Butternut Squash Baby Food Puree

Homemade butternut squash baby food puree is a delicious and nutritious way to introduce solids to your baby. It’s simple to prepare, cost-effective and has a host of health benefits for your baby.

Why Make Butternut Squash Puree for Your Baby

• Nutritional Goodness: Butternut squash is packed with vitamins and minerals. It’s particularly high in vitamin A, which promotes healthy vision and skin and supports immune function. 
• Gentle Introduction to Solids: Pureed butternut squash is easily digestible for little tummies so it’s perfect for introducing your baby to the world of solids. Plus, it’s naturally sweet (especially when roasted) so it’s a winner for even the pickiest of eaters.
• Cost-Effective and Sustainable: Making your own butternut squash puree at home is often more affordable than buying the pre-packaged options at the grocery store. Plus, making it homemade reduces packaging waste making it a more sustainable choice.
• Versatile: This butternut squash puree recipe can easily be mixed with other flavors or purees to make new baby food combinations. You can also add new spices or herbs to get your baby accustomed to trying new flavors!
• Easy to Make: When I tell you how easy it is to make butternut squash baby food puree it’ll blow your mind! It’s a simple recipe that only has about 5 minutes of hands-on time!

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Ingredients for Butternut Squash Puree

This recipe is so simple, you only need one ingredient. I’m sure you can guess what that ingredient is… butternut squash!

How to Make Butternut Squash Puree for Baby

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Prep the Squash: Cut the butternut squash in half from top to bottom and use a spoon to scoop out the seeds.
   

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3. Bake: Place both sides of the squash flesh side up on a foil or parchment lined baking sheet (for easier cleanup). Bake for 45 minutes. 
4. Allow to Cool: Remove from the oven and let cool for several minutes.
5. Puree: With a spoon, scrape out soft pulp into a food processor. Puree until smooth.
   

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6. Serve: Cool and serve.
   

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Other Methods to Cook a Butternut Squash

If you’re looking to quickly cook butternut squash, steaming or boiling are great time-saving options. Here’s how: 

Boiling Method: Peel and chop butternut squash into relatively even sized cubes. Place in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until tender. Puree in a food processor as directed in the recipe card below. 

Steaming Method: Place one peeled and chopped butternut squash in a steamer basket over 2 inches of boiling water. Steam for 10-15 minutes or until fork tender. Puree in a food processor as directed in the recipe card below.

How to Store and Freeze Butternut Squash Puree Baby Food

Storage: You can store this puree in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. 

Freezing: Butternut squash puree can be frozen for up to 3 months. Here’s how:

• Once cooled, spoon squash puree into a freezer safe storage container or in individual servings in silicon freezer cubes.
• Place the lid on the container and label with the recipe name and date.
• If you want to transfer to a bag to save room in your freezer, allow to freeze overnight and then pop out the cubes and transfer to a zipper bag, label and freeze for up to 3 months.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

1. When can my baby eat butternut squash puree? Butternut squash can be one of your babies first foods. It’s a great stage 1 baby food for 4-6 months and up! When your baby can start solids is determined by their own rate of development of course, so before you start your baby on purees consult your pediatrician to make sure they’re ready.
2. Can I add any spices or herbs to this puree? For sure! To add different flavors, feel free to add a pinch of chopped rosemary or thyme to this recipe. Or go for 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, coriander or even a mild curry powder. 
3. Can I use already prepared or frozen butternut squash? If you want to use butternut squash that is already prepared (peeled and cubed), boiling or steaming the cubes until fork tender would be the best method of cooking before pureeing the squash.

Butternut Squash Health Benefits

• Rich in beta-carotene which is great for eye health, immune function and healthy skin. 
• High in vitamin-c making butternut squash a great immune booster.
• Good source of potassium which is great for muscle function.
• High in dietary fiber to aid in digestion

Butternut Squash Baby Food Combinations

This butternut squash puree is delicious on its own, but it’s also a great baby food to make different combinations with! Here are some ingredients or other baby food purees that combine well with this recipe: 

• Apples
• Carrots
• Pears
• Baby brown rice cereal or oatmeal 
• Thanksgiving Dinner Baby Food
• Yogurt
• Mango 
• Dates Puree

More Ways to Use Butternut Squash Puree

Other than as a delicious, healthy baby food, you may be wondering what to do with leftover butternut squash puree. It can easily be used as an ingredient in many different ways! Here are some of my favorites: 

• Mix with oatmeal and some ground cinnamon for a delicious breakfast
• Add the puree to baked goods like muffins, quick breads or pancakes for added moisture and sweetness.
• Blend with yogurt or applesauce for a healthy, kid-friendly snack
• Use butternut squash as a base for soups like this Butternut Squash and Apple Soup or in Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese

More Baby Food Puree Recipes

• Beet Puree
• Roast Pear and Banana Puree
• Homemade Brown Rice Cereal
• Spinach Banana Puree
• Potato, Broccoli and Cheese Puree

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When I started transitioning my kids to solids, butternut squash was one of the first foods I tried. I always loved butternut squash so it was a no-brainer to roast a squash for myself and then puree the rest for my little ones. As they got older, I would feed them soft chunks of butternut squash baby led weaning style, and now that they’re big kids, they love eating all types of squash with me! 

Let me know in the comments  if you have any questions about this recipe and tag me on social media if you make any of my baby food purees!

Images by Ivan Solis