Looking for a healthy and easy berry compote recipe for your baby? This one-ingredient berry compote is perfect! Made with fresh or frozen berries and no added sugar, it's a delicious and nutritious option to sweeten your little one's meals.
Since I don't recommend introducing sugar into babies' diets until after one year of age, you may be wondering how you can add a little flavor to foods like plain yogurt and toast fingers. One nutritious option? A simple berry compote made with no added sugar! Bonus - it makes a great spread for your toddler's PB&J, sans sugar.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Easy Berry Compote
This berry compote is perfect for babies (and toddlers, and adults!) because it contains no added sugar. In fact, it has only one ingredient - berries! That means it is nutritious and lets baby experience the delicious taste of berries without being shocked by a sugar rush (unlike most jams and fruit spreads available on grocery store shelves). You can use this berry compote to add natural sweetness and nutrition to toast, oatmeal, yogurt, and more!
Even better, this compote is incredibly easy to make, and you can use any type of berry you like, either fresh or frozen. Then store it in the refrigerator for use throughout the week for both you and baby.
Baby-Beneficial Nutrients
- Fiber
- Antioxidants
- Vitamin C
- Small amounts of other vitamins and minerals
What You'll Need
All you need to make this compote are some berries, a saucepan and a spoon!
How To Make It
- Add the berries to a saucepan and heat with the lid on over low heat until softened, for about 5 minutes.
- Uncover the saucepan and use your spoon to mash the berries.
- Continue to simmer on low uncovered until the compote thickens to your liking, which should take about 5-10 minutes. It will thicken a little bit more as it cools, too.
Recipe Variations
- Types of berries: I used frozen mixed berries here, but you can use just a single type of berry, such as blueberry, blackberry, or strawberry, or a mix of your favorites. You can also use fresh berries. You may need to add a little bit of water initially when using fresh berries, since they may not be as soft.
- Flavorings: You can experiment with adding flavorings, such as lemon zest, cinnamon, ginger, or vanilla extract. Extracts should be added at the end, but anything else can be added in the beginning.
Storage and Reheating
Once cooled, store the compote in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen compote overnight in the refrigerator before using.
The compote can be served cold or warm. To reheat, simply microwave a little bit for 15-45 seconds. Test the temperature before serving to baby.
How To Serve Berry Compote To Babies
For Baby Led Weaning Babies
- Spread on toast fingers, pancakes, or waffle strips
- Swirled into plain yogurt or oatmeal
- On the side for dipping
- Pre-loaded on a soft spoon
For Spoon Fed Babies
- Feed on a spoon once baby is in the lumpy puree stage
And Beyond!
- Use as a no sugar jam on for your toddler's toast or PB&J
- Use in mom or dad's yogurt or oatmeal for natural sweetness
- Swirl into muffins, quick breads, and more
No Sugar Berry Compote
Looking for a healthy and easy berry compote recipe for your baby? This one-ingredient berry compote is perfect! Made with fresh or frozen berries and no added sugar, it's a delicious and nutritious option to sweeten your little one's meals.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: ½ cup 1x
- Category: spread
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen mixed berries (or fresh berries)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, heat berries over low heat, covered, until softened and starting to release juices, about 5 minutes. It may take a little bit longer for fresh berries.
- Once soft, use a fork or the back of a spoon to mash the berries.
- Simmer uncovered over low heat until thickened, about 5-10 more minutes.
- Cool before serving to baby or storing. Compote with thicken as it cools.
Notes
- Fresh berries: If using fresh berries and they aren't quite ripe, you may have to add a tablespoon or two of water while they are covered to get them nice and soft.
- Storage: Store compote in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Variations:
- Types of berries: I used frozen mixed berries here, but you can use just a single type of berry, such as blueberry, blackberry, or strawberry, or a mix of your favorites.
- Flavorings: You can experiment with adding flavorings, such as lemon zest, cinnamon, ginger, or vanilla extract. Extracts should be added at the end, but anything else can be added in the beginning.
Leave a Reply