15 Quick and Easy to Make Apple Recipes for Infants

Apples have been directly linked with maintaining a good healthy heart since they contain substances that reduce the amount of cholesterol in the body as well as provide various antioxidants to maintain the inner health as well. The structure of apple plays an important role as it is formed by a combination of fibres that are both soluble as well as insoluble. Both of them work towards stimulating bowel movement and keeping the intestine healthy at the same time. Furthermore, apples are great food for babies and using them in various ways can bring about tasty food items right in front of you. Read on for some delicious apple recipes for babies.

Nutritional Profile of Apple

Apples are not only delicious but also packed with essential nutrients that contribute to overall health. Below is a brief overview of the nutritional profile of apples.

• Calories: Approximately 95 calories per medium-sized apple (about 182 grams)
• Carbohydrates: About 25 grams per medium-sized apple, primarily in the form of natural sugars and dietary fiber
• Fiber: Provides around 4 grams of dietary fiber, aiding digestion and promoting satiety
• Vitamin C: Contains about 14% of the recommended daily intake, supporting immune function and collagen synthesis
• Potassium: Offers approximately 6% of the recommended daily intake, crucial for heart health and maintaining fluid balance
• Vitamin K: Provides a small amount, contributing to bone health and blood clotting regulation
• Antioxidants: Rich in flavonoids and polyphenols, which have antioxidant properties and may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases
• Phytonutrients: Contains various plant compounds like quercetin and catechin, which have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects
• Low in fat and protein: Virtually fat-free and contains minimal protein
• Water content: High water content, aiding hydration and promoting feelings of fullness

When Can You Introduce Apple to Your Baby?

Introducing apples to babies can typically begin around six months of age, following the general guidelines for introducing solid foods. At this stage, babies have usually developed the necessary motor skills and digestive system readiness to start trying a variety of fruits and vegetables. However, it’s essential to consult with a pediatrician before introducing any new food to your baby’s diet, especially if there’s a family history of food allergies or if your baby has any specific health concerns. When introducing apples, it’s advisable to start with mashed or pureed versions and gradually progress to small, soft pieces as your baby becomes more accustomed to eating solid foods and develops chewing abilities. 

Amazing Health Benefits of Apple for Babies

Apples are not only a tasty fruit but also offer a range of health benefits for babies. Their nutrient-rich composition makes them an excellent addition to a baby’s diet, supporting growth and development in various ways.

• Nutrient-rich: Apples are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber, which support overall growth and development.
• Digestive health: The fiber content in apples helps regulate bowel movements and prevent constipation in babies, promoting a healthy digestive system.
• Immune support: The vitamin C present in apples strengthens the immune system, helping babies fight off infections and illnesses.
• Brain development: Apples contain antioxidants and phytonutrients that support brain health and cognitive development in growing babies.
• Oral health: Chewing on soft apple slices or purees can promote healthy gum development and jaw strength in infants, laying the foundation for good oral health.
• Hydration: Apples have a high water content, contributing to hydration in babies and helping maintain proper fluid balance in their bodies.
• Taste and texture exploration: Introducing apples to babies exposes them to different tastes and textures, fostering a diverse palate and promoting healthy eating habits later in life.

15 Easy-to-Make Apple Recipes for Babies

To help your baby consume apples in a delicious manner, here are a few recipes:

1. Tasty Applesauce (For 5 Months and Above)

Out of various apple sauce recipes for babies, this one is the easiest and quickest to make and introduce your child to apples.

Ingredients

• Apples, peeled and cored
• Unsweetened apple juice
• Water
• Cinnamon, grounded
• Nutmeg powder
• Vanilla essence

Method

1. Take the apples and chop them together. Place those pieces in a pan. Add some more water to it, creating a layer, and follow that up with the apple juice.
2. Heat the pan and let it start boiling. Lower the flame, place a lid and let it continue to cook for around 8-10 minutes until the apple pieces start getting soft. Don’t overcook to melt them completely.
3. Once they start getting tender, remove the flame and take the pan aside. Pick out the pieces and mash them together to a consistency that feels right for your baby.
4. For some added flavour, sprinkle a little bit of cinnamon and nutmeg powder. To give it an added style, add a tiny drop of vanilla essence.
5. Serve it nice and warm to your little one. If you want to serve it cold, add the flavours only when you are serving, while keeping the other portion frozen.

2. Apple Soup With Sweet Potato (For 6 Months and Above)

Combine the flavours of both these food items to create a delicious lip-smacking comforting soup.

