Mimi’s Freeze-Dried Fruit & Veggie “Blops” for Little Snackers

Mimi is at it again in the kitchen — apron on, freeze-dryer humming, grandbabies on her mind. This time, she took two toddler favorites — GoGo Squeez and Kirkland Organic Fruit & Veggie Pouches — and turned them into shelf-stable, crunchy little freeze-dried blops that are perfect for tiny hands and busy parents.

These store-bought pouches are already a mom and dad win, but some even sneak in hidden veggies… which makes this a Mimi win too! 

Of course, you can absolutely make your own purées too — apples, pears, bananas, strawberries, sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, and other fun fruits and veggies work beautifully in a freeze-dryer. But when time is tight and grandbabies are hungry right now, these ready-made pouches make this one of Mimi’s favorite quick and easy freeze-dry wins.

Check out this blog on baby food: From Garden to Highchair: How to Make Homemade Baby Food - PackFreshUSA

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How Mimi Freeze-Dries Toddler Pouches (Step-by-Step)

1. Pick Your Pouches (or Homemade Purées!)
   GoGo Squeez, Kirkland Organic fruit & veggie blends, or your own homemade apple, fruit, or veggie purée.

2. Create “Blops” on Trays
   Pipe using the puree pouch or spoon small dollops onto freeze-dryer trays (think bite-size snack dots). I used the packet to drop or dollup mini size drops on the trays.

3. Layer Smart
   Mimi does two layers per tray, pre-freezing between layers so the blops keep their shape and don’t melt together. Using parchment or silica mats.

4. Freeze-Dry Thoroughly
   Run a full cycle and add extra dry time so the blops are fully crunchy and shelf stable.

5. Cool Before Packing
   Let everything cool to room temp to prevent moisture from forming inside your packaging.

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Storage: Small Stand-Up Pouches and/or Freezer Pop Bags

Once dry, Mimi packs these toddler treats into PackFreshUSA Small5 mil Silver Mylar Stand Up Pouches for long-term and Stand Up Pouches in small size clear front for shorter storage in Stand-Up Pouches and some in Freezer Pop Bags | PackFreshUSA— the perfect size for:

• Snack packs for grandkids

• Diaper bags

• Daycare treats

• On-the-go mom and dad snacks

Add a small PackFreshUSA oxygen absorber for long-term storage and heat seal the pouch for freshness. These pouches keep the treats crunchy, protected, and gift-ready for Mimi’s favorite little snack testers. 

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Why Parents Love These

✔️ Shelf-stable
✔️ No mess
✔️ Lightweight for travel
✔️ Hidden veggies = parent victory
✔️ Grandma-approved snacks
✔️ Easy to customize with homemade apples, fruits, and veggies

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Best Fruits & Veggies to Purée for Freeze-Drying (Mimi-Approved List)

These blend well, freeze-dry beautifully, and turn into crunchy little blops that toddlers (and quality-control grandmas) love:

Best Fruits for Freeze-Drying Purées

Great texture + great flavor when freeze-dried:

• Apples (fresh or lightly cooked first)

• Pears

• Bananas (blend with a little apple or yogurt to prevent browning)

• Strawberries

• Blueberries

• Mango

• Peaches

• Pineapple

• Raspberries

• Mixed berry blends

Mimi Tip: Fruits with higher water content freeze-dry best when blended smooth. If the purée is runny, add a little applesauce or Greek yogurt to thicken it before making blops.

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Best Veggies for Freeze-Drying Purées

Perfect for sneaky veggie snacks:

• Sweet potatoes (steam first, then blend)

• Carrots (steam first)

• Pumpkin

• Butternut squash

• Peas

• Beets

• Zucchini (mix with apple or pear for better flavor)

• Spinach (great blended into fruit mixes)

• Cauliflower (mild flavor when mixed with apple or banana)

Mimi Tip: Most veggies freeze-dry best after steaming and blending smooth. Raw veggies can come out tougher and less kid-friendly.

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Best Fruit + Veggie Combos (Kid-Approved Blends)

These combos taste great and sneak in nutrition:

• Apple + Sweet Potato

• Pear + Spinach

• Banana + Pumpkin

• Strawberry + Beet

• Blueberry + Cauliflower

• Mango + Carrot

• Peach + Zucchini

• Apple + Pea

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Purée Texture Tips for Perfect “Blops”

✔️ Aim for thick applesauce consistency
✔️ Too thin = spreads too much on trays
✔️ Too thick = dries unevenly
✔️ Add Greek yogurt if you want creamier blops
✔️ Always pre-freeze between layers for clean shapes

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Storage Reminder 

Once fully dry and crunchy, pack your blops into PackFreshUSA Small Stand-Up Pouches with a small oxygen absorber. Heat seal for freshness and label your flavors so Mimi doesn’t mix up the strawberry-beet with the blueberry-banana (ask her how she knows).

PackFreshUSA Freezer Pop Bags work really well for packing freeze-dried toddler blops and mini snacks, especially when you’re making single-serve portions for:

• Diaper bags

• Daycare snacks

• Travel packs

• Party favors

• Sample sizes for little snackers

They’re slim, lightweight, and kid-friendly — which parents love for tossing into a bag on busy days.

Best Use Case

Freezer pop bags are perfect for:

• Short to mid-term storage

• On-the-go snack packs

• Quick rotation treats

• Portion control for toddlers

Storage Tip (Important)

Freezer pop bags are not designed for long-term oxygen barrier storage like Mylar bags or stand-up pouches.

If you’re storing freeze-dried blops for longer-term pantry storage, stick with:

• PackFreshUSA Metalized Small Stand-Up Pouches

• Add a 50cc small oxygen absorber

• Heat seal for maximum shelf life

If you’re making snacks for the week, road trips, daycare, or grandma’s snack stash, freezer pop bags are totally perfect.

Mimi’s Two-Pack Method (Best of Both Worlds)

Mimi’s favorite combo:

• Long-term storage: PackFreshUSA Small Stand-Up Pouches + oxygen absorber

• Everyday snack packs: Clear front stand-up Pouches  (use small and medium) and PackFreshUSA Freezer Pop Bags for grab-and-go

That way Mimi always has a crunchy backup stash and easy treats ready for grandbaby adventures.

Of course I sign my treats with a little bit of magic!

With love,

Mimi