Grapes Baby Food Recipes and Ideas
Updated: July 18, 2023
Grapes are often served to baby as a finger food, but are less often used as an ingredient in homemade baby food recipes.
So on this page, we’re going to take a closer look at these juicy little fruits and suggest a few new ways in which you can include them in your baby’s diet.
NOTE: Please consult your doctor before you introduce these potato baby food recipes, or any new foods, to your baby.
The information given here is for guidance only and does not replace professional medical advice.
When can my baby eat grapes?
Grapes are not considered to be a common allergen, so – with your doctor’s consent – they can be introduced to your baby from 6 months of age.
Theoretically, they could be introduced earlier if your doctor has recommended that your baby starts solids before 6 months of age – but there are a couple of reasons why this might not be such a good idea!
For one thing, babies under 6 months of age generally require pureed foods as they are not usually developmentally ready to deal with much in the way of texture.
And, of course, if you puree grapes you tend to end up with… grape juice!
(That’s because the water content of grapes is very high, at around 88%).
Secondly, much of the goodness of grapes is contained in their skins (more about that later).
And – because fruit skins may be difficult for little tummies to digest – we recommend NOT serving unpeeled fruits or vegetables to babies less than 6 months of age.
You can find out more about the pros and cons of peeling fruits and vegetables for your baby here
Grapes may not be suitable for babies with G6PD Deficiency – please see this page for more information.
The goodness of grapes
Grapes contain important anti-oxidants, which help protect the body against heart disease and cancer.
They also contain vitamin C, B vitamins, potassium and lots of manganese (which helps your baby’s body utilize fatty acids and also produces energy from carbohydrates and protein).
Grapes come in a variety of colours, including green (often known as ‘white’) grapes, yellow, black, purple, dark blue and crimson!
Whilst all of these grapes contain anti-oxidants, those with redder skins also contain a powerful nutrient called anthocyanin (green grapes are closely related to red grapes but are lacking the anthocyanins).
This means that the anti-oxidant ‘powers’ of red/black grapes are superior to those of green (white) grapes – and it also means they’re the most beneficial for your baby.
Do note, however, that this higher concentration of nutrients is found in the red/black SKINS – peel away the skins, and you’ve peeled away the extra nutrients.
The anti-oxidant benefits of redder grapes make red grape juice a healthy drink when your baby is older.
Grape juice is also believed to help protect against infection by food borne bacteria – it does this by killing the ‘bad’ bacteria without killing the ‘good’ bacteria that exist naturally in the gut and which aid digestion.
Choosing and storing grapes for your baby food recipes
For the reasons given above, it’s best to buy red grapes for your baby rather than white.
The deeper the colour of the grapes the better, as it not only indicates a greater concentration of anti-oxidants but is often a sign that the grapes will be sweeter.
If you choose to buy green (white) grapes instead, then look for ones with a yellowish tinge, which will usually be less tart than those that are bright green.
Grapes have a natural ‘bloom’ which gives them a whitish, dusty look – don’t be put off by it, as it’s there to protect the skins.
And always remember to check that grapes you buy for your baby are seedless.
We strongly recommend buying organic grapes or grapes grown in the US, as imported grapes often appear on the Environmental Working Group’s ‘Dirty Dozen’ – the list of fruits and vegetables found to contain the highest levels of pesticide residues.
Look for plump grapes that are nice and ripe and ready to eat (unripe grapes contain less antioxidants, as these tend to develop during the ripening process).
Avoid bunches that are overripe – you can gauge the ripeness by checking if the grapes are attached to the stems.
If they are all dropping off, then they are overripe and won’t last long.
Once you get your grapes home, store them in the fridge where they’ll keep for several days.
Wait until you are ready to use them before washing them – if you wash them before you store them, they will rot more quickly.
Preparing grapes for your baby
GRAPES AS A FINGER FOOD
With their nice ‘squishy’ texture, grapes make a great finger food for babies – unfortunately, though, their size and shape also make them a potential choking hazard.
ALWAYS cut grapes into quarters before offering them to your baby as a finger food.
Most babies enjoying finger foods can cope well with the skin on grapes – in fact, we’ve always offered our little ones cut-up grapes from around 7 months and we’ve never peeled them!
But – of course – you know your baby best and if you feel the skins may cause him to gag, then it’s possible (but fiddly) to peel them.
The easiest way to do it is to freeze them, then submerge them in tepid water.
Hey presto – the skins split and are then easy to remove.
And whilst we’re on the subject of frozen grapes…
…they actually make a wonderfully refreshing snack for older children – we always keep a supply on hand during our very hot summer months and our children truly prefer them to unhealthier popsicles.
They’re also infinitely less messy!
