Ever wonder what else you can add to a banana puree besides cinnamon? This Roasted Banana Puree with rosemary is the answer! So delicious and simple to make, this recipe uses only two ingredients to create the BEST banana puree that both you and your baby will love. It’s the perfect stage 1 baby food for babies 4-6 months and older!
Medically reviewed by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
Banana Puree
This baby food puree is a fun twist on the classic banana and cinnamon version! You and your baby will go bananas 🍌 over this recipe for sure!
We will start by roasting the bananas for a few minutes in a hot oven just to caramelize them and make them extra delicious.
While this is an extra step in the recipe, as you can easily toss bananas into a blender and call it a day, trust me when I say roasting bananas is like making edible magic.
And what baby doesn’t want to eat a magical roasted puree for their lunch? Your little foodie 👶, I’m sure of that!
Next, we will add a predictable pinch of cinnamon and balance out the bananas’ natural sweetness with a little pinch of fresh rosemary.
Using only two ingredients, you are going to create the BEST banana puree that both you and your baby will love 💛.
Is it your first time making homemade baby food? Then I suggest you start this journey by reading my in-depth Guide on How to Make Homemade Baby Food. The detailed guide goes over all the important information such as the best cooking tools to have on hand, safe storage, how to know when baby is ready for solids, how to introduce purees, the best first foods for baby, and more! You can also check out my best-selling cookbook for even more information and recipes!
Reasons to Love this Banana Baby Food:
- baby food for 4-6 months and up
- stage 1 baby food
- creamy and smooth
- nutrient-dense
- great for spoon-feeding or served in a reusable pouch
- easy organic baby food recipe – use organic bananas (which are only cents more than standard bananas)
- easy to make — requires only 5 minutes of hands-on time
- uses only 2 ingredients
Ingredients
- Bananas: Are the key ingredient in this recipe. I like using organic bananas in my baby food recipes as the price is comparable to conventional, and they are usually readily available. But you can use whichever ones you prefer.
- Rosemary: While this recipe uses fresh rosemary to give it a nice earthy taste, you can also add a pinch of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, fresh chopped mint, or basil to this recipe. I would not recommend using dried rosemary as it is too hard and will not incorporate into the puree as the fresh one does.
Tip on Bananas: While any ripeness of bananas will work, I have found that ripe bananas with several brown spots tend to work best in this recipe.
BENEFITS OF BANANA FOR BABY
Bananas are a great first food for babies because they are loaded with essential nutrients for a growing baby. They are a good source of fiber, vitamin C, manganese, and potassium, and they are high in vitamin B6.
- Good Source of Potassium: Potassium is a crucial nutrient for active babies as it acts as an electrolyte that manages hydration levels, helps nutrients reach cells, removes waste from cells, and helps maintain a normal heartbeat. It’s also important for muscle contraction.
- Great for Digestion Health: Banana fiber helps prevent constipation, bloating, and other unwanted digestive issues in babies.
- Boosts Mood: Bananas also contain the amino acid tryptophan and vitamin B6 that may help boost your baby’s happy hormones, and there is nothing better than a happy baby!
Adding Spices
In this recipe, we are adding in a pinch of fresh rosemary, but feel free to use the following spices instead: cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, mild curry powder, mint, basil, or ginger (see quantity recommendations in the recipe card).
Tip on Spices: I always add spices or herbs to my baby food purees, but you can choose to leave them out of all your baby food. You do you! Either way, this puree will surely taste amazing.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Peel and cut bananas lengthwise and place them on the baking sheet.
- Roast for 10-12 minutes or until just golden brown.
- Add roasted bananas and rosemary to a blender and puree for 1-2 minutes. You may want to add a squeeze of lemon juice to prevent it from browning.
- Serve or freezer for later.
Other ways to enjoy this puree
- Savory Meal for Baby: Mix this banana puree with a pear and spinach puree for a savory meal.
- Baby Breakfast: Add a spoonful of plain yogurt and homemade quinoa baby cereal as a nutrient-dense start to your baby’s day.
- Toddler Breakfast: Mix it with plain yogurt and a dollop of honey for a yummy, irresistible toddler breakfast.
- Toddler Snack: Top it with toasted shredded coconut and chopped cashews for a crunchy toddler snack.
- For You: Eat by the spoonful after your baby goes to bed and before you pick up the mess they made around the house that day.
how to store the banana puree
This puree can be kept in the fridge for 2 days or in the freezer for 4 months. After thawing, this puree will last 2 days in the fridge. Your banana puree might become a little darker after freezing (see video), which is completely fine. If you want to keep it the same color, feel free to add 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice to the puree before freezing.
If you are heating the puree on the stove or in the microwave, the leftovers need to be tossed after you serve it.
WHEN CAN BABY EAT BANANAS?
Babies can have bananas as one of their first foods. When a baby can start on solids is determined by their own rate of development, which generally comes between 4-6 months of age. Some of the developmental milestones babies need to reach in order to start solids include: if your baby has solid control of their head and neck, if your baby has doubled in weight, and if your baby is reaching for or opening their mouth when you eat (see my guide here). Before you start your baby on purees, you should consult with your pediatrician to make sure your child is developmentally ready.
Tools Needed
Favorite Kitchen Tools: Get a list of the favorite kitchen tools I use to make the best baby food here!
DID YOU MAKE THIS BANANA PUREE?