Ingredients

• Flour
• Butter
• Chicken broth
• Applesauce
• Sweet potatoes, cooked
• Ginger, grounded
• Cinnamon, grounded
• Breastmilk or formula

Method

1. Take a pan and add some butter to it. Heat it and let the butter start melting. Add flour to the melted butter in the pan and stir it all together. Continue cooking it thoroughly until it starts getting a golden colour.
2. Now start pouring the chicken broth into the pan gradually. Remember to keep stirring while you do so. Follow that up with the applesauce, pieces of sweet potato, ground ginger and cinnamon all together.
3. Stir the entire mixture well and increase the flame to make it boil. Once boiling, lower the flame and let it simmer for another 5 minutes or so.
4. Once done, pour that mixture into a blender and run the blender for a few minutes until it starts getting the consistency of a puree. Pour this puree out of the blender back into the pan.
5. To this puree, add some milk and let it heat again until it gets nice and warm. Serve this warm soup to your child.

3. Apple and Grape Squash (For 6 Months and Above)

Put together this fantastic recipe to let your little one taste a wide variety of flavours.

Ingredients

• Grape squash
• One peeled and sliced sweet apple
• Melted butter
• Honey
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Cloves, grounded

Method

1. Prepare the oven by heating it to about 180 degrees and keep it ready.
2. Cut the grapes into small pieces and place them aside.
3. Grease a baking tray and place the grapes in it with the skin side facing upwards.
4. Cover the tray and place this in the oven. Let it sit in for about 20 minutes or so.
5. While that goes on, take a bowl and add the pieces of apple to it. Follow it up by pouring some melted butter, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger altogether. Mix them well.
6. Take out the tray from the oven and flip the grapes. Pour the apple mixture over it, cover the tray and place it in the oven again for another 20 minutes.
7. If your baby is below the age of one, replace honey with sugar or any other sweetener.

4. Apple and Chicken Meal (For 7 Months and above)

As your child starts having solids, this meal will make him ecstatic and have more of it.

Ingredients

• Chicken breasts, skinless and chopped
• Apple, chopped
• Sweet potato
• Cinnamon powder
• Chicken stock
• Eggplant

Method

1. Take the sweet potato and peel it. Chop it into small pieces.
2. Take a pan and add the chicken stock to it. Heat it and let it start boiling.
3. Once boiling, add the chicken breasts to it and lower the flame. Let the preparation cook for about 10 minutes.
4. Follow it up by adding pieces of the apple and sweet potato. Stir it together and let it cook for another 10 minutes.
5. Once that is done, add the pieces of chopped eggplant to the pan and let it simmer on the flame for a few more minutes. Once the potato gets tender, remove the heat.
6. Run this mixture in the blender for a small time to make it a little consistent. Add cinnamon to it and serve it well.

5. Apple Shake (For 10 Months and Above)

One of the popular apple juice recipes for babies, this one adds the benefit of milk to make a great shake.

Ingredients

• Apple
• Water
• Raisins
• Almonds
• Cinnamon
• Milk

Method

1. Take the apple and place it inside a steamer or a pressure cooker. Let it steam the entire apple for nearly 10 minutes so that it is properly cooked.
2. Once it cools down, take it out and peel the apple properly. Remove any seeds that are present inside it.
3. In a bowl, add the apple pieces, along with milk. Mix it well. Peel the almonds and add them to the bowl, too. Mash the raisins into a puree and add it to the bowl along with a simple pinch of cinnamon powder. Avoid the powder if your baby doesn’t like it.
4. Add the entire mixture into a blender and run it multiple times to make it smooth. Make sure the almonds are crushed completely while blending.
5. If your baby is a year old or more, you can add honey to this to elevate the flavour.

6. Baked Apple Dish (For 6 Months and Above)

Turn the fruit into a great snack option for your child that has a different flavour with the same nutrition.

Ingredients

• Various apples
• Butter

Method

1. Cut the apples and remove its core. Do not remove the outer peel.
2. Take some butter on your finger and apply it to the inner part of the apple. If your baby loves cinnamon powder, feel free to apply a little bit of that as well.
3. Take a shallow tray with some water in it. Place these pieces in the tray.
4. Put the tray in an oven and set the temperature to 200 degrees. Let it bake for about half an hour or so until the pieces start getting soft. Keep a track of the water in the tray.
5. Once cooled down, take the tray out and remove the peels if you want them to. Feel free to cut the pieces further or mash them together for your little one.

7. Apple Salad Breakfast with Grains (For 10 Months and Above)

Let your little one have a nice filling breakfast now that he can start having solids properly.