If you have a mesh feeder, you can serve some to your baby too – but, being very hard once frozen, we wouldn’t suggest serving them as a finger food without a feeder as they may present a choking hazard.
Another yummy option is to whiz frozen grapes up in your food processor, then stir the slushy puree into natural yogurt – absolutely delicious and very good for your little one!
Baby food ideas with grapes
- You can easily make your own grape juice by blending grapes in the food processor. If you want it to be free of bits, then pass it through a fine mesh strainer.
- Stir chopped grapes into your curries – that sweet/spicy combination is irresistible (you’ll find curry recipes for your baby here).
- Stir chopped grapes into natural yogurt then top with wheat germ for a quick and nutritious dessert.
Homemade baby food equipment…
Homemade baby food accessories
Grapes baby food recipes
Fruity Chicken and Veggie Puree
1 skinless, boneless chicken breast
6 fl oz (3/4 cup) low sodium or homemade chicken stock
about 10 seedless red grapes
1 carrot, peeled and sliced
1 small sweet potato, peeled and sliced
- Chop the chicken breast, then mix it with the other ingredients and place in a small saucepan over a high heat.
- Bring the mixture to the boil, then reduce the heat.
- Simmer for approximately 30 mins, until the potato is nice and tender and the chicken is cooked all the way through.
- Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth, adding a little stock if necessary.
Sweet Cous Cous Surprise
Who says that cous cous has to be savoury? This fun recipe makes a delicious breakfast or dessert.
cous cous
apple juice
dried apricots
fresh grapes, chopped
natural yogurt
Allow 1 teaspoon chopped grapes and 1-2 dried apricots for every tablespoon of cous cous you plan to serve.
- Simply cook the desired amount of cous cous according to the directions on the packaging, but use apple juice instead of water. Cool.
- Meanwhile, soak the dried apricots in apple juice (or simmer them in the juice for several minutes) to soften them.
- Chop the softened apricots, then add to the cous cous.
- Stir in the chopped grapes and 1 tbsp natural yogurt to every tbsp cous cous.
- Chill and serve.
Grape and Veggie Combo
If your little one isn’t too fond of his veggies, try this sweet and savoury combo!
1 carrot
1 zucchini/courgette
2 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp fresh sage (chopped) or a pinch of dried
approx 6 oz (3/4 cup) red grapes, quartered
- Preheat the oven to 450 deg F (230 deg C).
- Cut the carrot and zucchini into bite-sized sticks, then toss them with half the olive oil and the sage.
- Spread in a baking pan and cook in the oven for 10 mins.
- Toss the grapes in the remaining oil, then add them to the carrots and zucchini.
- Cook for 10 mins more, until the carrots and zucchini are tender.
- Serve as a finger food or chop well.
Sweet Tuna Salad
1 tbsp canned tuna (light)
4 grapes, finely chopped
1 slice avocado, mashed
pinch fresh dill
1 tsp olive oil
- Mix the mashed avocado with the olive oil and dill.
- Stir in the tuna and the chopped grapes.
- Serve with squares of toast.
Super Spiced Grapes
These are yummy when cut into small pieces and served as a finger food with cubes of cheese. Our little man loves these!
1/2 lb red grapes
4 fl oz (1/2 cup) water
good pinch of ground cinnamon
good pinch of all spice
2 whole cloves
4 black peppercorns
1 tsp pure Maple syrup
- Combine all the ingredients (except the grapes) in a saucepan and simmer for 5 mins.
- Remove from the heat, then stir in the syrup. Cool.
- Pierce the grapes several times with a sharp knife and pour the syrup over them.
- Put in the fridge and leave for 24 hours.
- Remove the grapes from the syrup and they’re ready to serve!
Vegetarian Sweet Potato and Grape Bake
2 medium sweet potatoes
1 tsp olive oil
1 tbsp finely chopped onion
1/2 small green bell pepper, finely diced
pinch dried sage
4 fl oz (1/2 cup) low sodium or homemade vegetable stock
4 oz (1/2 cup) instant brown rice
2 oz (1/4 cup) red grapes, quartered
2 tbsp grated Cheddar
- Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into dice.
- Heat the oil in a pan and saute the sweet potato dice with the onion and green pepper until softened (3 to 4 mins).
- Stir in the sage and stock.
- Bring to the boil, then stir in the instant rice.
- Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the rice has soaked up the stock (approx 10 mins), then remove from the heat and allow to stand for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the quartered grapes, then transfer the mixture to a small casserole dish.
- Top with the cheese and bake, uncovered, at 350 deg F (180 deg C) for around 20-25 mins, until the cheese is melted and golden.
Now that you’ve discovered some great baby food ideas with fresh grapes, why not learn more about using the dried variety…
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