6 of the Best Easy Toddler Recipes Using Peanut Butter

So, your little one is beginning to show an interest in solid foods. The overwhelming reality might hit you like a ton of bricks as a parent -- what foods do we start with? 

If you're a first-time parent it's important to note there are certain ''safe'' foods that most children can eat from the get-go. However, there are some that may need a slower introduction to their diet -- such as peanuts. 

Luckily, you have this blog to refer to for simple and quick toddler recipes when it comes to introducing the smooth, golden good stuff -- peanut butter. 

Must-Know Tips for Parents 

If you're already aware of certain allergies that your child might have, such as eczema or an egg allergy, you want to discuss the introduction of peanut butter with your doctor, first.

It's important to get that all-clear from them, otherwise, your doctor might recommend a process of allergy testing under medical supervision, first.

In today's day and age, the LEAP study is what most recognized medical organizations base the guidelines of peanut introduction on. The basic guidelines are as follows: 

• It's safe to introduce peanuts to your child as early as 4-6 months, and before they turn one year's old
• It's important to continue to feed your baby peanut products up to 2-7 times per week for 6 months in order to build a peanut tolerance

There are a few safety tips that parents should also keep in mind: 

• Avoid feeding your child whole peanuts, especially babies, as they pose a choking hazard
• Lumps or chunky peanut butter is also not recommended because of the thick and sticky texture 
• Always ensure that you thin out the peanut butter before you serve it 

It's also important to feed your baby the right type of peanut butter. With so many different brands on the market today, it's easy to get confused.

But ultimately, make sure the peanut butter is free from added sugar and salt. Always choose a smooth, creamy texture. Make sure you check the ingredients before you buy a product -- all-natural peanut butter is always best! 

Easy Toddler Recipes With Peanut Butter 

Starting your child on solid foods is such an individual process. Some children may love certain foods, while others may take some time to warm up to them. As a parent, all you can do is carefully take note of how developmentally ready your child seems for solids. Then prepare and serve the food and hope for the best! 

But when it comes to the introduction of peanut butter, these easy recipes are always a winner: 

1. Fruit and Peanut Butter Puree

This is probably the simplest and safest way to introduce your child to peanuts. It's also super convenient as you can batch-prepare your purees and freeze them for future use. 

All you need to do is whizz up a simple puree of your child's favorite fruit, then mix in some thinned-down, smooth peanut butter. If you only have crunchy or nutty peanut butter, just make sure to blend up the puree well before serving it. 

A great fruit to opt for is pureed pears or banana, mixed with 1-2 teaspoons of peanut butter.  

2. Peanut Butter and Fruit Smoothie

This is a great way to feed your child a bunch of nutritious fruits and vegetables, while also acquainting them with peanut butter. It's also a simple and convenient way to feed yourself while you're at it! You can beef up your smoothie by adding a dash of protein powder to a separate serving. 

All you need is a good mix of fruits such as mango, banana, and berries. Throw in an extra handful of spinach for additional vitamins and minerals, add some water or expressed breastmilk, plus your smooth peanut butter. 

You can either make this smoothie in the morning or batch prepare it and pour it into ice trays or popsicle molds and serve it in a silicone or mesh feeder the next day. 

3. Pumpkin and Peanut Butter Dip

A dip is a brilliant option if your child is not quite ready to eat larger, more solid, and chunkier foods because of a lack of teeth. These foods include apple slices, carrot sticks, and celery sticks. In fact, they act more like vessels for the dip and could even double as a good teether option. 

This simple pumpkin and peanut butter dip will help your baby explore the flavor of peanut butter as well as self-feeding. You can also use this dip with other items such as teething biscuits. 

All you need to do is blend together some pumpkin puree, whole milk or water, a dash of cinnamon, and your smooth peanut butter. 

4. Toast and Peanut Butter

It doesn't get more simple or delicious than this. Serving your child toast and peanut butter falls into the classic means of baby-led weaning, and also allows them to explore the flavor of peanut butter, while learning to self-feed. 

Make sure you spread only a thin layer of smooth peanut butter on the toasted bread, then cut it up into finger-width pieces. You want to make sure each piece is big enough so your baby doesn't put the entire thing in their mouth. 

They may not be able to chew the toast completely but can suck on it for the flavor. Make sure the bread is lightly toasted, as soft bread could stick to the roof of their mouth. 

5. A Peanut Butter Breakfast Cookie

If you have a knack for baking (albeit simple and quick recipes) then this is another good option for introducing peanut butter. The key is to create and bake a soft breakfast cookie that your child can suck on, i.e. something that will easily dissolve in their mouth. 

For these cookies, you'll only need four ingredients: a half cup of butternut squash, a half cup of raw oats, a half teaspoon of cinnamon, and a quarter cup of smooth peanut butter. Mix it all together, roll them out into 12 cookies and flatten with a fork. 

Bake them off at 375 degrees for 12 minutes.  

6. Oatmeal and Peanut Butter

This is another double-whammy recipe that you can use to feed both yourself and your little one. Oatmeal is a hearty, healthy, and delicious breakfast option for babies and toddlers alike.

You simply need one cup of rolled oats, one cup of milk, one cup of water, and a pinch of cinnamon. Once your oats are ready, swirl in a tablespoon of smooth peanut butter (for mom/dad) and a teaspoon for baby/toddler. 

Top Quality Nut Butter Is Just a Click Away

With these easy toddler recipes, you can have your child accustomed to (and in love) with peanut butter in no time. If you're looking for a great brand that creates only the best quality nut butter, look no further than American Dream Nut Butter. 

All our nut butters are low in sugar, high in protein, and free from artificial sweeteners. Explore our range of peanut butters for more!