Fresh and Simple Fruit Recipes for Homemade Baby Food
Try these simple and tasty fruit baby food recipes. Your baby will love the taste of fresh fruits and you will love how quick and easy it is to make these fruit recipes.
A word about cooking fruits for baby – Most pediatric sources recommend cooking fruits that will be fed to an infant until that infant is about 8 months old. Bananas and avocado are a few of the exceptions. For infants who start solids prior to 6 months old, cooking fruits is really a good idea. Cooking fruits breaks them down thus enabling easier digestion in an immature tummy. An older baby will be better able to handle the fibers and sugars of raw fruits than will the baby who is younger and just starting on solids.
Apples/Applesauce 
(Use Gala, Braeburn, Rome or Macs)
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
Directions
Step 1: Peel, core and cut apple into slices/chunks
Step 2: Place slices or chunks into a pan with just enough water to slightly cover apples and boil/steam until tender; be sure to check on the water level and stir
Step 3: 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 below:
Step 4: Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the apples
Step 5: Place into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing.
Step 6: Add the reserved water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin puree – add cereal (if desired) to thicken.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.
Avocado (yes, avocado is a fruit.)
Vitamins: A, C, Niacin, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Magnesium, Calcium
Ingredients:
- 1 ripe avocado
Directions
Step 1: Peel and take out the pit of a ripe avocado – do not cook
Step 2: Cut “meat” out and mash with a fork
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+
Ingredients:
- 1/2 of a peeled and pitted avocado
- 1/4 cup applesauce
Directions
Step 1: Mash the avocado half.
Step 2: Mix mashed avocado with applesauce (homemade or natural) and serve.
Bananas
Vitamins: A, C, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Selenium, Magnesium, Calcium
Ingredients:
- 1 ripe banana
Directions
Step 1: Peel ripe banana – do not cook
Step 2: Place banana in a food processor/food mill or blender and puree
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
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
Ingredients:
- 2 apples (gala, braeburn or mac)
- 1 ripe banana
Directions
Step 1: Peel, core and cut apples into slices/chunks.
Step 2: Place slices or chunks into a pan with just enough water to slightly cover apples
Step 3: Boil until tender; be sure to check on the water level.
Apples may be mashed with a potato masher to achieve a smooth applesauce consistency or you can puree in a blender or food processor.
Step 4: 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).
Add applesauce to the banana and sprinkle with wheat germ* or crushed cheerios*
Puree if necessary but mashing with a potato masher will typically get this mix smooth
*8months+
Banana ‘Cado
Ingredients:
- 1/2 of a peeled and pitted avocado
- 1 small ripe banana
Directions
Step 1: Mash the avocado half and mash the banana
Step 2: Mix mashed avocado with banana & serve
Pears
Vitamins: A, C, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium
Ingredients:
- 2 ripe pears (Bartlett, Red or Comice)
Directions
Step 1: Steam gently until tender if baby is between 4-6 months old otherwise peel & mash – removing the seed portion
Peel and cut into chunks so as to avoid the little seed portion.
Or
Cut the pears in half (no need to peel unless your little one has issues with digestion) and cut out the seed/core portion then dice the pear halves. Peel and cut into chunks so as to avoid the little seed portion.
Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a shallow pot with a steamer basket insert.
Add the pears to the steamer basket in the pot and then steam until soft and tender.
You may also add the pear dices to wee bit of boiling water and steam them this way if you do not have a steamer basket. Using a scant amount of water ensures that you are not boiling them.
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.
Apples & Pears
Ingredients:
- 1 apple – cored & peeled
- 1 pear – cored & peeled
Directions
Step 1: Dice apple & pear and simmer together until tender. Mash or puree as needed.
Baked Apples 
Ingredients:
- Macintosh Apples – any number you desire
Directions
Step 1: Core apple and leave peel on
Step 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)
Step 3: Place in a pan with just enough water to slightly cover apples – about an inch of water
Step 4: Bake in a 400-degree oven for 30 minutes or until tender; be sure to check on the water level.
Step 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.
Apple Peach Banana
Ingredients:
- 1 peach – pit & peel
- 1 apple – cored & peeled
- ½ ripe banana
- 1/4 cup of water
Directions
Step 1: Dice apple & peach and simmer together in a small pot with water until tender.
Step 2: Mash the banana into the apple & peach mix and then puree as needed.
Apricot Puree
(using dried, un-sulphured apricots)
Vitamins: A, C, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Calcium
Ingredients:
- 1 pound dried apricots
- 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.
Directions
Step 1: Bring liquid and fruit to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
Step 2: Reserve any left over liquid to use for the puree
Step 3: Place into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing.
Step 4: Add the reserved liquid as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin puree or
Step 5: Add cereal (if desired) to thicken up
Step 6: 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.
Mango* Creamy Puree
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.
