Nuts & seeds Food Library
When can babies have cashew butter?
Can babies have cashew butter?
Babies can have cashew butter from about 6 months, as soon as they are ready for solids, as long as it is thinned or spread very thinly. Thick spoonfuls of any nut butter can stick to the roof of the mouth and are a choking risk. Cashews are a tree nut, one of the Top 9 allergens, so introduce cashew butter early and carefully.
How to serve cashew butter by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Stir about half a teaspoon of smooth cashew butter into warm water, breast milk or formula until runny, then mix it into iron-fortified cereal, smooth oatmeal, plain yogurt or mashed banana. Offer it on a spoon or a preloaded spoon.
7–8 months
Keep stirring thinned cashew butter into thicker oatmeal, yogurt or lumpy mashed fruit. You can also spread a very thin layer, so you can see the bread through it, on a soft toast strip about the size of two adult fingers for baby to hold.
9–12 months
Keep thinning cashew butter or spreading it very thinly on toast strips, soft pancakes or slices of soft fruit like ripe pear. Small squares of thinly spread toast give your baby pincer-grasp practice.
12 months +
Toddlers can have a thin layer of cashew butter on toast, waffles, crackers or apple slices that are cut thin, or a spoonful stirred into oatmeal, smoothies or sauces. Avoid big globs on a spoon and never serve whole or chopped cashews until at least age 4.
Why it’s good
Cashew butter gives babies healthy fats and calories for growth, plus plant protein, iron, zinc, magnesium and copper. Iron and zinc are nutrients many babies need more of from about 6 months. Pairing cashew butter with a vitamin C food like strawberries or kiwi helps the body absorb more of its plant iron.
Safety notes
- Never give cashew butter straight from a spoon or in thick clumps. Thin it into a smooth sauce or spread it thinly so it cannot form a sticky ball in the mouth.
- Choose smooth cashew butter only. Crunchy styles contain nut pieces, and whole or chopped cashews are a choking hazard for children under 4.
- Pick a cashew butter with just cashews, or cashews and a little salt. Skip brands with added sugar, honey, chocolate or syrups. Honey is not safe before 12 months.
- Serve cashew butter at home, early in the day, when you can watch your baby for a couple of hours after the first few tastes.
- Natural cashew butter separates. Stir the oil back in before serving and store it as the label says, usually in the fridge after opening.
Introduce cashew butter on its own, then keep it in
Cashew is a tree nut, one of the Top 9 food allergens, and cashew allergy can cause serious reactions, so start with a small amount and watch for hives, vomiting, swelling, coughing or trouble breathing. If your baby has severe eczema, egg allergy or another food allergy, talk to your pediatrician before introducing cashew butter; once it is tolerated, keep offering it regularly. Cashew and pistachio allergies often go together.
Cashew butter for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about cashew butter for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have cashew butter?
Babies can have cashew butter from about 6 months, when they show signs of readiness for solids. Cashew butter should always be thinned into food or spread very thinly, never served in thick spoonfuls.
Can babies have cashew butter?
Yes, babies can eat cashew butter when it is smooth and thinned or spread in a thin layer. Cashew butter is a good way to introduce the cashew allergen early without the choking risk of whole nuts.
Is cashew butter a choking hazard for babies?
Cashew butter can be a choking hazard when served thick or in globs, because it is sticky and can block the airway. Thinning cashew butter with liquid or spreading it so thin you can see the food underneath lowers the risk a lot.
Is cashew butter a common allergen?
Yes, cashew butter is a common allergen because cashews are tree nuts, one of the Top 9 food allergens. Introduce a small amount at home, watch your baby closely for a couple of hours, and keep cashew in the diet regularly once it is tolerated.
How do I serve cashew butter to a 6 month old?
To serve cashew butter to a 6 month old, mix about half a teaspoon with a little warm water, breast milk or formula until it is runny. Stir the thinned cashew butter into oatmeal, plain yogurt or mashed fruit and offer it on a spoon. Thin spreads on soft toast strips can follow at 7–8 months.
How often should I give my baby cashew butter after introducing it?
After cashew butter is introduced without a reaction, many allergy experts suggest offering it about two to three times a week. Regular exposure to cashew butter seems to help keep the tolerance going.
If my baby is fine with peanut butter, can I skip cashew butter?
No, being fine with peanut butter does not mean a baby is fine with cashews. Peanuts are legumes and cashews are tree nuts, so cashew butter needs its own introduction.
What is the best cashew butter for babies?
The best cashew butter for babies is smooth and made only from cashews, or cashews with a small amount of salt. Avoid cashew butter with added sugar, honey, chocolate or flavorings, and choose unsalted when you can.
Can I make cashew butter at home for my baby?
Yes, you can make cashew butter at home by blending roasted unsalted cashews in a strong food processor for several minutes until completely smooth. Homemade cashew butter must have no gritty bits or pieces before you serve it to a baby.
Can cashew butter cause constipation in babies?
Cashew butter is unlikely to cause constipation on its own in the small amounts babies eat. Serving cashew butter with fruits like pear or prunes, whole grains and some water at meals helps keep stools soft.
The takeaway
- Babies can have cashew butter from about 6 months, as soon as they are ready for solids, as long as it is thinned or spread very thinly.
- Stir about half a teaspoon of smooth cashew butter into warm water, breast milk or formula until runny, then mix it into iron-fortified cereal, smooth oatmeal, plain yogurt or mashed banana.
- Choking risk is medium. Tree nut is one of the Top 9 allergens: offer a small amount first, watch for a reaction, then keep it in the diet regularly.
Read next
Sources
This guide follows current advice from these organizations.
- Starting Solid Foods American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Choking Hazards Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Choking Prevention American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Peanut Allergy: What to Know About the Latest Prevention Guidelines American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Iron Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 U.S. Department of Agriculture and HHS
- The Effects of Early Nutritional Interventions on the Development of Atopic Disease in Infants and Children Greer FR, Sicherer SH, Burks AW; American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatrics. 2019;143(4):e20190281
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Updated November 2026. Reviewed by our dietitians. Based on AAP, CDC and NIAID guidance. Written for healthy, full-term babies; not a substitute for your pediatrician. If your baby was born early, has a medical condition, feeding difficulties or a known allergy, check with them first (medical disclaimer). Always stay with your baby while they eat.