Cranberries for Baby Food - Cranberries Recipes for Your Baby - Homemade Baby Food & Baby Food Recipes

Cranberries for Your Baby - When Can Baby Have Cranberries?

Age for Introducing Cranberries: 8-10 Months

You may also wish to visit our Thanksgiving Baby Food Ideas as found in our recipes from the Tips library.

Cranberries tend to be acidic and as such, are not recommended as a "starter' food for babies. As cranberries are not related to strawberries or other "berries" such as blackberries or raspberries, they do not follow the "no berries until 12 months old" rule. You may wish to introduce cranberries between 9 and 12 months old so as to avoid any possible reactions due to the acidity. Reactions may occur in the form of rashes around the mouth or bottom. Always keep in mind that a bite of a food may not prompt a reaction however a "full" serving may.

Go slowly and cautiously when introducing cranberries so as to avoid any ill effects.

The Goodness of Cranberries

The cranberry is related to the blueberry. Like the blueberry, it is not a "berry" of the same class as strawberries, raspberries or blackberries. It is very rare to find a true cranberry allergy.

CRANBERRIES: (50 grams)

Cranberry Baby Food Recipes

Cranberry Purée for Baby - Basic

1 16 oz. package cranberries (fresh or frozen)
1 cup of water

Add water to a pot and bring to a boil - add cranberries and return to a boil - lower heat and simmer on low until cranberries "pop"; approx. 15 minutes.

Continue cooking until skins peel away from the berry.

Optional: Add a diced apple to the cranberries to make cran-applesauce.

For Infants:

Strain cranberries through a sieve or small weave mesh strainer. Transfer to your preferred blender or food processor and puree until cranberries acquire the texture appropriate for your infant.

This puree may be very tart and you may wish to add a spice or apple juice to help cut the tartness of the cranberry. Some infants absolutely love tart flavors. Don't shy away from offering cranberry sauce/puree because you think your baby may dislike tart flavors.

Quick Cranberry Applesauce

1 part cranberry purée or natural cranberry sauce
2 parts applesauce
dash cinnamon
dash vanilla
sprinkle of wheat germ

Add cranberry purée or cranberry sauce to apple sauce, add spices and sprinkle wheat germ mix well.
Viola. Cranberry Applesauce.

Cranberry Baby Yogurt

2 parts yogurt
1 part cranberry sauce/cranberry puree
dash of vanilla

Combine all ingredients, mix well and serve

Cranberry Couscous

Serve as a delicious side dish with lamb, poultry, or fish.
1 12 oz. package couscous
1 14 oz. can chicken or vegetable broth

Pinch of salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup dried cranberries - **you may use fresh or frozen.
1/3 cup fresh mint leaves (optional)

Cook the couscous according to the package directions, using broth instead of water. Add a pinch of salt to the broth.

Wash and finely chop the mint leaves. When the couscous has finished cooking, drain any excess liquid.

If more liquid is needed to cook the couscous, add water, a little at a time. Pour the couscous into a serving bowl.

Add the oil and the lemon juice. Stir well to coat all the grains. Add the cranberries, and mint leaves. Stir to combine all the ingredients. Serve immediately.

**If using fresh or frozen cranberries, add them to the couscous while it is cooking.
Recipe courtesy of Spinner Publications, Cranberry Cooking for All Seasons

Foods Good to Mix With Cranberries:

Apples
Bananas
Blueberries
Mango
Peaches
Melons
Chicken
Pork
Yogurt

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