Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).

This Carrot Puree Recipe for Baby is a great starter puree for your baby! Filled with nutritious steamed carrots and a pinch of nutmeg, this easy-to-make and fresh-tasting recipe. Great for Stage One or 6+ months.

Graphic for post - carrot baby puree - stage one - homemade - 6+ months - freezer friendly. Image is of a baby food freezer storage tray filled with a carrot puree on a white background.
4.66 stars (123 ratings)
“Gave this as baby’s first food today, and she kicked her legs in delight/kept opening her mouth for more!! ” -Natalie D.
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This Carrot Baby Food Puree is so ridiculously fresh, colorful, yummy, and full of essential nutrients for your baby that it’s almost too intense to even look at! Seriously, #nofilter here!

But believe me, this mouthwatering carrot puree is absolutely real!

This is one of the first baby food purees I served to both of my little ones, and I’d like to believe that THIS PUREE made my girls into carrot lovers for life. I also have zero scientific proof in this theroy, so you will just have to take my word for it.

This fresh-tasting homemade puree is made in less than 20 minutes with steamed carrots and a pinch of nutmeg, which brings out the earthiness of the carrots. Honestly, carrots and nutmeg are a flavorful combo made for each other. If you compare the color, taste, or texture of this homemade recipe to its store-bought counterpart, you would be shocked at the difference🙅‍♀️ and not in a good way.

But don’t just take my word for it. This puree recipe alone has over a hundred 5-star reviews, with glowing feedback from parents who have loved it as well.

#momhack—This carrot puree freezes beautifully. So I love making a double batch, storing a few ounces in the fridge for the week, and then freezing the rest for future meals. You’ll thank me later!

Carrot Baby Food Video

Watch this video to see how easy it really is to make this homemade Carrot Baby Puree!

Wood cutting board with whole carrots in a pile and a blue spoon with nutmeg in it.

Ingredients

  • Carrots: This star ingredient is easy to find and usually very inexpensive. If your budget allows, I recommend going for the organic version as the cost per ounce is only pennies more than the conventional version. You can also use frozen carrots, you will just need to add in a few minutes to the cooking time.
  • Nutmeg: We are going to add a pinch of nutmeg to this puree to tone down some of the carrot’s natural sweetness with earthy spice. You can always skip the nutmeg if you prefer.

Tips on Peeling Carrots: It’s totally up to you if you peel the carrots or not. Since we are pureeing the cooked carrots until smooth, there will not be any difference in the taste or texture. However, there will be a little more fiber in the baby food, so if it’s your baby’s first time eating carrot puree, you may peel the carrots just so you don’t overload your baby’s tummy with too much fiber.

Health Benefits of Carrots

  • They contain a ton of beta-carotene, the precursor to vitamin A, which is necessary for protecting eye health and immune function.
  • High source of antioxidants to help strengthen immunity
  • Good source of fiber, which helps keep the digestive system working properly
  • High in vitamin K, which is necessary for blood clotting
  • Contains calcium to help strengthen bones

Step-by-Step Instructions

A wooden cutting board with a hole and sliced carrots.
Peel and Chop: Wash, peel and roughly chop the carrots into pieces the same size.
A silver steamer basket with cooked sliced carrots.
Steam: Place the carrots inside a steamer basket and steam for 10-12 minutes or until tender.
A blender with cooked carrots and a pinch of nutmeg.
Transfer: Transfer the cooked carrots into a blender, then add nutmeg.
A blender with puréed cooked carrots.
Blend: Puree until smooth, adding water if needed to thin out the puree.
A blue baby plate with a gray baby bowl filled with a carrot purée with gray spoon resting on top.
Serve: Serve or freeze for later.

Is it your first time making homemade baby food? Then, I suggest you start this journey by reading my in-depth Guide on how to Make Homemade Baby Food. The detailed guide goes over all the important information such as the best cooking tools to have on hand, safe storage, how to know when baby is ready for solids, how to introduce purees, the best first foods for baby, and more! You can also check out my best-selling cookbook for even more information and recipes.

Tools Needed

These tools will make it a lot easier for you to make this healthy Sweet Potato puree. For more of my favorite kitchen tools make sure to check out my shop.

Other Cooking Methods

While I love the crisp flavor you get when you steam the carrots, however, there are several ways you can cook carrots for baby food. 

Roasting

Peel and roughly chop 2 pounds of carrots before placing them onto a baking sheet. Drizzle with 1-2 teaspoons of high-quality olive oil and sprinkle with spice (if preferred). Roast in a preheated 425-degree F oven for 20 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork. Puree in a blender as directed below. 

Boiling

Place 2 pounds of peeled and roughly chopped carrots into a medium saucepan, fill with water until the carrots are covered, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes or until tender when pricked with a fork. Puree in a blender as directed below. Note that boiling tends to leave foods less nutritious since much of the nutrients leach into the water while cooking, and then that water is typically discarded. To preserve maximum nutrients, you may want to choose roasting or steaming. If you prefer boiling, save some of the water so you can use it as your liquid for thinning out the puree. 

A blue play against a white background with a gray bowl with carrot purée and a gray spoon resting on top.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can carrots be baby’s first food?

Carrots can 100% be your baby’s first food if you want it to be. It is recommended to wait to introduce the top eight allergen foods to your baby once a few other well-tolerated foods have been introduced, but otherwise, foods can be introduced in any order so choose whatever you are most excited for your baby to have.