I’D LOVE TO KNOW HOW IT TURNED OUT! LEAVE A COMMENT AND A ⭐️ RATING BELOW 👇
Roasted Banana Baby Puree (Stage 1)
Ingredients
- 4 peeled bananas, cut lengthwise
- 1/8 tsp fresh rosemary finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat: Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roast: Place bananas on a baking sheet and roast for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool slightly.
- Blend: Place bananas and rosemary into a blender or food processor and puree for 1-2 minutes or until completely smooth. You may need to add additional water, so start by adding in 1/4 cup increments until you get the desired consistency. You may want to add a squeeze of lemon juice to prevent it from browning.
- Serve: Let cool slightly, and serve to baby or freeze for later.
My baby went crazy over this this morning. So far he has been a very good eater, even eating all of his zucchini (which was the one I was most worried about), but he lovvvveeeeed this puree. And I admit, after tasting a little when I was checking the temperature, I almost ate it myself…
Hello Ashley,
So glad you both liked this puree!!! It is one of my favorites and I am toying with the idea of making this into ice cream!… be on the lookout:)
xo, Michele
Would it be ok to substitute fresh herbs for dried herbs? Would the ratio be the same? Thanks!
I think for this recipe dried rosemary wouldn’t work as it would be super crunchy in the puree, but this puree is super amazing without the added in herbs.
I used dried rosemary and it worked out perfect. Wonderfully smooth!
My baby went crazy over this this morning. So far he has been a very good eater, even eating all of his zucchini (which was the one I was most worried about), but he lovvvveeeeed this puree. And I admit, after tasting a little when I was checking the temperature, I almost ate it myself…
Hello Ashley,
So glad you both liked this puree!!! It is one of my favorites and I am toying with the idea of making this into ice cream!… be on the lookout:)
xo, Michele
Could you use dried rosemary for this one?
Sorry for the delay, I don’t think so because the dried rosemary would get even more dried out while roasting. But you could sub in cinnamon, cloves or nutmeg to the puree.
xo, Michele
Thanks! Got some fresh and he LOVES it. When thawed how long is it good for?
This keeps around 2 days when thawed in the fridge. If you are heating on the stove or in the microwave, it needs to be tossed after you serve it.
xo, Michele
Could you use dried rosemary for this one?
Sorry for the delay, I don’t think so because the dried rosemary would get even more dried out while roasting. But you could sub in cinnamon, cloves or nutmeg to the puree.
xo, Michele
Thanks! Got some fresh and he LOVES it. When thawed how long is it good for?
This keeps around 2 days when thawed in the fridge. If you are heating on the stove or in the microwave, it needs to be tossed after you serve it.
xo, Michele
hi in your recipes with rosemary, should i cook them (roast, boil etc.) or can i puree them raw after chopping finely?
You don’t need to cook the rosemary first if it is fresh (with dried you do or it will be too tough to puree). I just finely chop the rosemary and add it to the puree while blending. Hope this helps.
xo, Michele
hi in your recipes with rosemary, should i cook them (roast, boil etc.) or can i puree them raw after chopping finely?
You don’t need to cook the rosemary first if it is fresh (with dried you do or it will be too tough to puree). I just finely chop the rosemary and add it to the puree while blending. Hope this helps.
xo, Michele
Hi Michele! Can I use frozen bananas for this too? If so, should I thaw first then roast or put direct into the oven?
I haven’t tried using frozen bananas for this recipe. I would try thawing them first and then roasting them. Let me know if it works.
xo, Michele
Hi Michele! Can I use frozen bananas for this too? If so, should I thaw first then roast or put direct into the oven?
I haven’t tried using frozen bananas for this recipe. I would try thawing them first and then roasting them. Let me know if it works.
xo, Michele
You did not specify how much of rosemary to put. 1/4 cup or tablespoon. Would really appreciate it.
Sorry, just fixed the recipe card – 1/4 teaspoon
My baby girl loovvees this recipe so much- this is probably her favorite! I’ve been trying most of the recipes and she eats them all. This amazes me!! Thank you so much for these recipes! I would have never thought to add herbs/ spices but it’s a game changer! I made homemade baby food for my son when he was a baby but did plain and he ate it for the most part but he was an extremely picky eater. I’m hoping by introducing foods with additional seasoning enhances her palate and hoping she’s less picky! Thank you again!!
– Jacquelyn
Silly question / do you keep the banana peel on in the oven or do you remove banana peel before placing in oven to roast?
You would remove the peel.
Made this last night for my little guy and he loved it. All in all this is a very good recipe and it made a ton of food for me! Thanks for all your great recipes!
Thank you Michele for the recipe. My little man is only 4.5 months old and he loved it. I just used cinnamon power and fresh rosemary was not available atm. I have also tried your other recipes and they are all loved by my son.
So glad your little one loved this recipe!
I am so glad that I found your website a couple of months ago. I started making the meals at the end of January. This is the 5th recipe that I make from your website. I love love love your homemade recipes. For this recipe, I added 1/4 tsp nutmeg, due to the fact that I did not have fresh rosemary. I have added you on Pinterest and YouTube and also selected to be notified by email whenever you post anything. Please keep posting! Love from Canada ❤️
So glad you loved this recipe and I love the addition of nutmeg, a great substitution choice! Glad you are here and thank you for following along!