Spinach Apple Baby Puffs
on Sep 26, 2021, Updated Apr 20, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This homemade spinach apple baby puffs recipe is a great mess-free snack and perfect for on the go! They are dairy-free, nut-free, and gluten-free making them a great allergy-friendly option!
I’m always looking for easy snack ideas and find that tasty, healthy snacks for babies are so hard to come by. These baby puffs are so easy to make and I guarantee that your little ones will go through them so quickly! I went with a spinach-apple combo, but you can substitute them with any fruits or veggies that you have on hand! If you’re looking for more fun ways to get some spinach into your little one’s diet, check out my list of favorite spinach recipes for kids!
Table of Contents
What You’ll Need
Here is what you’ll need for this spinach apple baby puffs recipe:
- Rolled Oats: I love baking with rolled oats as they are packed with nutrition! Gluten-free rolled oats make these spinach apple puffs gluten-free.
- Unsweetened Applesauce: The main source of sweetness for these puffs.
- Spinach: For added vitamins and minerals. Spinach gives these puffs that fun, bright green color!
- Egg Yolk: Used as a binder to help the puffs maintain their shape.
- Oil: I used extra light-tasting olive oil. Any other mild-tasting oil works as well.
- Baking Powder: Leavening agent to help the puffs rise.
- Cinnamon: Warm spice for added flavor.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Eggs: For an egg-free version, substitute the egg yolk with a flax egg by mixing one tablespoon of ground flaxseed meal with three tablespoons of water and letting it sit in the fridge for 15 minutes to set and thicken.
- Applesauce/Spinach: You may replace this fruit/veggie combo with any puree! If you are using a different fruit and/or veggie combo, puree them first and measure out ½ cup of that puree to blend together with the other ingredients. Check out this strawberry kiwi version and this pumpkin banana variation!
- Oil: I used extra light-tasting olive oil in this recipe, but you may use coconut oil or any other oil.
Step By Step Instructions
STEP 1: Blend all ingredients together until smooth (Image 1).
STEP 2: Pour the mixture into a piping bag or Ziploc bag with the corner tip cut off (Image 2).
STEP 3: Pipe out small dime-sized circles onto a pan lined with parchment paper (Image 3) and bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, reduce the temperature to 250 degrees and bake for another 12 to 15 minutes.
STEP 4: Let them fully cool and serve!
Storage Instructions
Store these puffs in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. You may also freeze these puffs and thaw at room temperature prior to serving, but the overall texture may vary slightly.
Tips For Success
- These puffs do not melt in your mouth the same way the store-bought ones do (since those are usually freeze-dried), but they are pretty soft and easy for baby to break down! They break down pretty easily with saliva but use your discretion to decide if you are comfortable offering them to your baby. Try testing a few in your mouth first to see how easily they break down!
- The batter should be a smooth consistency, similar to that of a pancake batter. It should be easy to pipe out into small circles. There should be no chunks in the batter.
- When it comes to baking these puffs, oven temperatures vary, so check on them a few minutes after lowering the temperature. You will know that they are done when they are dry to the touch and leave no sticky residue on your fingers.
- Depending on the type of blender you are using, it might be good to blend the oats into a flour first before adding in the other ingredients. This recipe makes a small amount of batter, so it might be hard for a larger blender to break down the oats with such little batter. I love using this nutribullet blender to blend the ingredients into a smooth batter!
Other Spinach Recipes You’ll Love
Spinach Banana Muffins
Spinach Banana Waffles
Spinach Banana Smoothie (Hulk Smoothie)
Spinach Crepes
Spinach Apple Puffs
Ingredients
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup spinach, packed
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ tbsp oil, mild tasting
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
- Blend all of the ingredients together until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into a piping bag or Ziploc bag with the corner tip cut off.
- Pipe out small dime-sized circles onto a pan lined with parchment paper and bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, turn off the oven and let the puffs sit in the oven for an additional 12 to 15 minutes (or until the edges slightly begin to brown). They will continue to bake from the residual oven heat.
- Let them cool and store in an airtight container at room temp!
Notes
- These puffs do not melt in your mouth the same way the store-bought ones do (since those are usually freeze-dried), but they are pretty soft and easy for baby to break down! They break down pretty easily with saliva but use your discretion to decide if you are comfortable offering them to your baby. Try testing a few in your mouth first to see how easily they break down!
- The batter should be a smooth consistency, similar to that of a pancake batter. It should be easy to pipe out into small circles. There should be no chunks in the batter.
- When it comes to baking these puffs, oven temperatures vary, so check on them a few minutes after lowering the temperature. You will know that they are done when they are dry to the touch and leave no sticky residue on your fingers.
- Depending on the type of blender you are using, it might be good to blend the oats into a flour first before adding in the other ingredients. This recipe makes a small amount of batter, so it might be hard for a larger blender to break down the oats with such little batter. I love using this nutribullet blender to blend the ingredients into a smooth batter!
What’s the texture of these like?
Hi Chelle! These are soft textured and light but do require a bit a chewing from little ones, but they do break down very easily!
Love these! Have made following recipe exactly with spinach and have also done carrot and sweet potato versions! My kiddo loves these and I love that I can reduce food waste (use whatever veg is getting old), save $, and provide home made alternative to store bought. Thanks for a great recipe!
I’m so glad to hear that your little one enjoyed these! Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, Jessica!😊
Hi! My baby just developed an egg allergy, can you leave out the yolk? Or what do you recommend in place of?
Hi Michelle! A flax egg would work well to replace the yolk in these! You can make a flax egg by mixing one tablespoon of ground flaxseed meal with three tablespoons of water and letting it sit in the fridge for 15 minutes to set and thicken. You may also replace it with a liquid egg replacer like the brand Just Egg. I hope that helps!
I made these specifically for my 9 month old daughter because the only food she would eat was puffs. I liked that with these I knew exactly what was in them. She loved them! My son (her twin) loves them too! I have used baby oatmeal and baby rice cereal to make these since I bought them and neither of my twins would eat the cereals. Both times the recipe turned out well.
They’re super easy to make, which is a plus!
Hi Rebecca! I’m so glad to hear that your little ones enjoyed these puffs! Thank you for sharing your feedback!😊
Yum! At first, I admit, I was incredulous, since the recipe seemed just like another pancake recipe, which can be hit or miss with my little one, depending on his mood. But, my little 10-month old couldn’t get enough of them! Perhaps the texture is a little softer and easier to break down than standard pancakes, but this is definitely a go-to recipe now! Thank you so much!
I’m SO happy to hear that your little one enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, Caroline, I appreciate it!😊
This was such a hit with my puff-loving toddler. So easy too and customizable. Thank you!
I’m so glad to hear that your little one liked them! Thanks for sharing your feedback, Ashley!😊
My 10 month old AND my 4 year old devoured these. They could have eaten all of them in one sitting! I used frozen spinach, defrosted and squeezed.
I’m so glad to hear that your little one enjoyed these!😊
Baby loved them! Are they freezer friendly?
I’m so happy to hear that!😊 You can freeze them and thaw them out at room temperature to serve!