Ingredients

• Water
• Salt
• Yoghurt
• Raisins
• Peach
• Apple
• Wheat
• Brown rice

Method

1. Take a pot and add water and salt to it. Place it on a flame and heat it until it starts boiling. Follow by adding the brown rice and wheat to the pot. Then, reduce the flame, cover the pot, and let it cook for about 8-10 minutes.
2. Once cooked, turn off the flame and let it cool for a few minutes.
3. Spread a baking sheet on a platform and spread these grains on it. This increases their fluffiness.
4. Chop the apples together and add them to a bowl. Peel the peach and cut it into small pieces. Add it to the bowl as well.
5. Put all the fruits into the grain mixture along with some raisins, mashed if needed.
6. Follow up this entire mixture by adding some yoghurt to it, making sure it covers everything properly. You may proceed to add some wheat germ if needed as well.
7. As an alternative, you can add the fruits to the pot as well, making an even more consistent recipe.

8. Apple Rice Pudding (For 10 Months and Above)

Some nice sweetness to go with the sweet and sour taste of the apple.

Ingredients

• Brown rice
• Water
• Ginger
• Cinnamon
• Brown sugar
• Raisins
• Apples

Method

1. Take a good-sized pan and add together all the fruits, grains, spices and ingredients together to it.
2. Place the pan over a medium flame and let it sit for about half an hour or so. This should be time enough to soften the rice. Around this time, the mixture itself will get a little soupy and a nice aroma will start rising, too.
3. Add milk to this mixture and let it cook for another 8-10 minutes. Ensure to keep the mixture soupy and not get gravy-like. Keep stirring it throughout so that it doesn’t stick to the pan, and add milk and water if needed.
4. Once cooked, cool it down and serve it to the child.

9. Apple Banana Custard (For 8 Months and Above)

For your little one who has a sweet tooth, this recipe will be quite a delight for him.

Ingredients

• Apple, peeled and cored
• Banana, peeled and deseeded
• Cinnamon powder
• Breastmilk or formula

Method

1. Prepare the oven by heating it to around 180 degrees.
2. Steam the apples and combine all ingredients in the blender to make a smooth mixture.
3. Pour this in a baking dish and let it sit in the oven for around 15-20 minutes.
4. Stick a knife in the mixture to check for softness and take the tray out when right.

10. Apple Papaya Dish (For 10 Months And Above)

Combine different fruits for a great tasting experience.

Ingredients

• Sweet apple
• Peeled and chopped papaya

Method

1. Steam the apples after peeling and chopping them and blend them until they are mush.
2. Add the papaya to this and run it again until it turns into a consistent puree.

11. Baked Apple Oatmeal (For 8 Months and Above)

Create a nutritious and comforting breakfast option for your little one with this baked apple oatmeal recipe.

Ingredients

• Rolled oats
• Apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
• Cinnamon powder
• Milk (breastmilk, formula, or cow’s milk)
• Unsweetened applesauce
• Vanilla extract

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a baking dish lightly.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine rolled oats, chopped apples, and cinnamon powder.
3. Add milk, unsweetened applesauce, and a dash of vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix well until all ingredients are combined.
4. Pour the mixture into the greased baking dish and spread it evenly.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes or until the oatmeal is cooked through and golden brown on top.
6. Let it cool slightly before serving. You can serve it warm or at room temperature.

12. Apple and Carrot Muffins (For 10 Months and Above)

These muffins are packed with the goodness of apples and carrots, making them a nutritious snack option for older babies.

Ingredients

• Whole wheat flour
• Baking powder
• Cinnamon powder
• Grated apples
• Grated carrots
• Unsweetened applesauce
• Egg
• Olive oil
• Maple syrup (optional)

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a muffin tin or line it with paper liners.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine whole wheat flour, baking powder, and cinnamon powder.
3. Add grated apples, grated carrots, unsweetened applesauce, beaten egg, olive oil, and maple syrup (if using) to the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
4. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about two-thirds full.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Let the muffins cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

13. Apple and Spinach Baby Puree (For 7 Months and Above)

Combine the nutritional powerhouses of apples and spinach in this vibrant and nutritious baby puree.

Ingredients

• Baby spinach leaves
• Apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
• Water or breastmilk/formula (for thinning, if necessary)

Method

1. Steam or boil the chopped apples until they are tender.
2. Blanch the baby spinach leaves in boiling water for a few seconds, then transfer them to ice water to cool.
3. In a blender or food processor, combine the steamed apples and blanched spinach leaves.
4. Blend until smooth, adding water or breastmilk/formula as needed to reach the desired consistency.
5. Pour the puree into serving bowls and serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for later use.

14. Apple and Blueberry Yogurt Parfait (For 9 Months and Above)

Create a delightful and nutritious snack with layers of apple puree, blueberries, and yogurt.

Ingredients

• Apple puree (homemade or store-bought)
• Fresh blueberries
• Plain yogurt (Greek yogurt or regular yogurt)

Method

1. In a small serving glass or bowl, layer apple puree, fresh blueberries, and plain yogurt.
2. Repeat the layers until the glass or bowl is filled.
3. Serve immediately as a nutritious snack or dessert for your little one.

