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    Home » Baby Food

    Cherry Puree (Homemade Baby Food)

    Published: Mar 23, 2022 by Marni Katz · This post may contain affiliate links

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    “This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

    Cherries are bright and sweet, full of great nutrients for your little one and a breeze to puree if you are just starting on your homemade baby food journey!

    cherries piled in a small mason jar with other cherries scattered about on a towel.

    "This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link."

    Why you should make this puree now!

    This cherry puree is pure fun and so easy to make! Your baby will love the taste of the sweet cherries and it's a super versatile puree for kids at any stage. It can be paired with many other flavors from other fruits to veggies, yogurt and even pureed chicken.

    Not only is this cherry puree recipe great for babies, it's also delicious for adults' too. The cherry puree is great drizzled into a cocktail, mocktail or cooked down into a delicious ice cream topping. Spoon a bit into your favorite smoothie for an extra punch of cherry flavor.

    Ingredients

    ingredients for cherry puree

    Frozen Cherries vs. Fresh Cherries: Normally fresh produce is the way to go when making homemade baby food, but not so much with cherries. The frozen cherries are already pitted and de-stemmed making this recipe quick and easy. Just let them defrost a bit on the counter before using. If you do choose to use fresh cherries, make sure you have a cherry pitter on hand to make the process faster.

    Simple step by step instructions

    One of the best thing about this cherry puree (other than the taste), is how simple it is.

    First, grab a bag of frozen cherries. Trader Joes frozen cherries are my go to, but any brand will work fine. Let the bag sit on the counter for 10 -30 minutes. The longer they are out the easier they are to blend.

    frozen cherries in a vitamix blender container

    Then, toss the slightly defrosted cherries into a high speed blender (I love my Vitamix) and blend until smooth.

    blended cherry puree in a vitamix

    If not using the cherry puree immediately, you can store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. Alternatively, pour the puree into a silicone ice cube tray and freeze. Once the puree has frozen, pop the cubes out of the tray and store in zip top freezer storage bags for up to 3 months.

    For more info on storage baby food check out my Ultimate Guide for Making Your Own Baby Food.

    spooning cherry puree into an ice cube tray

    Frequently Asked Questions 

    What makes cherries a healthy choice for babies?

    According to Health.com cherries are not only one of the healthiest fruits, they also rank as one of the most health protective foods overall. One cup, or about 21 cherries, contains less than 100 calories and 15% of your daily vitamin C needs.

    One of my favorite facts about cherries though is that they are one of the only foods that naturally contain melatonin (a hormone that helps control sleep-wake cycles).  While, I'm not a sleep specialist or doctor of any type, anything that can help with sleep is a win in my book 😴.

    When are cherries in season?

    Cherries are typically in season from mid-May to end of July depending on where you live. However, cherries can be expensive and a pain to pit and stem, so as I mentioned before, frozen cherries are the key to making this simple puree quickly and all year round.

    What does cherry puree pair well with?

    • Cooked oatmeal: either use fresh puree or a frozen cube mixed in for a fruity twist on oatmeal.
    • Spinach: pair with a spinach cube for a super healthy combination
    • Banana: Mix with banana puree for a yummy baby friendly dessert
    • Yogurt: either mix the puree with yogurt and freeze in cubes, or drizzle puree over the yogurt for a naturally sweetened treat.
    • Roasted Broccoli: for a pop of color with roasted pureed broccoli add in some cherry puree, the kiddos love it.
    • Applesauce: for a great sweet treat for little ones, a cube of cherry on top of applesauce ups the nutrients and looks great too.
    yogurt and cherry puree in a glass dish

    Cherry puree doesn't just have to be for babies

    Here are a few great ways the adults can enjoy it too!

    1. Swap a frozen cube of cherry puree for the blueberry puree in these overnight oats.
    2. Drizzle into champagne or use in your favorite cocktail.
    3. Heat it in a pan and cook it down a bit to use as a syrup over ice cream or swirled into cheesecakes or other baked goods.

    One More Tip

    Cherries have bright and vibrant color that can stain EVERYTHING! Fresh or frozen, these gorgeous fruits know how to leave their mark. So how do you get cherry juice stains out? OxiClean can take care of it! I just love the stuff and it has not failed me yet when it comes to treating stains from all the purees and life in our house. You need this stuff in your life!

    mixed puree in a mason jar with cherries around

    Looking for other great puree recipes?  Try these:

    • corn puree
    • carrot puree
    • peach puree

    When you try this recipe and love it 😍 let me know by leaving a comment below or 5 ⭐ rating!

    a pair of cherries joined at the top

    Cherry Puree

    Marni Katz
    Beautiful and bright cherry puree can now be served to your baby all year long!
    4.29 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Baby Food
    Cuisine American
    Servings 15 cubes
    Calories 19 kcal

    Equipment

    • Vitamix or other high speed blender

    Ingredients
      

    • 16 oz cherries use one bag frozen or 16oz pitted if fresh

    Instructions
     

    • If using frozen cherries, take bag out of freezer 10-30 minutes before you start.
    • Toss the defrosted cherries into a high speed blender
    • Blend until smooth.
    • Freeze into cubes or store in a jar in the fridge. This puree can stay in the fridge for 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

    Notes

    Frozen cherries are the easiest in this recipe, but you can use fresh as well if you have an abundance of cherries.  Simple take the pits out of the cherries and toss them into the blender.  If using fresh cherries, you may want to let them puree a little longer then if you were using frozen ones, making sure the skins get completely pureed.
    This puree is thinner than most when defrosted. If you using it from a frozen cube, let defrost at room temp, there is no need to microwave it. I suggest serving it with other purees that have some texture or depth to them.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 19kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPotassium: 67mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 19IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword fruit puree, homemade baby food
    Tried this recipe?Let me know what you think!

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      About Marni Katz

      Marni Katz is the recipe developer, photographer and writer behind Simple Gray T-Shirt. She wants to help people keep things simple in the kitchen. With simple recipes, easy menu ideas and plenty of tips and tricks along the way, she wants getting a meal on the table to be as simple as putting on your favorite gray tee!
      "I want to inspire you to get back in the kitchen and do this, because you can!"

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