Homemade Applesauce For Babies, Toddlers and Kids
Table of Contents
Is Applesauce ok For Babies
Homemade applesauce for babies can be a suitable option for babies practising baby-led weaning, provided it is offered at the appropriate stage.
It is best introduced once the baby is around six months old and has started showing signs of readiness for solid foods, such as being able to sit up unaided and demonstrating good head and neck control.
For BLW, the applesauce should be thick and chunky rather than overly smooth, to encourage self-feeding and help develop oral motor skills.
Always ensure that the applesauce is unsweetened and made from cooked apples to aid digestion and reduce the risk of choking.
Is Applesauce The Same as Apple Puree
Applesauce and apple puree are similar but not exactly the same, especially when considering baby-led weaning.
Applesauce typically has a smoother, more consistent texture and often includes added spices.
Apple puree, on the other hand, is usually made from cooked apples without any additives, offering a more natural option with a thicker consistency that can be easier for babies to handle and self-feed during BLW.
For this reason, apple puree is generally the preferred choice when introducing apples to little ones practising baby-led weaning.
Ingredient information
Fresh apple - I have used Bramley apples for this recipe as they are really sweet and breakdown really well when cooked, I find the best apples to use. You can use other apples you may have such as a tart apples such as a Granny smith apple, pink lady apples or golden delicious apples that have a natural sweetness. Try adding a squeeze of lemon juice if the apples are too tart.
Cinnamon - I have used cinnamon for this baby applesauce recipe to add more flavour to the apples, you can use a sweet cinnamon too or a pinch of nutmeg instead.
Serving suggestion
The recipe would be great served on its own, it can be a great breakfast recipe on the go for those busy mornings! Or it can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge overnight until the morning.
If like me, you look for low sugar desserts for your toddler, this is a great option too that looks really yummy.
You can also use wine glasses if serving for adults for a fancy looking dessert with ice cream. The perfect balance for baby and adults, I love it when we all can have the same thing to eat makes things so much easier!
Other delicious dessert recipes you may like: Peach melba yogurt pot, Mango and Greek yogurt pots or 3 ingredient no bake cheesecake.
Storage instructions
The apple sauce baby food can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
It is possible to freeze the homemade applesauce recipe, they can be frozen for up to 3 months. You can also use an ice cube tray to portion the sauce to store in the freezer, just make sure the applesauce is cooled to room temperature before transferring to the trays.
You could use freezer bags to store the sauce too.
Make sure you leave the sauce overnight in the fridge before serving.
Once defrosted you will not be able to re freeze.
Equipment used to help with this recipe
Nutri bullet - I have found a blender to be an invaluable tool in the preparation of many of my baby led weaning recipes.
Airtight container - I much prefer the click-shut lids on these containers compared to others. They are also dishwasher and freezer safe and BPA free, so very suitable for food use.
Saucepan - So many pan sets out there but I particularly like to use pans with a non-stick surface for ease of cleaning and ones that are suitable for different types of hob surface.
Recipe | Homemade Applesauce For Babies, Toddlers and Kids
Homemade Applesauce For Babies, Toddlers and Kids
This is a very simple recipe to whip up in no time and it can be a great base for so many recipes such as a apple crumble or simply served on its own with Greek yogurt.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add the apples to a large pot with a generous splash of water.
- Add the cinnamon to the pan, give everything a stir and pop a lid on.
- Cook the apples on a medium-low heat for 15 minutes until the apples have gone really soft.
- Carefully spoon the hot apples into a Nutri bullet or food processor and blitz until you have a smooth sauce/puree. You can wait until the apples have cooled down before doing this.
- Spoon into bowls, pots or small airtight containers for storage or serve right away once cooled.
Notes
You could remove the cinnamon from the recipe if you did not want to add this into the recipe.
You could add other fruits or vegetables to the apples such as pear, carrot, sweet potatoes or parsnip.
Hope you and your whole family enjoy!
©The Petit Spoon
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