Making Butternut Squash baby food puree for a baby or toddler is one of our favorite baby food purees. I’ll share the basic, easy method, plus 5 simple ways to add more flavor.
Butternut Squash Baby Food
Transforming a whole or precut butternut squash puree into smooth, silky baby food recipe is so easy. You only need two basic ingredients and the whole thing can be made ahead and stored in the fridge or freezer in smaller portions.
This is one of my favorite make-ahead baby food purees to share with the little ones!
Butternut squash puree is a great early baby food puree that I like to continue serving to my toddlers since it’s packed with nutrition and it has a mild flavor that kids tend to enjoy. Plus, it’s perfect to serve on its own or to stir into other foods or recipes such as Butternut Squash Oatmeal, Applesauce Overnight Oats, Toddler Smoothies, or Butternut Squash Muffins.
You can learn to cut a butternut squash or use precut cubes from the produce section of your store to make this butternut squash baby food recipe.
(You may also like Carrot Baby Food, Apple Puree, and Prune Puree.
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
To make this recipe, you just need a butternut squash (or a bag of precut cubes from the store), olive oil, and water. So simple!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the simple process involved in making this recipe so you know what to expect. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full information, including the timing and amounts.
- Peel the squash and remove the seeds. Cut into cubes.
- Toss the cubes with olive oil.
- Bake in the oven until just soft when poked with a fork.
- Blend until smooth, adding water as needed to help the mixture swirl nicely.
TIP: I like to roast my butternut squash before making a puree so that there’s beneficial fats in the mix from the olive oil—and delicious flavor.
Ways to Serve
You can serve this butternut squash puree as a single ingredient food, or you can use it in:
- Butternut Squash Muffins
- Baby Oatmeal with Butternut Squash
- Stir it into plain yogurt
- Spread it on toast
- Spread a layer in Veggie Grilled Cheese
- Add to a smoothie for kids
- Stir it into Easy Marinara Sauce
- Use it in Sweet Potato Quesadillas (in place of the Sweet Potato)
- Use it in Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Flavors to Add
The basic puree has a nice flavor, but you can also add these flavors to add more interest.
- Cinnamon
- Ground ginger
- Chinese Five Spice
- Cumin
- Pumpkin Pie Spice
TIP: You could also sweeten a little with apple butter or applesauce.
Roasted Butternut Squash for Baby-Led Weaning
To serve butternut squash as a baby-led weaning food, try Roasted Butternut Squash in thick sticks, such as the above photo where I cut it with a crinkle cutter, or larger pieces and offering one at a time to baby to self-feed.
How to Store
To store in the fridge, simply place squash into small food storage containers for 3-5 days. Stir and warm briefly before serving if desired.
To store this baby food in the freezer, I like to portion out into an ice cube tray, freeze, and then once frozen, transfer the cubes into a zip top freezer bag to freeze for up to 3 months. You can then take one or two out at a time and let thaw in the fridge or at room temp before offering to a baby or toddler.
Best Tips for Success
- Roast the squash until soft when poked with a fork so it’s easy to blend in your butternut squash puree.
- Add water slowly to reach the desired smooth consistency.
- Stop and scrape down the sides of the blender as needed.
- Stir in ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, ⅛ teaspoon Chinese Five Spice, ½ teaspoon cumin, or ½ teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice if desired to add more flavor.
- Stir in apple butter or Apple Puree to make a slightly sweeter apple-butternut squash puree. (This is a nice topping for pancakes and waffles!)
- You can serve it as is, or you can use it in Butternut Squash Muffins, in Baby Oatmeal with Butternut Squash, stir it into plain yogurt, spread it on toast, stir it into Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce, or use it in Hidden Veggie Mac and Cheese.
- Find my favorite baby food storage containers for easy storing.
Related Recipes
Baby Food
Favorite Sweet Potato Baby Food
Baby Food
Favorite Carrot Baby Food
Baby Food
Easy Pear Puree
Baby Food
Best Pumpkin Baby Food
I’d love to hear what your family thinks of this Butternut Squash Baby Food recipe if you try it, so please comment below to share!
Butternut Squash Baby Food Puree
Ingredients
- 1 medium butternut squash
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Remove the peel of the squash with a vegetable peeler or with a knife.
- Cut the “neck”, or the skinnier part of the squash into 1/2-inch rounds and dice.
- Place on a greased foil-lined baking sheet in one even layer and bake for 18-22 minutes or until soft when poked a fork.
- Add to a blender and puree, adding 1/4-½ cup water as needed to make a smooth puree.
- Serve or store in an airtight container/s in the fridge for 3-5 days. Or portion into an ice cube tray and freeze, then transfer frozen cubes to a zip top storage bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
Equipment
Notes
- Roast the squash until soft when poked with a fork.
- Add water slowly to reach the desired smooth consistency.
- Stop and scrape down the sides of the blender as needed.
- Stir in ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, ⅛ teaspoon Chinese Five Spice, ½ teaspoon cumin, or ½ teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice if desired to add more flavor.
- Stir in apple butter or applesauce to make a slightly sweeter apple-butternut squash puree. (This is a nice topping for pancakes and waffles!)
- You can serve it as is, or you can use it in Butternut Squash Muffins, in Baby Oatmeal with Butternut Squash, you can stir it into plain yogurt, spread it on toast, stir it into Marinara Sauce, or use it in quesadillas.
Nutrition
This post was first published October 2019.
Can you use frozen squash?