Blueberry Puree

5 5 Published Feb 19, 2022, Updated Jun 12, 2023

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Blueberry puree can be made with fresh blueberries so there’s no cooking involved. Blueberry allergies are incredibly rare making them a low-risk option for baby! Blueberries are a superfood! They are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and fiber. Relatively low on the glycemic index scale, blueberries do not cause a spike in blood sugar.

Health Benefits of Blueberries

Blueberries are known as a superfood. Superfoods are usually plant-based and rich in nutrients that are beneficial to your health such as vitamins, minerals, healthy fats and fiber.

fiber – a 1 cup serving of blueberries contains 3.6 grams of fiber. Fiber is essential for gut health, healthy digestion and reduces your risk of chronic disease. vitamins – blueberries contain vitamin C, E, K and B6, which are are all essential for helping baby to build a healthy immune system and nervous system, as well as, bone health and proper function of many organs such as the eyes, skin and brain. manganese – an essential mineral needed for normal amino acid, protein, lipid, and carbohydrate metabolism. antioxidants – these plant compounds not only give blueberries their gorgeous color, but also may reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure and help prevent cancer and diabetes. (source)

Should I Use Organic Blueberries?

While blueberries are not part of the dirty dozen fruits and vegetables, they rank at number 16. I choose to use organic berries whenever possible for my daughter, but I realize this isn’t always in the budget. Either way thoroughly rinsing your fruits and vegetables is an important step whether they’re organic or not!

How to Make Blueberry Puree

Making blueberry puree is incredibly easy! Start by sorting through your fresh blueberries to remove any that are underripe, soft or moldy. Rinse the blueberries with cold water. Place the blueberries and water in a high powered blender or food processor and blend until you achieve a totally smooth texture and the skin is no longer detectable. If you notice there are still little pieces of the skin present, you can strain them out using a fine mesh strainer. If your baby is older (and ready for chunky purees) you can simply mash the blueberries with a potato masher instead of blending it.

How to Serve Blueberry Puree to Baby

For early stage 1 eaters, blueberry puree is great served straight up with a spoon. Once baby starts moving into stage 2 and 3 foods you can make fun combination purees (see ideas below) or add blueberry puree to different foods. Try adding it to my baby oatmeal recipe or mixing it into yogurt or a smoothie.

Food Combinations That Pair Well With Blueberry

Blueberry is a flavor that pairs well with so many things! Here are some pairing ideas to help make vegetables and grains more palatable to baby:

Green veggies – kale, spinach, avocado, zucchini, peas Orange veggies – sweet potato, butternut squash, carrot White veggies – cauliflower Other fruit – banana, strawberries, peaches, apples, kiwis, pears Dairy – yogurt, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese Grains – quinoa, oats Legumes – chickpeas, lentils Seasonings and spices – curry, ginger, mint, nutmeg, cinnamon

Blueberry Baby Food Combo Ideas

Here are some baby food combos with blueberries that might be fun to try:

Blueberry, banana and oatmeal Yogurt and blueberry Apple, blueberry and spinach Apple, blueberry and banana Blueberry, peach and cottage cheese Spinach and blueberry

Blueberry Banana Quinoa Flax is another great combo that I share in my stage 2 baby food combinations post!

How to Store Blueberry Puree

Fresh blueberry puree should be stored in the fridge and used within 3-4 days. For longer storage, I recommend freezing the puree in an airtight container. I like using a silicone ice cube tray or freezer safe jars because they make it easier to thaw smaller amounts for serving to babies. Once you have the frozen cubes, you can pop them out and store in a freezer bag.

How to Thaw Frozen Puree

Like other purees, I recommend thawing frozen blueberry puree in the fridge the night before you want to use it. In a pinch, you can also thaw it quickly with a warm water bath. It thaws quickly if you’re defrosting a small amount.

Other Uses For Blueberry Puree

Blueberry puree isn’t just for babies! Here are some ideas for how to use it:

Swirl into oatmeal or yogurt – drizzle on top of baked steel cut oatmeal or mix into your favorite yogurt. Topping for pancakes and waffles – level up your breakfast or brunch by topping pancakes or waffles with this blueberry puree. Try it on my protein pancakes! Make a smoothie – blueberries are the perfect addition to smoothies and give off a gorgeous purple color! Try throwing some frozen puree cubes into my easy blueberry smoothie. For cakes and desserts – blueberry puree is often mixed into sweet treats like cheesecake! Serve over ice cream – it would be delicious served over my banana ice cream for a sweet but antioxidant packed treat! You can also mix blueberry puree into homemade or store bought ice cream or frozen yogurt for an extra touch of sweetness that packs some nutrients! Stir into drinks – blueberry puree is a great addition to a cocktail! Make a blueberry mojito, stir into a vodka soda or use it to make a blueberry margarita. For a refreshing non-alcoholic option, mix blueberry puree into lemonade!