15. Apple and Pumpkin Porridge (For 8 Months and Above)

Combine the natural sweetness of apples with the earthy flavor of pumpkin in this comforting and nutritious porridge.

Ingredients

• Pumpkin puree (homemade or store-bought)
• Apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
• Rolled oats
• Water or breastmilk/formula (for thinning, if necessary)
• Cinnamon powder (optional)

Method

1. In a saucepan, combine the chopped apples and rolled oats with water or breastmilk/formula.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender and the oats are cooked through.
3. Stir in the pumpkin puree and cinnamon powder (if using) until well combined.
4. Continue cooking for a few more minutes until the porridge reaches the desired consistency.
5. Allow the porridge to cool slightly before serving to your baby. You can adjust the thickness by adding more water or breastmilk/formula as needed.
6. Serve warm as a nutritious breakfast or snack option for your little one.

Precautions to Take When Introducing Apples to Babies

When introducing apples to babies, it’s essential to take certain precautions to ensure their safety and well-being:

• Age appropriateness: Introduce apples only when your baby is developmentally ready to start solids, typically around 6 months of age. 
• Allergy risk: Apples are considered low-allergenic foods, but it’s still possible for babies to develop allergies. Introduce apples in small quantities initially and monitor your baby closely for any signs of allergic reactions, such as hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing. If there’s a family history of food allergies, consult with a pediatrician before introducing apples.
• Preparation: Peel and core apples before serving them to babies to minimize the risk of choking. Cut apples into small, soft, and manageable pieces or cook them until they are tender and easily mashed.
• Texture: Pay attention to the texture of applesauce or purees you offer to your baby. Ensure they are smooth and free of any lumps or chunks that may pose a choking hazard, especially for younger babies who are still learning to swallow.
• Supervision: Always supervise your baby while they are eating apples or apple-based foods to prevent choking. Encourage them to sit upright and chew thoroughly. Avoid feeding apples or apple products to babies while they are lying down or distracted.
• Variety: Introduce a variety of fruits and vegetables alongside apples to provide a balanced diet and expose your baby to different flavors and nutrients.

FAQs

1. Can I use any type of apple for homemade baby food recipes?

Yes, you can use a variety of apples for homemade baby food recipes. However, sweeter varieties are often preferred for their milder flavor. Ensure that the apples are ripe and free from any bruises or blemishes before using them in recipes for your baby.

2. How should I store homemade apple baby food?

Homemade apple baby food can be stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to three days. If you want to store it for a longer period, you can freeze it in ice cube trays and then transfer the frozen cubes to freezer bags for up to three months. Thaw individual portions as needed and heat them gently before serving.

3. Can I add other ingredients to homemade apple baby food recipes?

Yes, you can add other ingredients to homemade apple baby food recipes to introduce variety and additional nutrients. Common additions include cinnamon for flavor, pear or banana for sweetness, and vegetables like sweet potato or carrot for added nutrition. Just ensure that any added ingredients are age-appropriate and introduced one at a time to monitor for possible allergic reactions.

4. Are there any alternatives to cooking apples for baby food?

Yes, besides cooking, you can also serve grated or finely chopped raw apples to older babies who have developed the ability to chew and swallow more solid foods. Additionally, you can incorporate apples into smoothies, yogurt parfaits, or baked goods for babies who are ready for finger foods or more textured options. Always supervise your baby closely when introducing new textures to prevent choking.

These were some of the many apple recipes for 1 year old baby. Making sure your baby can eat apples and develop a liking for them can open an avenue for various food items for your child. By opting for an apple stew recipe for your baby you can create a wide variety of recipes and let your baby enjoy the beautiful flavours.

References/Resources:

1. Apples; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/apples/

2. Apples, raw, with skin (Includes foods for USDA’s Food Distribution Program); U.S. Department of Agriculture; https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171688/nutrients

3. Baby Granny Smith Apples; Wyoming Department of Education; https://edu.wyoming.gov/downloads/nutrition/informational-ffv-sheets.pdf

4. Where We Stand: Fruit Juice for Children; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/Where-We-Stand-Fruit-Juice.aspx

5. Heyman. M. B, Abrams. S. A; Fruit Juice in Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Current Recommendations; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/139/6/e20170967/38754/Fruit-Juice-in-Infants-Children-and-Adolescents?autologincheck=redirected; June 2017

6. From around 6 months; NHS; https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/weaning/what-to-feed-your-baby/from-around-6-months/

7. Starting Solid Foods; healthychildren.org; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Starting-Solid-Foods.aspx

Also Read:

Soup Recipe for Baby
Apple Puree Recipe for Baby
Carrot Puree Recipe for Infant
Homemade Custard Recipes for Babies