Place a little yogurt in a dish and top with
banana slices, blueberries, wheat germ and serve. This will make 2-3 servings.
Kiwi
8-10 months+*
Vitamins: A, C, K, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium
1.Peel ripe kiwi
2. Puree or mash with a fork - add cereal (if desired) to thicken and achieve a smooth, thin consistency.
Kiwi does not need to be cookedand it should not need to be de-seeded as it is typically introduced at an age where baby can tolerate raw fruits and a bit of texture.
*Kiwi is high in Vitamin C and is also acidic, you may wish to wait to introduce it when baby is 10 months or older. Visit our Kiwi Page for more recipes and information about Kiwi
Kiwi Banana Tango 8-10 months+*
1 ripe kiwi – peeled & diced
1/2 ripe banana – peeled
1/2 ripe mango – peeled & diced
Mash all fruits together and then blend or puree as needed. Make it Creamy Kiwi Banana Tango by adding yogurt and/or cereal!
Back to Top
Melons (cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon)
8-10 months+Vitamins: A, C, K, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium
1. 1/4 cup sliced, soft, seedless melon, rind removed
2. Puree or mash with a fork - add cereal (if desired) to thicken up the melon
achieve a smooth, thin consistency.
**Melon does not need to be cooked as it
is typically introduced at an age where baby can tolerate raw fruits. Melon may
be steamed to tender and then mashed if you prefer without harming it.
Mango* Creamy Puree 6-8months+
Vitamins: A (1262 IU in one cup!), C, E, K, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium
If your infant is currently not eating yogurt and/or you do not wish to use any juice, simply peel, de-seed and mash the mango with some water until the proper consistency for Your Infant is achieved.
1 Ripe Mango
Plain or Vanilla Yogurt OR
Water, Apple or Pear Juice
Preparation Directions:
Peel, De-seed and Mash Mango until smooth
Add Yogurt or Water or Juice until the proper consistency for Your Infant is achieved.
*Mango does not need to be cooked as it is typically introduced at an age
where baby can tolerate raw fruits. Mango may be steamed to tender and then mashed if you prefer without harming it.
HINT! You may use mango as a great Baby Finger Foods! Simply peel, de-seed and then cut into dices or chunks that are manageable for your baby! You may wish to coat
the mango pieces with "cheerio dust", wheat germ or another cereal "dust" to
help baby easily pick up the bits!
Papaya
6-8months+Vitamins: A, C, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Calcium
To prepare a papaya (ensure it is fully ripened!), peel, de-seed and then mash into a consistency your baby will tolerate.
Some parents who have infants with sensitive tummies will give fruits a gentle steaming to help break down the sugars and fibers for easier digestion. If you feel this is the case for your infant, chunk the papaya and then steam for 5-10 minutes until very soft.
Ideas for serving Papaya to your Baby:
Mash and mix with banana and avocado
Make a Papaya, banana, yogurt smoothie
Mix papaya into chicken and rice for a tropical chicken dinner
Pears, Plums, Peaches and Nectarines too
Pear(4)6 months+
Vitamins: A, C, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium
Peel and cut into chunks so as to avoid the little seed portion. Steam
gently until tender;
Place in a blender/food processor and puree until smooth. You may be able to
just use a fork too!
Use the leftover cooking water if needed but Pears tend to be very runny and
watery without adding liquid.
Add some baby cereal to thicken if needed.
Plums 6-8months+
Vitamins: A, C, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium
Peel, pit and cut into chunks
Steam until tender in a scant amount of water.
Puree using the leftover cooking liquid. You may need to mix in another fruit as plum purée has a tendency to be rather tart and/or bitter
Peaches 6-8months+
Vitamins: A, C, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium
Steam or Bake or Blanch Peaches - these methods work for nectarines, plums and pears as well. We HIGHLY recommend giving baked peaches a try at least once! You will find they are more tasty when baked. Why not try baking for all fruits?
Steam Peaches - Method 1
1. Scrub fruit clean and carve an X into 1 side of the fruit
2. Place X side down in a pan with an inch of water
3. Bring water to a boil and steam until soft and tender
4. Peel skin from fruit and remove pits and/or seeds
5. move to step #6 below
SteamPeaches - Method 2
1. Peel fruit
2. Pit the peach
3. Cut the peach into dices
4. Steam until soft and tender then
5. move to step #6
Bake
1. Halve the fruit and place "open" side down in a pan filled with 1 inch of water
2. Bake at 400F until soft and tender and/or puckering of the skin appears.
3. Peel skin from fruit and remove pits and/or seeds (you may also leave the skin on your baked peaches - the skin may simply melt into the fruit!)
4. move to step #6
"Blanch"
1. Bring 3 or 4 cups of water to a rolling boil
2. Add cleansed peaches or nectarines to the boiling water and boil the fruit for 3-5 minutes
3. Remove fruit to a bowl of cold water, allow to cool for 2 minutes
4. Slip off the skins and then take out the pit
5. move
to step #6
Moving to Step 6
6. Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the fruits
7. Peel off skin if you have not done this already. Place fruit(s) into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing.
