Homemade Applesauce Recipe for Babies and Kids

Today I bring to you a very delicious homemade applesauce recipe for babies.

An apple a day, keeps the doctor away, they say. It could very well be the case considering the nutrients that are packed inside this fruit. It contains carbohydrates (this includes sugar and dietary fibre), vitamins, trace minerals and antioxidants.

I love apples, because they are quite versatile. Eat them raw, drink it as a juice, mash it up for your babies, bake it into a pie to vie for your husband's eye, or give your parents and in laws a slice of warm and moist apple cake to show that you care. You can even make apple sauce.

Read: What is applesauce?

Applesauce is a mash as well as a puree.

If you ask me, what is applesauce made of? It is simply a puree of cooked apples, sweetened or unsweetened.

Why is applesauce good for you?

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. It's true in this case as well. Like apples, the apple sauce is also good for your baby as well as yourself. Let me highlight the major nutrients present in apple sauce.

Apple sauce contains dietary fibre in the form of pectin. So consuming apple sauce will help in taking care of your fibre requirements. Not just that it also helps people with cholesterol.

Like the apple, the apple sauce also contains Vitamin C which is required for the body to heal itself.

Applesauce contains potassium which helps in keeping your heart healthy and it is also necessary for the muscles.

Though the amount of antioxidant is lesser in apple sauce than the fruit, it still is a good source.

Benefits of applesauce for babies and adults:

Is applesauce good for your baby and your family? Definitely yes

Here are the nutritional benefits of applesauce for babies and adults.

Add some chopped nuts to your apple sauce, you now have a yummy mini meal which is high on nutrients and fibre but less in calories, so good news to all you guys, who don't want to give up the good things due to dieting.

And like I mentioned before the pectin takes longer to digest, which means you feel fuller for longer. So like I said before, it is ideal for weight watchers.

Thanks to apple sauce, you can have your cake and eat it too. You can use it as a substitute for liquid fat like oil and melted butter, the resulting product still tastes great you do not have to feel guilty about eating it.

You can replace half the fat with apple sauce. You can find many good recipes with easy recipes using apple sauce, online.

As you know, fiber content helps in the smooth functioning of your digestive system.So this is good for toddlers as well for increasing their fiber intake.

Did you know, that while apple juice is not recommended for kids suffering from diarrhea, consumption of apple sauce is encouraged? You can also refer to the 25 foods during loose motion for babies, toddlers and kids.

The potassium in apple sauce helps in ensuring that your heart is healthy and aids in muscle contraction.

The antioxidant present in apple sauce, called quercetin, helps in keeping breast cancer at bay.

When can you start giving apple sauce to your little one?

You can start giving your little one apple sauce once he has started having semi solids, which is once he is 6 months old. But start with unsweetened applesauce first. Always give fresh apple sauce for babies. Never ever go for canned applesauce for babies.

Once your baby is 7-8 months old, you can add a hint of cinnamon to broaden his or her palette. Cinnamon apple sauce can be used to make apple pies and other sweet dishes too.

Chunkier apple sauce (which is not pureed) can be given to babies of 11 months and above.

Which all ways can I give applesauce to babies?

Applesauce can be served as it is, in the form of a dip, as a dessert, added in porridge, kheer or in any form your baby likes.

Prepare fresh batch every week to retain the freshness of applesauce to be added in desserts and puddings for babies.

How to choose the best apples for applesauce?

You can pick the fresh, soft and sweet apples. Go for a mix of apple varieties to get the best flavor out of your homemade applesauce.

How to make applesauce from fresh apples at home - step by step applesauce recipe for babies:

Now that you have the reasons, why don't we try our hand at making a batch of quick and easy applesauce?

Today, we will be making some unsweetened apple sauce. Once you see how easy it is, I'm sure that would want to make some too. So here is an easy and quick applesauce recipe, just for you.

First you take the apples and wash it really well. I cannot emphasize enough on the cleaning part, because, well everything is laced with pesticides. If you are brave enough to take a bite of an unwashed apple, you might meet Snow White's fate. I also added some cinnamon. Because I just love the combination. Apples and cinnamon - a match made in heaven.

Once they are clean, you need to core it to remove the pips. If you see the picture, you can see my old peeler peeking out, she's a bit camera shy.

Cut each apple into four and then halve it and put it in a vessel with enough water to cover it. Once it started to boil, you can reduce the flame and let it stew.Do check on it in between and give it a good mix, so that the apples cook evenly.

Once the apples have softened, take it off the stove and let it cool. Once cooled take the apples and put it all in the blender and blend it into a fine puree.

If you prefer a homemade chunky applesauce, just use a hand masher or fork to mash the cooked apples.

Note:

• You can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 to 7 days or freeze it up to 14 days. I don't keep it for more than that.
• You can remove the skin before or after you cook. The puree is smoother, but you will lose out on some of the goodness.
• You can add sugar according to your preference
• A hint of lemon can be added if the apples are too sweet or if you are adding sugar.
• Always opt fresh apples for making applesauce for babies and refrain from using canned varieties.

Also read:

Have you made applesauce at home for your baby? Is your baby fond of it?

Did you use homemade applesauce to bake, give it to your tot or eat it as a snack? If you have any interesting ways to use apple sauce, do let me know in the comments.

Is there any other variety applesauce recipe you would like to share with me?