This commercial baby puff contains sunflower lecithin (a seed oil derivative) and artificial 'natural strawberry apple flavor.' Our organic DIY version uses real fruit powders, eliminates all seed oil derivatives, and provides superior nutrition through whole food ingredients rather than synthetic vitamins.
Based on: Grain & Grow Puffs Strawberry Apple
· Makes approximately 40 servings (280g total)
· Serving: 7g (about 2 tablespoons puffs)
Why This Recipe is Seed Oil Free
Commercial Grain & Grow Puffs Strawberry Apple from Gerber often contains inflammatory seed oils like canola, soybean, or sunflower oil. This homemade version replaces them with healthier fats like butter, ghee, coconut oil, or avocado oil — giving you the same great taste without the processed oils.
The original Grain & Grow Puffs Strawberry Apple may also contain artificial dyes. Check it on DyeFreeCheck to find out.
Ingredients
Organic brown rice flour
120g (1 cup) · Bob's Red Mill Organic Brown Rice Flour
Primary grain base that puffs well and provides easy-to-digest carbohydrates
Organic whole wheat flour
60g (½ cup) · King Arthur Organic Whole Wheat Flour
Adds protein, fiber, and helps with puffing structure
Organic oat flour
40g (⅓ cup) · Bob's Red Mill Organic Oat Flour
Provides beta-glucan fiber and helps bind the mixture naturally
Provides real strawberry flavor and natural vitamin C
Organic apple powder
10g (1 tablespoon) · Z Natural Foods Organic Apple Powder
Adds natural apple flavor and pectin for texture
Organic sunflower lecithin
2g (½ teaspoon) · NOW Foods Organic Sunflower Lecithin Powder
Clean emulsifier from non-GMO sunflowers, not seed oil processing
Natural vitamin E oil
1ml (¼ teaspoon) · Solgar Natural Vitamin E Oil
Natural antioxidant from wheat germ, replaces synthetic mixed tocopherols
Instructions
Step 1. Preheat oven to 200°F (93°C). Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together rice flour (120g), wheat flour (60g), and oat flour (40g) until evenly combined. Sift the mixture twice to ensure no lumps — baby food texture must be perfectly smooth.
Step 2. In a separate bowl, combine cane sugar (35g), strawberry powder (15g), apple powder (10g), and sunflower lecithin (2g). Mix thoroughly until the fruit powders are evenly distributed and no clumps remain. The mixture should be a light pink color from the strawberry powder.
Step 3. Add the fruit-sugar mixture to the flour mixture and whisk for 2-3 minutes until completely uniform. Slowly drizzle in 60ml (¼ cup) of warm filtered water while whisking continuously to form a thick, smooth batter. Add the vitamin E oil (1ml) and whisk for another minute until incorporated.
Step 4. Using a fine-mesh sieve or flour sifter, sprinkle the mixture in a thin, even layer across both prepared baking sheets. The layer should be about 2-3mm thick — any thicker and it won't dry properly, any thinner and you'll get powder instead of puffs. Use a offset spatula to spread evenly if needed.
Step 5. Bake for 2-3 hours, rotating pans every 30 minutes, until the mixture is completely dry and begins to puff slightly. The edges should lift easily from the parchment and the texture should be crispy throughout. Turn off oven and let cool completely in the oven with door ajar for 1 hour.
Step 6. Once cool, break the dried mixture into small, puff-sized pieces using clean hands or a fork. Pieces should be roughly pea-sized for babies. Sift through a coarse mesh to remove any powder and ensure uniform size. Store immediately in airtight containers.
Storage
Store in airtight containers at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for up to 3 months. Do not refrigerate as moisture will make them soggy. Check for crispness before serving — if soft, spread on baking sheet and re-crisp in 200°F oven for 15 minutes.
Cost Comparison
Cost per serving (homemade)$0.096
Cost per serving (store-bought)$0.25
Savings62%
Initial investment appears high due to buying organic specialty powders, but cost per serving drops dramatically with bulk quantities. The fruit powders are the main cost driver but provide superior nutrition compared to artificial flavors. Prices need verification through current retailer search.