8. Add the reserved water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin puree
9. Add cereal (if desired) to thicken up.
Peachy Mangos 6 months+
3 peaches
1 mango
Peel, pit and cut peaches into chunks
Peel, deseed and cut mango into chunks
Steam fruits together gently until tender if needed
Place in a blender/food processor and puree until smooth or mash with a fork and let baby try to use a spoon or her fingers.
Plum with Applesauce 6-8months+
2 plums
1 large apple
Peel, pit and cut plums into chunks
Peel, core & dice apple
Simmer plums & apple together in a saucepan until soft & tender
Mash or puree as needed – add a splash of apple juice if too bitter
Back to Top
Prunes 6-8months+
Vitamins: A, C, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium
1. Soak dried prunes in warm water until they plump up or steam gently.
2. Once plump and tender, toss into food processor or blender and begin to puree.
3. Add liquid without sparing any. Prunes tend to become a pasty gluey
consistency when pureed and the more water you add, the easier it is to puree
to a texture your baby will tolerate.
Note: Prune puree, like apricot puree, will not freeze solid, but will freeze into slightly soft/slightly frozen cubes.
Pumpkin 6-8months+
Vitamins: A (12230 IU in 1 cup!), C, K, Folate, Niacin
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron
1. Cut sugar pumpkin (the kind meant to be baked and eaten!) in half, scoop out seeds
2. Place an inch of water in a baking pan, then place the halves "face" down
in the pan. Check on water level while baking
3. Bake in a 375-425 F degree oven for 40 minutes to 1 hour, or until the “shell/skin” puckers
and halves feel soft then scoop squash “meat” out of the shell
4. Place pumpkin "meat" into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin
pureeing.
5. Add water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin consistency.
6. You can also peel the pumpkin, scoop out the seeds and then cut into chunks
and boil/steam until tender (like when boiling potatoes for mashed potatoes)
then follow steps 4 and 5.
Pumpkin & Pears 6-8months+
½ cup pumpkin puree (fresh or canned)
1 ripe pear, peeled & cored & diced
Mash the pear and then mix in the pumpkin – puree if needed.
Pumpkin, Banana Peaches 6-8months+
½ cup pumpkin puree (fresh or canned)
1 pear, peeled & cored & diced
1peach – peeled, pitted & diced
Combine all food (steam pear and peach together if need be and mash or puree if needed.
HINT! You may also buy a can of pumpkin from your local grocers! Make sure you buy Pumpkin and NOT Pumpkin Pie mix however. Learn more about Cooking with Pumpkin
Fruity-Pops 8 months+-
added 30 July 2007
Here are some ideas to get you making healthy teething/ice pops for your older baby or child. Visit our Introducing Yogurt to Baby page to learn about yogurt in your baby's diet
Cooling Baby Banana Yogurt Pops
1 cup banana puree (or 2 very ripe bananas)
1 cup plain yogurt
Blend and/or puree until you have a smooth liquid
Pour mixture into ice cube trays and freeze until solid. Pop out a cube or 2 and add to a baby safe feeder. Viola! Healthy Baby Pops!
Variations:
Blueberry Yogurt Pops
Peach Yogurt Pops
Papaya Yogurt Pops
Buy Ice Pop Trays and offer these healthy pops to your toddlers and older kids as well!
Mango Pops
3/4 peach nectar or plain water
2 1/2 cups frozen mango pieces
1 16 ounce container of plain yogurt
Blend and/or puree until you have a smooth liquid
Pour mixture into ice cube trays and freeze until solid. Pop out a cube or 2 and add to a baby safe feeder. Viola! Baby Pops!
Apple Ice - Yummy for Toddlers
5 cups peeled and sliced Granny Smith or Macintosh apples
1 cup water
3/4 cup apple juice (100% juice only!)
1 drip lemon juice
1.) In large saucepot, simmer apples, water, and juice until apples are tender -- about 20 minutes. Once tender, transfer to blender or food processor and add 1 drip lemon juice. Puree mixture until smooth
2.) Transfer mixture to large freezable container and freeze until almost solid. Add mixture back to the food processor of blender and puree until chunks break up and mixture is fluffy. Refreeze until firm to make Apple Ice for Toddlers
3) Skip #2 and simply freeze mixture in ice cube trays and then pop out a cube or 2 and add to a baby safe feeder.
**Some babies enjoy holding and manipulating ice cubes on a hot day. If you don't mind the mess, let baby have the "ice pops" while sitting in the highchair**
Tofu-Fruit Mush
8-10 Months
1. 4oz firm tofu
2. 1 ripe banana, peeled
3. 1/4-cup (frozen) blueberries, peaches or *strawberries
4. 3 tbs of Wheat Germ
5. Puree all ingredients in a blender or food processor until a fluffy type texture is achieved.
6. Serve by spoon or spread on toast.
This mix is GREAT for learning how to spoon feed! This mix will "cling" to the spoon and help eliminate baby's frustration with food falling off the spoon! You may also freeze this mix and call it "Ice Cream"
*strawberries - Please visit our Strawberry Baby Food page to learn about Strawberries in Stage 2 Baby Food
The book Managing Allergy and Intolerance in the Allergic Infant (published for Health Care Professionals and The General Public) indicates introducing strawberries between 12 months and 24 months of age for the allergic/allergy prone infant. If you have any concerns regarding the introduction of strawberries (or other potentially allergenic foods) please consult your pediatrician!
