Butternut Squash Baby Food Puree With Make Ahead Tips

Butternut Squash Baby Food

Transforming a whole or precut butternut squash puree into smooth, silky baby food recipe is so easy. You only need two basic ingredients and the whole thing can be made ahead and stored in the fridge or freezer in smaller portions. This is one of my favorite make-ahead baby food purees to share with the little ones! Butternut squash puree is a great early baby food puree that I like to continue serving to my toddlers since it’s packed with nutrition and it has a mild flavor that kids tend to enjoy. Plus, it’s perfect to serve on its own or to stir into other foods or recipes such as Butternut Squash Oatmeal, Applesauce Overnight Oats, Toddler Smoothies, or Butternut Squash Muffins. You can learn to cut a butternut squash or use precut cubes from the produce section of your store to make this butternut squash baby food recipe. (You may also like Carrot Baby Food, Apple Puree, and Prune Puree.

Ingredients You Need

To make this recipe, you just need a butternut squash (or a bag of precut cubes from the store), olive oil, and water. So simple! Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a look at the simple process involved in making this recipe so you know what to expect. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full information, including the timing and amounts. TIP: I like to roast my butternut squash before making a puree so that there’s beneficial fats in the mix from the olive oil—and delicious flavor.

Ways to Serve

You can serve this butternut squash puree as a single ingredient food, or you can use it in:

Butternut Squash Muffins Baby Oatmeal with Butternut Squash Stir it into plain yogurt Spread it on toast Spread a layer in Veggie Grilled Cheese Add to a smoothie for kids Stir it into Easy Marinara Sauce Use it in Sweet Potato Quesadillas (in place of the Sweet Potato) Use it in Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Flavors to Add

The basic puree has a nice flavor, but you can also add these flavors to add more interest.

Cinnamon Ground ginger Chinese Five Spice Cumin Pumpkin Pie Spice

TIP: You could also sweeten a little with apple butter or applesauce.

Roasted Butternut Squash for Baby-Led Weaning

To serve butternut squash as a baby-led weaning food, try Roasted Butternut Squash in thick sticks, such as the above photo where I cut it with a crinkle cutter, or larger pieces and offering one at a time to baby to self-feed.

How to Store

To store in the fridge, simply place squash into small food storage containers for 3-5 days. Stir and warm briefly before serving if desired. To store this baby food in the freezer, I like to portion out into an ice cube tray, freeze, and then once frozen, transfer the cubes into a zip top freezer bag to freeze for up to 3 months. You can then take one or two out at a time and let thaw in the fridge or at room temp before offering to a baby or toddler.

Best Tips for Success

Roast the squash until soft when poked with a fork so it’s easy to blend in your butternut squash puree. Add water slowly to reach the desired smooth consistency. Stop and scrape down the sides of the blender as needed. Stir in ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, ⅛ teaspoon Chinese Five Spice, ½ teaspoon cumin, or ½ teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice if desired to add more flavor. Stir in apple butter or Apple Puree to make a slightly sweeter apple-butternut squash puree. (This is a nice topping for pancakes and waffles!) You can serve it as is, or you can use it in Butternut Squash Muffins, in Baby Oatmeal with Butternut Squash, stir it into plain yogurt, spread it on toast, stir it into Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce, or use it in Hidden Veggie Mac and Cheese. Find my favorite baby food storage containers for easy storing.

I’d love to hear what your family thinks of this Butternut Squash Baby Food recipe if you try it, so please comment below to share!