Pumpkin Recipes for Your Little One

Pumpkin, also called squash, is one of the best ‘first foods’ for babies. It’s packed with iron, potassium, fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C, and is made up of 94% water. Pumpkins come in a range of flavors, like butternut, acorn, and sugar. Sugar pumpkins are some of the best for making pumpkin recipes because they are sweeter and make a creamier puree that kids love.
 
Delight little palates this fall with five of our favorite pumpkin recipes that are kid approved!
 
Pumpkin Apple Sauce
Ideal for ages 6 months +
 
INGREDIENTS
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 apple, sliced
1 banana
 
INSTRUCTIONS
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium pot with a steamer. Add apples and steam until tender, about 8 minutes. Reserve cooking water.
Transfer apples to food processor or blender using a slotted spoon. Add pumpkin puree, banana, and 2 tablespoons cooking water.
Puree until smooth. If needed, add 2 tablespoons of cooking water to reach desired consistency.
 
 
Pumpkin Oatmeal
Ideal for ages 8 months +
 
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
1-2 tablespoons maple syrup
 
INSTRUCTIONS
Place 3 cups water in a medium pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat on the stove top.
Add the oats, vanilla extract, and spices. Let simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the oats are soft and the water is absorbed. Stir more toward the end of cooking to prevent the oats from sticking to the pot.
Turn off heat and stir in the pumpkin and any optional stir-ins. Cover and let sit for about 5 minutes.
Serve topped with milk and any optional toppings.
Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-5 days and reheat as needed. Or turn into Overnight Oats (see below).
 
 
Pumpkin Pancakes
Ideal for ages 1 year +
 
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup quick oats
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
 
INSTRUCTIONS
Add all the ingredient to a bowl and stir with a spoon until well mixed.
Spray pan or griddle with cooking spray and put on medium high heat on your burner.  Once heated, add small drops of pancake batter to pan – making the size pancakes you want.  For baby pancakes this is usually 1/8 cup batter, for adults 1/3 cup batter.
Cook pancakes until golden brown (about 3 minutes) and then flip to the other side. 
Allow to cool before serving to baby.  Enjoy!
 
 
Dairy-Free Creamy Pumpkin Smoothie
Ideal for ages 1 year +
 
INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup almond milk
1 cup coconut milk yogurt
1 cup pumpkin puree
2 tsp pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (you can add 1 tsp more if you want more spice) 
1 frozen banana
ice for desired consistency
 
INSTRUCTIONS
Blend ingredients together until smooth.
 
 
Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas
Ideal for ages 1 year +
INGREDIENTS
8 fajita-size flour or corn tortillas
1/2 cup pumpkin puree (or sweet potato puree or butternut squash puree—canned or homemade)
2 14.5- ounce cans black beans (rinsed and drained)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Ground cumin
Salsa, cilantro, sour cream, guacamole, optional
 
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Place the tortillas on a baking sheet. They can overlap a little. Spread 1 tablespoon of pumpkin puree on half of each tortilla. (You'll leave one half empty so you can fold it over to make a half-moon shape.)
Top puree with ¼ cup beans, ¼ cheese, and a sprinkle of cumin. 
Bake for 5- 7 minutes or until heated through and melty. Fold the empty side of the tortilla over and press down. Flip over and bake for an additional 2-3 minutes and remove from the oven.
Cut with kitchen shears and serve with desired dipping.