Apples with Cinnamon for Baby-Led Weaning

Looking to confidently serve apples to your baby? I’ve got you! With just a pinch of cinnamon and a few simple serving ideas, apples can quickly become your baby’s favorite. In this post, I’ll show you how to serve them as tender wedges, fun crinkle-cut slices, grated, or lightly mashed on a self-feeding spoon. Great for babies 6 months and up!

There are plenty of ways to serve apples to your baby, but these are the four methods I’ve come back to again and again over the years:

• Sautéed Apple Wedges with Cinnamon
• Grated Apples
• Steamed Crinkle-Cut Apples
• Mashed Apples on a Self-Feeding Spoon

The goal is to cook the apples until they’re soft enough for your baby to safely chew (or gnaw on), while still being firm enough to pick up and self-feed.

For babies 6 months and up who are using their palmar grasp, tender apple wedges, thick steamed apple strips, or mashed apples served on a self-feeding spoon are all great options. While grated apples are also safe to serve at this age, many younger babies are still developing their pincer grasp, so picking up tiny pieces can sometimes be more frustrating than fun.

Remember, every baby develops at their own pace. Choose the serving method that best matches your baby’s feeding skills and confidence, and don’t be afraid to try a different option the next time apples are on the menu.

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 to cut them into a crinkle pattern. 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 with just 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 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 the 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 a piece of toast.

Get the recipe: Apples with Cinnamon for Baby-Led Weaning

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Looking to confidently serve apples to your baby? I've got you! With just a pinch of cinnamon and a few simple serving ideas, apples can quickly become your baby's favorite. In this post, I'll show you how to serve them as tender wedges, fun crinkle-cut slices, grated, or lightly mashed on a self-feeding spoon. Great for babies 6 months and up!

Yield: 4 small servings

Cook: 10 minutes minutes

Total: 10 minutes minutes

Author: Michele Olivier

Course: Baby Led Weaning

Cuisine: American

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Ingredients 

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

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Instructions 

• 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.

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. 

Grated Apples: take an apple and 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. Sprinkle with cinnamon. 

Steamed Crinkle-Cut Apples: On a cutting board, cut 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. Sprinkle with cinnamon. 

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.

Play with Textures: 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.

 

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