Apples For Babies Blw Puree And Easy Recipes

Baby Apples

With the wide range of apples available throughout the year and the fruit’s versatility, they’re a great option to share with the kids from the time they start solids. From apple puree and applesauce to baked apple slices and stewed apples, there are so many really easy ways to prepare apples for babies. Apples are also not a common allergen, so they can make a wonderful early food when prepared safely. (You might also like my posts on Homemade Applesauce, Apple Cookies, or Instant Pot Applesauce.)

Apples for Babies

The two most common ways to prepare apples for babies is in a smooth apple puree or as a baby led weaning food in the form of a baked or sauteed apple slice. Both are delicious options with soft textures that are appropriate for babies aged 6-12 months. From there, you can move to smaller pieces of soft-cooked apples to offer as a finger food for babies around 9 months, or when they’re able to pick up small pieces of food with their fingers. Apples are a great source of vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. They also have a mellow yet sweet flavor that’s usually quite appealing to kids of all ages. TIP: Brush up on the basics of Grapes for Babies too.

When can babies eat apples?

Babies can eat soft cooked apples soon after starting solids, which the American Academy of Pediatrics says happens around the 6-month mark. Apples at this age need to be offered in very soft forms. It is not safe to offer a baby a whole raw apple or slices of raw apple.

How to Reduce Choking Risk of Apples

The easiest way to ensure that apples for babies are safe to eat is to cook them until soft. This can be as a puree or applesauce or as a baked or sauteed apple. Then, once baby is eating finger foods, you can offer:

Grated apples Matchstick apples (usually 12 to 14+ months) Very thinly sliced apples (usually 14 to 16+ months)

TIP: Read more on reducing common choking risks here.

How to Give Babies Raw Apple Step-by-Step

If you’re looking to try raw apples, here are ways to offer it for older babies and toddlers as safely as possible. Do not offer a whole raw apple or a thick slice of raw apple to a baby or a 1-year-old.

Grated apple (10 to 12+ months)

Cut off a side of an apple and grate it on a box grater. I leave the peel on. If this texture is too challenging for your 9-10 month baby, you can put grated apple into very hot water for 5 minutes to soften, then drain. This can be offered as an early finger food, with a small amount at a time. You do not need to peel these as the pieces of peel on any piece are very thin and small.

Matchstick apples (12 to 14+ months)

Cut off one side of an apple and place cut side down on a cutting board. Cut thin slices about 1/8-inch thick. Then cut lengthwise to make thin matchstick-size pieces.

Thin apple slices (14 to 16+ months)

Cut off one side of an apple and place cut side down on a cutting board. Cut thin slices about 1/8-inch thick. TIP: From there, you can gradually offer thicker slices, but if your child regularly spits out the apple or has a hard time chewing it, back down to thinner slices.

When can you give a child a whole apple?

Once a child is over age 2, they may be able to chew a whole apple—especially if you remove some of the peel to start. Using their teeth to scrape off the raw apple creates smaller pieces that are easier to chew than biting a thick apple slice. You can also try it with the skin on (the skin does have extra nutrients) but keep an eye on how challenging the mixed textures are for your child. Be sure the child is sitting down—which is a good goal for any meal or snack—and respond to them as they’re eating as needed (without interfering). Some kids may have an easier time with this than others and that’s totally fine! TIP: Thick slices of apple may not be easy to chew until a child is well over 3 or even close to age 4.

How to Soften Apples for Baby-Led Weaning

If serving apples baby-led weaning style, you’ll want to cut the pieces to at least the size of a finger or two. You can always go larger. Then you’ll need to pick a method to cook them until soft. I prefer to Bake Apple Slices, but you can also stew apples or saute apples until soft when poked with a fork. This texture allows baby to pick up the piece of apple from about 6 months and self-feed, but it’s soft enough for them to easy handle in their mouths.

Baby Apple Recipes to Try

Below are a few of our favorite easy apple recipes to share with baby. These work for babies—see each recipe for suggestions—and can be enjoyed by the rest of the family, too. I always love to make food that can please more than one person in the family to help avoid waste, so know I’ve tried to do that here, too.

Baby Apple Puree

This is a simple apple recipe that’s a perfect early baby food.

Baby Applesauce Recipe

I love this pressure cooker applesauce since it’s super quick to make and turns raw apples into a perfect soft mash.

Baby Apple Muffins

Deliberately super moist and with three types of produce, these muffins are a great way to offer cooked apples.

Baby Apple Pancake

Grate fresh apples to add flavor and nutrition to this apple recipe that the whole family can enjoy. You can make them on a sheet pan or in a skillet and dice up for babies eating finger food.

Baby Stewed Apple

Simmer fresh apples in liquid until just soft enough for a delicious and safe finger food.

Baby Baked Apple

Sliced and baked apple slices are super quick and are delicious. (Older kids and parents may enjoy these, too!)

Sauteed Apples for Baby

Once baby is eating finger foods, you can try small pieces of cooked apples like this recipe.

Best Tips for Success

Offer Apple Puree or soft-baked or steamed apple slices to start. The slices are an option for baby-led weaning. Try small pieces of soft-cooked apple as a finger food after about 9 months. You can stew, steam, saute, or bake the apples. They should be very soft. To try raw apple with a baby over about 9-10 months, grate it on a box grater. If that texture is too challenging, place the grated apple into very hot water for 5 minutes to soften. Drain, then offer to baby. Over about 12-14 months, you can cut raw apple into matchstick-size pieces. Do not offer thick slices of raw apple to a child under about age 3 as they are a common choking hazard.

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