Spoon-Worthy Pear Baby Food
Say hello to your baby’s next favorite food—Pear Puree! 🍐 This smooth, cinnamon-kissed puree is naturally sweet, super simple to make, and absolutely delicious (yes, even for you!). Perfect for introducing new flavors to your baby around 6 months. You’ve got this—and your baby’s going to love it!
Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
Pear Baby Food Puree
Want to make a puree that’ll have you fighting your baby for the last spoonful?
Well, buckle up — this pear puree is that good.
I’ve made this recipe more times than I can count. It was one of the very first purees I made for my oldest (shoutout to apple, broccoli, and avocado for paving the way), and I’ll be honest — she barely got halfway through her serving before I “sampled” the rest. What can I say? This puree is smooth, naturally sweet, and full of cinnamon-y goodness.
We still make it often, and it has become a bit of a family event. As soon as it’s cool enough, everyone grabs a spoon and gathers ‘round the saucepan. It’s just that irresistible.
Simmer, blend, swoon — that’s the vibe. 👶👩🍳💚
Pear Baby Food Video
Ingredients
Type of Pears to Use: While my favorite pear to use for this recipe is Bartlett pear, you can use any type of pear you prefer — whether it’s Bosc Pear, Taylor’s Gold Pear, Anjou Pear, Asian Pear, or Comice.
To the Kitchen, We Go ->
More Cooking Methods
While I love the crisp and slightly sweet flavor of simmered pears, there are several ways to cook them for baby food.
Steaming
Peel and roughly chop six pears. Place the cubes into a steamer basket over 2 inches of boiling water for 8-10 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork. Puree in a blender as directed below.
Roasted
Cut six pears in half. Place them into a medium roasting tray with the cut side down. Add enough water to cover the very bottom of the tray. Cook at 400 degrees F for 30-40 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork. Puree in a blender as directed below.
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. You can also check out my best-selling cookbook for even more information and recipes!
How to Store Pear Puree
Get the recipe: Spoon-Worthy Pear Baby Puree (Stage One)
Ingredients
- 6 pears, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg or cardamom
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Combine: place the pear chunks, spices (if using) and water into a medium saucepan, cover.
- Cook: heat on medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork
- Transfer: let cool slightly. Using a slotted spoon, scoop the pears out of the saucepan, leaving the excess water behind, and place in a blender or food processor.
- Blend: turn on the machine and blend for 1-2 minutes until you have your desired consistency. If your pear puree is too thick, add the leftover cooking water in 1/4 cup increments.
- Eat: serve to baby or freeze for another meal.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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40 Comments on “Spoon-Worthy Pear Baby Food”
Delicious thank you
Thank you, Dawn! 💜
Wouldn’t the fruit lose its nutritional value if it’s cooked? Can’t we peel, purée and feed baby the pear as is?
Hi! You’re only cooking them until they are tender. In the middle of the post, I discuss other methods of cooking the pears. xo, Michele
When I steamed the pears the edges turned black, no idea what would cause that. I threw them out, hope to try again soon.
I haven’t had my pears turn black before. They may turn slightly brown as they oxidize with the air, but a little lemon juice will solve this problem. Hope this helps.
Does it matter if the pears are not ripe yet?
Since we are cooking the pears, you can use any pears you have on hand. You may need to increase the cooking time a little to have them fork-tender and the puree may not be as sweet. Hope that helps!
I made this recipe but the baby food turned brown!!!! Is this normal? Other than that, it was great and WORKED! Baby pooped next morning 🙂
So glad baby enjoyed this puree and she got to business the next day. I haven’t had this turn brown before? Did you add any spices or leave the peel on the pears?
My pear got slightly browned, do we need to add lemon?
That’s interesting. You are my second comment saying you got brown pears. Which method did you cook the pears with? Were they brown right after cooking or after freezing? Trying to problem solve this one since I have never gotten brown pear puree before.
Can I use breast milk instead of water?
Yes, you can add fresh breast milk instead of water while blending. I would not add it while cooking as the heat will destroy the nutrients in the breast milk.
Thank you so much for the recipe! My LO loved it as his second taste! Any recommendations on what to do with the leftover fruit juice you don’t add back in? I’d hate to throw these excellent juices away!
So happy to hear your little one loved this puree! Using the pear juice is a great idea! You could use the pear juice to plain yogurt, cottage cheese or muffins to slightly sweeten them.
This might sound silly but how much water do I use to cook it with?
You add in 1/4 cup of water (the amount on the recipe card) to the pears to be cooked in. You may need a little more during the blending process but I didn’t add any more water to my pears during the blending. Hope that helps.
So easy and so good and healthy! Michele, your site has helped me a lot to give healthy and nutritious food to my baby. The recipes are always delicious, healthy, and very easy to make.
Hi! For the spices, do you use fresh or dried? Rosemary etc. thanks!
For herbs (rosemary, basil, mint), I usually use fresh so they blend better into the puree. For spices (cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg) I use dried.
Do you heat the pears when serving out of the fridge or freezer?
From the freezer, you would need to defrost the puree first. But you can serve it warm or cold, depending on what baby likes best.
Oh Yum!!! This recipe is delicious! The whole family is in love and pears are back on my grocery list for next week!
So glad you all love it!
In your pear and dates recipe I notice you roast your pears. Which is better do you think, the steaming on the stove or roasting in the oven?
You can make it either way. I find that by roasting the pears, you get a nice deep pear flavor which is also more sweet and creamy. When you steam them it is a more light pear flavor. It really depends on what taste you are looking to achieve.
xo, Michele
I appreciate this feedback Michelle. I followed your recipe but steamed instead of roasted (I tend to burn things since I don’t cook). But if roasting gives it more flavor, then I’ll try that next time! By the way, it the book you’re recommending yours? I’m making the effort to cook more for baby… and for myself I guess, lol, she watches and wants to eat everything I eat!
So glad you are trying to cook more! It takes time but well worth the effort. Yes, Little Foodies is my best-selling cookbook:)
I have a list of your recipes to try and am itching to hit the store. My baby girl is 4 months and a week. I am wondering is I should skip the spices at first or to go for it?
I would say go for it! There is no reason not to introduce spices at first bite and I introduced both of my girls to spices from the start. If you want to ease them into it, you can add just a pinch of a spice to a recipe and go up from there.
Let me know how it goes!
xo, Michele
Hi im seeing these recipes and you said not to stick to one item recipes at first.I’m wondering since its a first food if i should just give pear with out cardsmom. I plan on starting some food next week, my lo is 5 m1 week and is ready but still exclusively bf. Thanks I love your site btw xx
You said to stick to one item recipes *
So glad you are here!
I started both my girls with one produce item (pears) and a spice (cardamom) and they loved their purees from the very first bite. You can use less if you are afraid they won’t like a certain spice but there is no reason not to start their first purees without spice. Let me know how it goes.
xo, Michele
This was awesome! My baby loved it!
YAY!!!!! Love hearing this!!
xo, Michele
Love all your recipes! When I puree pear it comes out all watery and chunky – despite straining all the water out after boiling them and blending it endlessly. How do you get the puree so smooth and creamy?
Hello Ceara,
What are you using to blend it? Blender, food processor, hand blender?
I would guess that maybe you are not cooking them hot enough or long enough. I cook mine for 10-15 minutes at medium heat (simmering) and they are so tender that you can cut into them with a spoon no problem. Try that and let me know.
Michele
How long will this recipe last in the fridge/ freezer?
Hello Amanda,
4 days in the fridge, 3 months in the freezer.
xoxo, Michele