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. Cherry puree is pure fun and so easy to make!
Your baby will not only love the taste of the sweet cherries, but they also make a super versatile puree for kiddos at any age. It can be paired with many other baby foods. Cherry puree goes really well with fruits from from pear puree to banana puree or vegetables like cauliflower puree to broccoli puree.
This cherry puree recipe is great for babies and also delicious for adults too. Drizzled into a cocktail, mocktail or over ice cream, it's uses are endless. I even like to drop a frozen cube into my favorite smoothie for an extra punch of cherry flavor and sweetness.
"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 good 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 any parent's book.
Ingredients
Frozen Cherries vs. Fresh Cherries
I go back and forth with fresh vs. frozen fruit when I make baby food purees.
Sometimes, 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. You'll need to destem and pit all of the cherries before you puree them. You may also need to put them through a food mill or a mesh sieve to get the skins out of the way.
Cherries are a seasonal fruit
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.
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.
Then, toss the slightly defrosted cherries into a high speed blender and blend until smooth.
How to store and freeze
If not using the cherry puree immediately, you can store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. I like to use small mason jars to store it in serving sizes that will get used up at one meal.
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.
Serving Suggestions for Babies
Cherry puree pairs well with the following:
- Grains: Oatmeal, cream of wheat, rice cereal
- Fruits: Pear Puree, Banana Puree, Peach Puree
- Vegetables: Broccoli Puree, Spinach Puree, Pea Puree
- Dairy: Greek yogurt and cottage cheese
- Yummy Combinations for older babies:
- Cherry, Pea, Cauliflower
- Edamame, Cherry, Pear
- Cherry, Banana, Yogurt
Serving suggestions for big kids and adults
Here are a few great ways the big kids and adults can enjoy it too!
- Swap a frozen cube of cherry puree for the blueberry puree in these overnight oats.
- Drizzle into champagne or use in your favorite cocktail.
- Make a cherry coulis or cherry compote to use as a syrup over ice cream or swirled into cheesecakes or other baked goods.
How to get cherry juice out of clothes
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 or 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.
Did you try this recipe and and love it? 😍 Let me know by leaving a comment below or 5 ⭐ rating!
And make sure to sign up for my newsletter and follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more simple recipes! Remember to tag us on social channels when you make a recipe at #simplegraytshirt! I 💖 seeing what you’re up to in the kitchen!
📖 Recipe
Cherry Puree
Equipment
- Stain Treater for your kiddos clothes/bibs/etc
Ingredients
- 16 oz frozen cherries (16oz pitted cherries if using 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
Nutrition
Want more recipes like this delivered right to your inbox? Be sure to subscribe below and never miss a thing!
Leave a Reply