Homemade Applesauce Recipe (Toddler Chef-Friendly)

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You can introduce your baby to apples as early as 4-6 months; and when it comes to baby food, there's no such thing as too much applesauce...ever. It's great on its own, but it's also super helpful as "mixer" when your baby is not too keen on eating another food on its own. #TGFA (Thank God for Apples!)

Homemade Apple Sauce Recipe
During this period ("Stage One"), you're just steaming the apples and pureeing them to a smooth texture (I call this "smoothifying"). Around 9 months or so, you can start to "chunkify" your applesauce and add seasonings (keep it simple with cinnamon at first and later vanilla extract). At no point do you ever need sugar. In case you missed that, let me repeat it: DO NOT ADD SUGAR. Your applesauce doesn't need it and neither does your little one.

In my most recent cooking adventure with the tiny chefs in toddler boss's class, we made yummy chunky applesauce that we mashed by hand. Their favorite parts (beyond eating, of course) were smelling the amazing blend of flavors and hearing all the squishy sounds! No leftovers this time, sorry folks:-)

RECOMMENDED AGES: 6+ months. Click here to download our easy baby food reference chart to keep track of what foods you can introduce to your baby and when.

SUGGESTED PAIRING: Try this with your little one wearing the Burpa Bib in Summer Day or Circle Time.

SERVINGS: 8 small apples make about 3 cups or 24 ounces of applesauce. For Stage One babies, this is about 12 servings. For Stage Two+, it's about 6 servings. For toddlers who like it chunky, it's about 4 servings.

PREP TIME: 10 mins

COOK TIME: 20-30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

8 small organic Gala (my fave) or Fuji apples

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Peel apples (make life easier on yourself by using a vegetable peeler and going in a circular motion).

2. Cut apples into 6-8 wedges and remove seeds from cut pieces as needed (make life easier on yourself again by using an apple cutter).

3. Add about 1 1/4 cups of water to a medium-sized steamer pot. Place apples in the basket, cover and steam on medium-high heat for about 20 minutes or until soft. About midway through, add cinnamon and vanilla extract (9+ months only).

4. If you want to make your apple sauce chunky, let it sit covered for an additional 10 minutes or until apples really soft, then use a masher or large fork to mash them to desired consistency.

5. If you want a puree (recommended for ages 4-9 months), place the apples in the blender and blend until smooth.

6. Let cool for about 10 minutes and serve at room temperature.

7. Freeze leftovers for up to 6 months (3 months preferred).

For a comprehensive guide on how to make the best food for your baby, click HERE.

Hey Haute Mamas! I'm Riche Holmes Grant, a modern mom + mompreneur who designs smart + stylish products that make your mommy gig easier.

When I'm not busy taking orders from my #miniboss, I'm contributing to MarthaStewart.com or in the kitchen whipping up delicious family-friendly creations in my BambiniWare Apronini.

Get my FREE book on How to Make the Best Food for Your Baby here!

I live in the Washington, DC area with my husband and daughter. Follow our adventures on Instagram via @BambiniWareLife!