When can babies have carrots?

Babies can have carrots as one of their first foods. When a baby can start on solids is determined by their own rate of development, which generally comes between 4-6 months of age. Some of the developmental milestones babies need to reach in order to start solids include: if your baby has solid control of their head and neck, if your baby has doubled in weight, and if your baby is reaching for or opening their mouth when you eat (see my guide here). Before you start your baby on purees, you should consult with your pediatrician to make sure your child is developmentally ready.

Are carrots a common allergen for baby?

No, carrots are not a common allergen, however, as with any food, start with a small portion and be aware of any signs that might be an allergic reaction after introducing it.

Do carrots cause constipation for babies?

Steamed carrots, though unlikely, may cause constipation in some babies, so avoid giving too much.

Can you add spices/herbs to this puree?

Yes! In this recipe, we are adding a pinch of nutmeg, but feel free to use the following spices instead: cumin, cinnamon, cloves, garlic, thyme, rosemary, or fresh ginger (see quantity recommendations in the recipe card). 
Tip on Spices: I always add spices or herbs to my baby food purees, but you can choose to leave them out in all of your baby food. You do you! Either way, this puree will surely taste amazing. 

Hands holding a gray baby food storage tray filled with carrot puree.

How to Store Carrot Baby Puree

Refrigerator

You can store this puree in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. 

Freezer

This puree can be frozen for up to 4 months.

  • Spoon puree into a freezer storage container – do not overfill. 
  • Place the lid on the storage container or cover with a piece of saran wrap, and label with the date and recipe name. 
  • Place the tray into the freezer and let it freeze completely — preferably overnight. 
  • Pop-out the baby food cubes and place them in a ziplock baggie or stasher bag. Don’t forget to relabel the baggie or stasher bag for future reference.

Label Tip: Don’t forget to label your purees before you place them in the fridge or freezer with the name of the puree and the date you made it. Take it from me; by the end of the week, you will completely forget what is in your freezer and how long it’s been there. 😉

Blue plate with reusable black and white baby food pouches filled with orange carrot puree.

Great Carrot Combination Purees

While Carrot Puree is great and satisfying by itself, it’s also super easy to mix and match with other nutrient-dense baby food purees. So give these fun flavor combos a try!

Carrots for Baby-Led Weaning: Carrots are also a great food to serve to your baby whole for baby-led weaning (6+ months) or as a finger food (9+ months). You can always serve baby a combination of purees and finger foods right from the start.

Blue plate with a gray bowl and a hand steering carrot purée.

Puree Feeding Tips

  • Place a small amount of puree on the tray during spoon feeding, so that your baby can dip their fingers or hands in the puree. Allowing your baby to explore foods in this way helps them learn to self-feed and can help them be more willing to try new textures and foods in the future.
  • Have a spare spoon (or three!) – even very young babies often want to be involved in feeding themselves as much as possible. Giving your baby an extra spoon to hold can be helpful in giving her a sense of control and also promotes hand-eye coordination. Allow your baby to use spoons as a teether during the meal. There are many great options out there, but a few we particularly love include the Olababy 3 Piece Set, the NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils, and the ChooMee FlexiDip Baby Starter Spoons.
  • Try adding a little seasoning or spice to purees – babies like flavor! Or consider changing the temperature of purees from time to time, to slightly warmed or slightly chilled. Varying these aspects adds to the sensory experience!

Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).

Gray baby food storage container filled with carrot puree.

Get the recipe: Ridiculously Good Carrot Baby Food Puree (stage one)

4.7 stars (123 ratings)
Filled with nutritious steamed carrots and a pinch of nutmeg – this puree will sure to delight your little ones taste buds!
Yield: 24 ounces
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 12 minutes
Author: Michele Olivier
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Baby Food
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Ingredients 

  • 1 lb carrots, trimmed, peeled and roughly chopped
  • pinch nutmeg (optional)
  • 1/2-1 cup reserved water, fresh breast milk, or formula

Instructions 

  • Steam: In a medium saucepan, bring 2″ of water to a boil over medium heat. Place the carrots into a steamer basket, cover and cook for 9-11 minutes or until tender. Reserve steamer water. Let cool slightly.
    A silver steamer basket with cooked sliced carrots.
  • Transfer: Place the cooked carrots into a blender or food processor and add a pinch of nutmeg, or any spice/herb you are using. Add in 1/2 cup of liquid
    A blender with cooked carrots and a pinch of nutmeg.
  • Puree: turn on the blender or food processor and puree for 1-2 minutes on medium. If puree is too thick, add in 1/4 cup liquid at a time, until you achieve desired consistency. I had to add in 1 1/4 cup water.
    A blender with puréed cooked carrots.
  • Eat: Serve and enjoy, or freeze some for later.
    Blue plate with a gray bowl and a hand steering carrot purée.

Notes

Age: 6 months and up
Yield: roughly 24 ounces
Notes on Nutmeg: adding spices to your baby’s first purees is completely optional but totally safe. Nutmeg rounds out the acidic taste carrots sometimes have and make this puree taste grounded and full-bodied. 
Additional Spices: Feel free to substitute in a pinch or two of ginger powder,  freshly minced ginger, curry powder, cloves, finely minced fresh chives, or 1/4 minced garlic clove.
 
 
 

Equipment

Freezer Tray
Blender
Tripp Trapp High Chair
Saucepan
Bumkins Baby Bowl

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