Chikoos are sweet and creamy – and delicious! Encourage kids to eat this yummy fruit with some Healthy Chikoo Recipes, suitable for Babies and toddlers!

When we think about fruits to feed babies, most of the time our attention first goes towards bananas, and then apples. We tend to ignore another fruit that’s abundantly grown in our country, but not in the spotlight that often. Yes, we’re talking about chikoos!

Chikoos are also known as sapodillas and have a deliciously creamy texture when ripe. They’re really fun to eat too, you can scoop it out of the peel like eating an ice cream! But chikoos aren’t just tasty, they’re also packed with health benefits.

• Chikoos are high in dietary fiber, which makes them great to prevent constipation and ensure digestive health
• Chikoos contain tannins, that fight inflammation and reduce pain
• They can also help in easing congestion during cough and cold
• Chikoos are rich in calcium, strengthening bones and muscles

Kids are generally fickle eaters, so they can easily get bored of eating plain fruit. That’s why we’ve got for you 25 healthy chikoo recipes that you can make to impress the pickiest eater out there!

Important: Please remember that it’s recommended to avoid salt, sugar, honey and cow’s milk for babies under one. It is also advised to use natural substitutes for refined sugar, as well as to use whole grain and millet instead of refined flour. You can skip the baking soda or baking powder mentioned in any of the recipes. While not mandatory, it is recommended to follow the 3-day rule when introducing any new food to babies.

25 Healthy Chikoo Recipes for Babies and Kids

1. Chikoo Puree

One good thing about chikoos is that when they’re ripe, the flesh is really easy to mash up, making it an ideal food for babies! Busy parents will definitely appreciate a recipe that doesn’t involve taking out the blender and washing it later.

2. Chikoo Porridge

Once your baby is used to the taste of chikoo, you can add some bulk to it by mixing it up with oats. The chikoo beautifully sweetens the oatmeal, gives it a creamier texture and also adds to the nutrition.

3. Chikoo Banana Mash

Bananas and chikoos are a match made in heaven! They’re both naturally creamy and sweet, and complement each other’s flavors very well. GK Food Diary shows us how to combine the two in this bowl of yummy baby food.

4. Chikoo Milkshake

The texture of chikoos makes it perfect for blending into milkshakes. Since they’re already sweet, you don’t need anything more than the fruit and milk. If you do need more sweetness, go with a natural sweetener like homemade jaggery syrup.

5. Chocolate Chikoo Smoothie

Have you noticed how the color of chikoos is so similar to that of chocolate? Blend with Spices makes use of this similarity with this delicious and thick chikoo chocolate smoothie. This is the perfect way to get fussy eaters to eat chikoo without realizing it!

6. Sooji Chikoo Porridge

Sooji or rava is something most Indian parents feed their little ones, along with rice and oats. Try out this sooji porridge recipe from Little One’s Platter that can serve both as breakfast as well as dessert!

7. Fruit Yogurt with Chikoo

Why go for commercial ready to eat cereals when you can have a healthier, tastier option right at home? Health Food Desi Videshi gives us a great alternative for sugary cereals without compromising on the convenience. Prunes, dates and chikoos make this a great breakfast for good digestion.

8. Sapodilla Crumble

You’ve probably heard of apple crumble, but Cooking Sense gives us chikoo crumble! We absolutely love the crunchy top on this one, made with cashews and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. You can substitute the brown sugar with coconut sugar if you like.

9. Chikoo Beetroot Barfi

The festive season is fast approaching, with Rakshabandhan, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chathurthi and Diwali. Cookpad gives us a lovely festive sweet recipe that you can have without any guilt – because it’s made of fruits and vegetables!

10. Chikoo Laddus

If you can make burfi out of chikoos, you can very well make laddus too! Special Desi Recipes treats us to a lovely chikoo recipe that also uses assorted dry fruits to make it a rich, nutritious dish. This works well as a festive dessert as well as an instant energy boosting snack!

11. Chikoo Nice Cream

Need a sweet treat that tastes just like ice cream but isn’t as heavy? Say hello to nice cream, a recipe from Feast with Safiya! This is a great recipe for chikoos thanks to the fruit’s natural sweetness and creamy texture. Be sure to get the ripest chikoos for this.

12. Chikoo Kesari

Kesari is a dish often made in Indian homes, especially when it’s the weekend or there are guests coming over. The next time you make kesari, try out this chikoo version from Kurry Leaves, which also features a delightful crunch from cashew nuts.

13. Chikoo Kulfi

How gorgeous does this kulfi from Tomato Blues look? It’s not too hard to make too, and the saffron adds a beautiful flavor that goes very well with the chikoo. We can’t think of a better way to use up ripe chikoos!

14. Chikoo Kheer

The Whisk Affair takes a simple kheer to another level altogether with this chikoo kheer recipe! The use of dried rose petals makes this a dish worthy of any fine dining restaurant, and can impress your guests!

15. Chikoo Halwa

We Indians are known to make halwa out of pretty much anything, so can chikoo halwa be left out of this list of healthy chikoo recipes? Subbus Kitchen gives us all the instructions needed to make a delicious chikoo halwa, something you can easily make with pantry staples.

16. Chikoo Mousse

Of course you’ve had chocolate mousse, but have you tried chikoo mousse? You might even end up liking this more than the chocolate! Check out the full recipe at Some Indian Girl, which also gives options to make it a vegan dessert.

17. Chikoo Pudding

If you enjoy making puddings out of gelatin or china grass, do check out this chikoo pudding recipe from Cooking with Thas. It’s really easy to make, and you’ll be surprised at how a few basic ingredients can turn out such a lovely dessert!

18. Chikoo Cheesecake

Many people think cheesecake is this elaborate dessert that’s out of reach for the common home cook, but Some Indian Girl proves this isn’t so! Check out this simple dessert that uses readily available ingredients for a yummy cheesecake recipe kids will love!

19. Chikoo Ice Cream

Homemade ice cream has a charm all of its own, and gives kids some lovely summer memories. Novice Housewife helps with this by sharing a yummy chikoo ice cream that uses coconut milk. You can skip the vodka when making this for kids, and can add some vanilla essence instead, if you like.

20. Chikoo Popsicles

Summers are times for Popsicles, and if you have a Popsicle mould at home, you don’t need to buy them! Another advantage of making them at home is that you have full control over the ingredients, which in this recipe from Sharmis Passions includes just chikoo, milk, cocoa powder and sugar.

21. Sapodilla Pie

Apple pie gets a lot of attention, but why not try it with another fruit – like chikoo? Fruit & Spice has gone ahead and tried this out, with great results! This pie/tart also uses spices and yogurt for a lovely flavor. Use forest honey for best results.

22. Sapodilla Muffins

A good thing about using chikoos is that since the flesh is so mashable, you can easily include it in batters and doughs, like Indian Curry Trail has done in this chikoo muffin recipe. The walnuts add a gentle crunch and the whole wheat flour makes it a fiber-rich snack!

23. Whole Wheat Chikoo Fig Cake

Chikoos and figs – what an amazing combination! That’s why we love this cake recipe from Cookilicious, as it features two of our favorite fruits along with healthy ingredients like whole wheat flour and yogurt.

24. Chikoo Lassi

Few things are as refreshing during Indian summers as a cool lassi. South Indian Foods shows us how to make lassi with a nice, ripe chikoo. If the chikoo is sweet enough, you can even skip the sugar and let the taste of the fruit shine through.

25. Chikoo Sticky Buns

If you like cinnamon sticky buns and would like to try another variation, you’ll enjoy this recipe from The Familiar Kitchen. This recipe uses an array of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and even fennel!