🎃 Best Pumpkin Recipes for Babies and Toddlers: Muffins, Purees, and Pancakes
Pumpkin isn’t just for lattes and pies. For babies and toddlers, this fall favorite is a nutrient-packed way to introduce flavor, texture, and seasonal fun to their meals. Rich in vitamin A, fiber, and antioxidants, pumpkin supports healthy eyesight, digestion, and immune systems - perfect as the weather gets cooler.
As a mom (and the founder of Globowl), I love weaving seasonal ingredients into our family meals. Food is more than fuel in our house - it’s how we tell stories, mark seasons, and create traditions. Fall in our home always smells like cinnamon, roasting squash, and, yes, pumpkin muffins.
Here are three of my favorite pumpkin recipes for little ones, from first foods to toddler favorites.
Baby’s First Pumpkin Purée (6+ months, BLW-friendly)
This recipe is a simple way to introduce pumpkin’s natural sweetness and smooth texture.
- 1 small sugar pumpkin (or canned pumpkin, 100% pure, no added sugar)
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A splash of breast milk, formula, or water (optional)
Directions
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Cut pumpkin in half and roast at 375°F for 40+ minutes until tender.
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Scoop out the seeds and stringy middle, then mash (BLW) or blend the good flesh until smooth.
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Thin with liquid of choice for younger babies or leave thicker for older ones.
✨ Pro tip: Mix with apple or pear purée for a fun fall combo.
Pumpkin Muffins (6+ months, depending on readiness)
This is a family recipe that I've been making with my mom since I was a little girl. The recipe card I have is still written in my kid handwriting. These muffins are moist, gently spiced, and just sweet enough...
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ⅛ tsp. cloves
- ⅛ tsp. nutmeg
- 2 Tbsp. butter
- 1 Tbsp. milk
- 4 Tbsp. oil
- ½ cup plus 1 Tbsp. sugar (feel free to make substitutions here as you see fit)
- 1 egg
- ½ pumpkin puree
- 2 Tbsp. apple juice or cider
Directions
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Preheat oven to 350°F and line or grease a muffin tin.
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Whisk or hand mix all ingredients together.
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Spoon into muffin cups and bake for 25-30 mins (depending on your oven!).
✨ Serve with a little cream cheese or nut butter for extra protein.
Pumpkin Pancakes (6-9+ months, depending on readiness)
Fluffy, flavorful, and freezer-friendly - these make busy mornings so much easier. Trust me.
Ingredients
- 1 cup pumpkin purée
- 1 cup oats or oat flour (which you can make by blending oats in a food processor)
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- 1 egg
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Splash of milk (dairy or non-dairy)
Directions
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Blend all ingredients until smooth (by hand or blender).
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Pour small circles onto a greased skillet.
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Cook 2–3 minutes per side until golden.
✨ Cut into strips or mini rounds for self-feeding.
Why Pumpkin Recipes Work for Babies and Toddlers
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Nutrient-rich: Vitamin A for eyesight, fiber for digestion, and antioxidants for immune health.
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Texture-flexible: Purée for first foods, baked into muffins for older toddlers.
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Seasonal connection: Helps kids experience flavors (and the BEST smells) tied to traditions and memories - food as culture, right from the start.
🍂 Final Thoughts
Pumpkin season is more than a flavor trend. For little ones, it’s a chance to explore new tastes and textures that build adventurous eaters for life. Whether you’re spooning pumpkin purée, baking muffins with your toddler, or flipping mini pancakes on a crisp Saturday morning, these recipes make fall deliciously memorable.
