This is a great first recipe for homemade baby food! First, apples are nutritious whole foods packed with fiber and tons of vitamins. Second, they are really easy on the stomach. Third, babies love the taste. So that leads us naturally to Apples, and that’s a great place to be!
Let’s make this easy, shall we? The crock pot will be your friend for this recipe but if you do not have one, no worries. This recipe can be made on the stove top, in a dutch oven or large heavy pot on medium-low heat in as little as 3-4 hours. That method needs checking and stirring and a lid so all the moisture does not escape. Go for it!
For those of us who have crockpots, you can easily plan this recipe around work, childcare, housework, or errands by cooking on low for 8 hours, or on high for 4 hours.
First, you want to purchase your apples.
- Cooking apples do not have to be spot free, bruise free, or crunchy.
- Do not use all Granny Smith because they are too tart.
- Find a deal on a few large bags of Gala, Macintosh, or Fuji but remember…Small apples mean more prep work !
You are looking for large, imperfect, not too tart apples at a good price point. Depending on your location and the time of year, this might be worth a trip to an orchard…. and if you do this, make sure you bring baby and a camera.
Then, get cooking!
5-8 lb Organic Macintosh Apples gala, fuji, or red delicious allowed as well
1- Double wash and core all the apples. Yes we are leaving the peels on! Don't worry they will disappear after you blend. Cut into 1-2 inch chucks.
2- Put them all in the slow cooker with 1/2 cup water and cook until they are soft. They will still look firm and have browned a bit, this is fine.
3- Mash the apples with a potato masher for a slightly chunky sauce. Then run it through your food processor or bender for a smooth textured sauce.
4- Portion into your Kiinde bags for easy feeding and organized storage in the fridge of freezer. Save unopened refrigerated bags for 1 week or frozen bags for 3 months.
