Blueberry Puree (For Babies and Beyond)

As a mom of 3, I've been making purees for over 8 years and this blueberry puree is not only an enticing color and full of nutrients, it's also so simple to make. We happen to live in Michigan which grow most of the cultivated blueberries in the country, so these little gems are a staple around our house.

I want to share with you two methods that I love for pureeing blueberries. One takes about 2 minutes and the other one just a little longer. Either way, you'll just need your Vitamix (or other high speed blender) and a whole bunch of blueberries.

This blueberry puree is great on it's own and also pairs really well with other purees like strawberry puree and cherry puree. For young eaters it's the perfect consistency, but also mixes well into blueberry oatmeal or blueberry yogurt for older babies.

 

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Ingredients

Optional spices: you can add a dash of cinnamon or other warm spice to this recipe.

Fresh vs. Frozen Blueberries:

While you can always use fresh blueberries for this puree, I almost always use frozen ones. Here are the three reasons why:

• Easy to find at the grocery year round
• No need to wash or de-stem
• More economical to buy frozen blueberries than fresh

If you want to use fresh berries be sure to wash them well, take off all the stems, and sort through to make sure there is no mold on any of your berries. This is especially important if you are using the no cook method.

How to freeze blueberries

We go blueberry picking every year. And end up with LOTS of extra blueberries. Once I bake the blueberry muffins and all the blueberry pancakes have been eaten, I freeze the rest. Here's how I do it:

• Wash and sort through the blueberries being sure to take off the stems and get rid of any underripe ones.
• Lay them out on a parchment covered baking sheet and pop into the freezer.
• Once they are frozen, transfer them to zip top bag and store in the freezer.
• Then you can use the the blueberries as you would frozen ones from the store.

Step by step Instructions

One of the best thing about this real blueberry puree (other than the taste and awesome color), is how simple it is. I like taking the time to roast the berries for more depth of flavor, but either method works well!

No Cook Method

First, grab a bag of frozen blueberries. Fresh blueberries that you have frozen work well, or grab a bag at the store (any brand you like will work). Let the bag sit on the counter to defrost for 10-15 minutes. You are looking for frozen but softish.

Then, put the slightly defrosted blueberries into a high speed blender and blend until smooth.

Roasting Method

If you have a little more time, you can roast the blueberries with a sprinkle of cinnamon to intensify the flavor of the puree.

Start by lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. Then pour the frozen (or fresh) blueberries on the baking sheet, sprinkle with a tablespoon of cinnamon and roast at 400 degrees for 101-15 minutes. The blueberries will "pop" a bit and get fragrant.

Then carefully pour the roasted blueberries into a high speed blender and blend until smooth.

Storage Instructions

• How to store: Pour the blueberry puree into either small mason jars or another airtight container and store into the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Don't be surprised if the puree firms up. There is a lot of natural pectin in blueberries. It's totally normal.
• How to freeze blueberry puree: Pour the puree into silicone ice cube trays and cover with plastic wrap. Freeze the cubes for at least 4 hours and then once frozen pop the cubes out and store in a zip top back for up to 3 months.
• How to thaw: When you are are ready to use the blueberry puree, let it thaw in the fridge overnight or defrost in the microwave in 10 second intervals. Always test the temperature of the puree before serving to you little one.

Serving Suggestions for Babies

Blueberry puree baby food is great to serve with other purees or soft foods.  Because it can get a little runny when it's freshly made, try to serve it over full fat plain Greek yogurt or whole grain hot cereal.  It also goes well with the following:

• Grains: Oatmeal, cream of wheat, rice cereal
• Fruits: Apple Puree, Banana Puree, Peach Puree,
• Vegetables: Beet Puree, Spinach Puree, Pea Puree, Sweet Potato Puree
• Dairy: Greek yogurt and cottage cheese
• Spices: Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Pumpkin Pie Spice
• Yummy Combinations for older babies:
  • Blueberry, Oatmeal, Greek Yogurt
  • Blueberry, Cherry Puree, Cottage Cheese
  • Blueberry, Beet Puree, Sweet Potato Puree

Serving Suggestions for Big Kids and Adults

In our house, this frozen blueberry puree isn't just for baby food.

My big kids like it on cottage cheese pancakes instead of syrup and in their yogurt with homemade granola for an easy breakfast. It's also super fun to turn lemonade into blueberry lemonade with just one frozen blueberry puree cube.

The adults mix the puree into drinks if we are feeling fancy (try it in a Blueberry Margarita or Blueberry Bellini). I also like to use the blueberry puree in muffins and as a topping on my coconut bread.

Cleaning Up Blueberry Stains

While the bright color of this puree is fun to eat, getting it out of clothes and bibs can be a challanged. Fresh or frozen, blueberries know how to leave their mark. So how do you get blueberry stains out? OxiClean and Miss Mouth's Messy Eater stain remover can take care of it! I just love them both stuff and neither has failed me when it comes to treating stains from all the purees and life in our house.

📖 Recipe