Apples for Baby-Led Weaning

Looking to confidently serve apples to your baby? Then, I’ve got you! These apple recipes are easy to make, packed with flavor, and are perfect for babies 6 months and up.

How to Prepare Apples for Baby-Led Weaning

There are several different ways to prepare apples for your baby. Here are 4 of my favorite ways:

• Sautéd Apples Wedges with Cinnamon
• Grated Apples
• Steamed Crinkle-Cut Apples
• Mashed Apples on Self-Feeding Spoon

The goal is to cook apples until they are soft enough for your baby to eat (or gnaw on) yet still firm enough for your baby to pick and self-feed. For babies 6 months and up using their palmar grasp, you can serve cooked apples in wedges, thick strips of steamed apples, or cooked apples mashed and served to your baby on a self-feeding spoon. While it is completely safe to serve your baby grated apples at 6 months, most babies are still working on their pincer grasp, and picking up tiny pieces of apple may be frustrating for some babies.

Sautéed Apples Wedges with Cinnamon

These Sautéed Apples Wedges are a simple and flavorful recipe that your baby, toddler and even you will devour. For your baby, I have found that leaving on the apple skin makes them a little easier to pick and eat, but you can also peel the apples if you prefer.

Grated Apples

An easy, and almost instant recipe is to simply grate apples into small pieces. If you are feeling extra, you can definitely add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the grated apples before serving. I also love adding grated apples to yogurt or oatmeal.

Steamed Crinkle-Cut Apples

A great way to make softly steamed apples easier for your baby to pick up is by cutting them into a crinkle texture. By crinkle cutting the apple, this allows little notches in the apple that provide your baby with a little grip. If you do not have a crinkle cutting tool, you can make these apples by just using a sharp knife.

Mashed Apples on Self-Feeding Spoon

These mashed apples are both delicious and also easy for your baby to eat. Mashed apples are a great way to transition your baby from smooth purees to chunkier foods. They are also a great way for your baby to self-feed themselves apples that are not as big as a choking hazard.

Apple Puree: You can offer purees and still allow your baby to lead the way with self-feeding by offering thee puree on a self-feeding spoon, by placing a few spoonfuls of the puree directly on the tray or in a bowl for your baby to dip their fingers into, or you can even use the puree as a dip for solid foods such a banana or piece of toast.

Get the recipe: Apple for Baby-Led Weaning

5 stars (3 ratings)

Great recipes to serve apples to baby! You can serve them cooked and whole or mashed and with a self-feeding spoon.

Yield: 4 small servings

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Total: 5 minutes minutes

Author: Michele Olivier

Course: Baby Led Weaning

Cuisine: American

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Ingredients 

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Sautéed Apples Wedges with Cinnamon

• 2 medium apples, cored and cut into 12-16 wedges
• 1-2 tsp butter or coconut oil
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp water

Grated Apples

• 1/2 medium apple

Steamed Crinkle-Cut Apples

• 1/2 medium apple, cored and peeled

Mashed Apples on Self-Feeding Spoon

• 1 medium apple

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Instructions 

Sautéed Apples Wedges with Cinnamon

• In a medium skillet, add the butter and heat on medium heat. When the butter is melted add the apples and cinnamon and stir until all of the ingredients are incorporated. Then add in the water and stir again. Turn heat down to medium-low and sauté for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the apples are tender when pricked with a fork.

  Note: I prefer to leave the apple skins on as they make an easier handle for baby to hold onto, but you can peel the apples if you prefer.
  

Grated Apples

• On a cutting board, using a box grater, grate the apple until you have a handful of tiny apple pieces. If the grated apple is too watery, place the grated apple into a paper towel and gently squeeze to get rid of the excess liquid.
  

Steamed Crinkle-Cut Apples

• On a cutting board, cut the half of an apple using a crinkle cutting tool or a sharp knife into 1/2" thick and 2-3" long strips.
  
• In a medium saucepan, bring 2" of water to a boil over high heat. Add a steamer basket and add the apple slices to the basket in a single layer. Cover and cook for 1-3 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork. Remove from heat, and place the apple slices on a paper towel or clean dish towel to cool.

Mashed Apples on Self-Feeding Spoon

• Using either the steamed apple or sautéed apple recipes from above, take the cooked apples and place in a small blender or food processor. Pulse for 5-10 seconds or until you have a chunky puree. You can also make a smooth puree by blending for 1-2 minutes.

  Note: you can easily have 3 different textures of apples to serve baby! Start by making a batch of the steamed (use an entire apple) or sautéed apples, set aside a portion for baby. Take the rest of the apples and pulse into a chunky puree, set aside a portion for baby. Then puree the rest of the apples into a smooth puree for baby.
  

Notes

Age: 6+ months

Yield: 2-3 small portions for baby

Storage: you can store these recipes in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. Adding a small squeeze of lemon juice will help preserve the color. 

 

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Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).