Ingredients:
- 1 Ripe Mango
- Plain or Vanilla Yogurt OR Water, Apple or Pear Juice
Directions
Step 1: Peel, seed and mash mango until smooth
Step 2: 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
Vitamins: A, C, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Calcium
Ingredients:
- 1 ripe papaya
Directions
Step 1: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
Plums
Vitamins: A, C, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium
Ingredients:
- 5 ripe plums
Directions
Step 1: Peel, pit and cut into chunks then 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
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
Steam Peaches – 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
Ingredients:
- 3 peaches
- 1 mango
Directions
Step 1: Peel, pit and cut peaches into chunks
Step 2: Peel, de seed and cut mango into chunks
Step 3: Steam fruits together gently until tender if needed
Step 4: 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.
Plums with Applesauce
Ingredients:
- 2 plums
- 1 large apple
Directions
Step 1: Peel, pit and cut plums into chunks
Step 2: Peel, core & dice apple
Step 3: Simmer plums & apple together in a saucepan until soft & tender
Mash or puree as needed – add a splash of apple juice if too bitter
Prunes
Vitamins: A, C, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium
Ingredients:
- Dried prunes – any amount you desire – try 2 cups full
Directions
Step 1: Soak dried prunes in warm water until they plump up or steam gently.
Step 2: Once plump and tender, toss into food processor or blender and begin to puree.
Step 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.
Prunes are great to help babies with constipation. Try this for babies from 4 months old +.
Pumpkin
Vitamins: A (12230 IU in 1 cup.), C, K, Folate, Niacin
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron
Ingredients:
- 1 medium sized sugar/baking pumpkin (about 5-7 pounds)
Directions
Step 1: Cut sugar pumpkin (the kind meant to be baked and eaten.) in half, scoop out seeds
Step 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
Step 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
Step 4: Place pumpkin “meat” into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing.
Step 5: Add water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin consistency.
Step 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).
Pumpkin & Pears
Ingredients:
- 1 ripe pear, peeled & cored & diced
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (fresh or canned)
Directions
Step 1: Mash the pear and then mix in the pumpkin – puree if needed.
Peary Pumpkin Peaches
Ingredients:
- ½ cup pumpkin puree (fresh or canned)
- 1 pear, peeled & cored & diced
- 1peach – peeled, pitted & diced
Directions
Step 1: Combine all food (steam pear and peach together if need be) and mash or puree if needed.
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
Blueberries** (Read our Blueberry Information page) 
Vitamins: A, C, K, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Sodium, Phosphorus, Iron, Magnesium, Calcium
- 1/2 pint of blueberries (fresh or frozen)
- 1/2 c. water
Directions
Step 1: Bring water to a boil. Add blueberries and simmer for 15 minutes until soft.
Step 2: Reserve liquid and use a slotted spoon to transfer blueberries to blender/processor/mixer and puree.
Step 3: If needed, add some of the liquid to blueberries.
Step 4: Add cereal (if desired) to thicken up
*You can save the liquid to serve as juice or to blend in with cereals etc..
Serve raw and pureed or raw and smooshed if preferred.
Yummy Blueberry Applesauce
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 2 medium apples
Directions
Step 1: Peel, core & dice apples.
Step 2: In a saucepan, add blueberries and apples with 1 cup of water.
Step 3: 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
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 2 peaches
- ¼ cup oatmeal
Directions
Step 1: Peel, pit & dice peaches.
Step 2: In a saucepan, add blueberries, oatmeal and peaches with 1 1/2 cup of water.
Step 3: 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.
*The color of this will look very icky*
Blueberry Banana Yogurt
Ingredients:
- 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.
Learn about Introducing Yogurt to your baby.
Kiwi
Vitamins: A, C, K, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium
Ingredients:
- 1 ripe kiwi
Directions
Step 1: Peel ripe kiwi
Step 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 cooked and 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
Ingredients:
- 1 ripe kiwi – peeled & diced
- 1/2 ripe banana – peeled
- 1/2 ripe mango – peeled & diced
Directions
Step 1: Mash all fruits together and then blend or puree as needed. Make it Creamy Kiwi Banana Tango by adding yogurt and/or cereal.
Melons (cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon)
Vitamins: A, C, K, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup sliced, soft, seedless melon, rind removed
Directions
Step 1: 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.
More Fun Fruit Baby Food Recipes
Fruity-Pops
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.
Buy Ice Pop Trays and offer these healthy pops to your toddlers and older kids as well.
Cooling Baby Banana Yogurt Pops
Ingredients:
- 1 cup banana puree (or 2 very ripe bananas)
- 1 cup plain yogurt
Directions
Step 1: Blend and/or puree until you have a smooth liquid
Step 2: 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
Mango Pops
Ingredients:
- 3/4 peach nectar or plain water
- 2 1/2 cups frozen mango pieces
- 1 16 ounce container of plain yogurt
Directions
Step 1: Blend and/or puree until you have a smooth liquid
Step 2: 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
Ingredients:
- 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
Directions
Step 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
Step 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
Step 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
Ingredients:
- 4oz firm tofu
- 1 ripe banana, peeled
- 1/4-cup (frozen) blueberries, peaches or *strawberries
- 3 tbs of Wheat Germ
Directions
Step 1: Puree all ingredients in a blender or food processor until a fluffy type texture is achieved.
Step 2: 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”
