Baby Shower Food Ideas for a Party-Perfect Menu
Planning a baby shower is, without a doubt, one of the most exciting parts of pregnancy. (Although what could possibly be more titillating than chugging that syrupy drink for the three-hour glucose tolerance test? Kidding.) But once you’ve picked a baby shower theme and figured out which games you’d like to play with your guests, there’s still the tiny matter of planning your baby shower food menu. Not to worry: We’ve gathered up a host of baby shower food ideas, including baby shower finger foods, baby shower drinks and, of course, baby shower desserts.
Looking to put together a baby shower food menu, but don’t know where to start? First things first: Consider your budget, theme and guest list, advises Cheyenne Forbes, marketing coordinator at Party Host Helpers, a nationwide party-staffing company.
Here are some more tried-and-true baby shower menu tips from Forbes:
- Consider the time of day. If you’re hosting a morning or early-afternoon baby shower, you could go for a baby shower brunch menu with items like mini pancakes, muffins, fruit salad, yogurt parfait and quiche. If you’re hosting a late-afternoon or evening baby shower, you could do a lunch or dinner menu with items like sandwiches, salads, pasta dishes, meatballs and pizza.
- Consider the theme. If you’re having a woodland-themed baby shower, you could serve acorn cookies, mushroom cupcakes and trail mix. For a nautical-themed baby shower, you could go with crab cakes, fish sticks and blueberry lemonade as a refreshing baby shower mocktail. “Add some personal touches, such as custom labels, decorations or favors, to make your food more special and memorable,” says Forbes.
- Consider the future parents’ preferences and dietary restrictions. “The most important person at the baby shower is the mom-to-be, so you want to make sure she enjoys the food as well,” says Forbes. Ask the parent-to-be being celebrated what kind of food they like and if they have any allergies or intolerances. Also, depending on the showered person’s preferences, you might want to label and separate foods that aren’t recommended during pregnancy (i.e. sushi, soft cheeses, the mimosa bar, etc.).
- Consider the number of guests and the space available. If you have a lot of guests or a small space, you might want to opt for easy-to-eat baby shower finger foods that guests can grab while standing and mingling. You could also set up food stations or buffet tables where guests can serve themselves. If you have a small number of guests or a large space, you can choose plated meals, which tend to feel more formal and elegant. You can have servers bring the food to the guests, or have them sit at tables where the food is already placed.
- Consider the season and the weather. Hosting a summer baby shower? Think light and refreshing food that won’t spoil in the heat, such as salads, cold cuts, fruit skewers and ice cream. If your baby shower is in the winter, go for warm and cozy food such as soups, casseroles, hot chocolate and pies.
- Make sure to plan ahead. “Planning ahead will save you time, money and stress,” says Forbes. She suggests making a list of all the ingredients and equipment you need, shopping in advance, preparing as much as you can beforehand and delegating tasks if possible.
- Don’t overdo it. Stick to a few dishes that are easy to make and serve. You could also plan a potluck-style baby shower if you want to have more variety and reduce your workload.
A brunch baby shower is always on-trend. Here are a few of our favorite baby shower brunch ideas.
Tomato Tarts
These tomato tarts from Grandbaby Cakes are easy to make and full of flavor (caramelized onions—amazing).
Sweet Potato Bites
Sweet potato rounds topped with avocado and a dash of bacon, courtesy of Well Plated, make for a filling and healthy baby shower brunch food.
Balsamic Strawberry and Goat Cheese Crostini
Strawberry + goat cheese = the perfect pairing. From Cooking for Keeps, this is a super-easy sweet-and-savory idea.
Chicken and Waffle Sliders
You can’t beat this Southern brunch classic, courtesy of Food Folks and Fun.
Deviled Eggs
Chef Akua Atakora—owner of ChefKu Kuisines and a private chef and caterer based in Atlanta—likes to serve deviled eggs, along with other favorites like spicy jerk chicken and honey-butter cornbread muffins.
Baby Shower Charcuterie Board
Want a little bit of everything? A baby shower charcuterie board for brunch (brunch-cuterie?) is your best bet. This one comes courtesy of Robyn Parker, owner of Bites and Boards, a cheese and charcuterie-board caterer in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
There’s a reason serving baby shower finger foods is so popular: Less plating means less mess and more opportunity to mingle. While you can always stick to classics like pigs-in-a-blanket, you can also experiment and be creative. Here are a few of our favorite baby shower finger foods:
Pepperoni Cheese Bombs
Make it a (mini) pizza party with these delicious bites from Sizzling Eats.
Slow Cooker Party Meatballs (aka Grape Jelly Meatballs)
Stick in a toothpick and enjoy these sweet meatballs from Mommy Musings.
Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs
These Hawaiian chicken bites from Rasa Malaysia are sure to be sweet crowd-pleasers.
Cheesy Spinach-Stuffed Mushrooms
Bursting with cheese and topped with breadcrumbs, these stuffed mushrooms from Peas and Crayons can be prepped in advance the day before.
Crunchy Taco Cups
These bite-sized muffin-tin taco cups from Kevin and Amanda are perfect when you want mini tacos without the mess.
Individual Charcuterie Cups
Charcuterie boards are the best, but these individual cups from Carving & Craving, a charcuterie-board company operating in Florida and Utah, are genius. This way, each guest gets a little bit of everything and you can even customize these to your guests’ preferences—and you can make them sweet, savory or both. (Plus, it’s more sanitary.)
Wings
For her baby shower events, Atakora serves all types of wings: honey-barbecue wings, jerk-chicken wings, lemon-pepper wings, hot wings and more. She then adds sides like yellow rice and fried plantains.
Spring Rolls
Spring rolls are another filling and tasty baby shower finger food that’ll be a hit with your guests.
You can’t forget about a little something sweet. When it comes to baby shower desserts (and all baby shower food!), Forbes says it’s best to think out of the box. “You can experiment with different flavors, colors, shapes and textures, and use cookie cutters, frosting or sprinkles to make your food more festive and fun,” she says. “You can also use food to spell out words, such as ‘baby’ or the baby’s name, or to make shapes, such as hearts or stars.”
Here are some of our favorite baby shower dessert ideas.
Baby Shower Cookies
We can’t resist custom baby shower cookies that come in shapes like baby bottles, rattles and more, and that can be decorated to fit any baby shower theme. Kathy Corona, owner of Dulce Cookies Co. in Centerton, Arkansas, says some of her favorite recipes include chocolate chip cookies and sugar cookies—you can’t go wrong with a classic.
These monogrammed sugar cookies are perfect for a traditional baby shower theme. “Sugar cookies should be soft, even when working with royal icing,” Corona advises. “The secret on a soft royal icing cookie is to bake and decorate in two days or less, so the icing doesn’t get so hard.”
Music-themed designs, like these “Here Comes the Sun”-themed cookies, are always a fun conversation-starter. “It’s all in the small details on the cookies—crisp outlines, smooth-looking royal icing!” says Corona.
These adorable teddy bear cookies are from Nicole Phelps, owner of The Girl and the Whisk, a custom cookie baker in San Diego.
Phelps also created these safari-themed cookies for a gender reveal baby shower.
Looking for pretty, pastel baby shower cookies? These pink- and blue-dipped confetti Oreos from Sprinkles for Breakfast are just right.
Baby Shower Cake
The cake topper from this adorable rubber duckie baby shower cake from Mom Loves Baking can double as a future toy for baby.
This sweet bee-themed baby shower cake is by @madebymichelle, a custom dessert table creator in Vancouver, Canada.
Pastel edible flowers, a whimsical topper and a custom sign make for a beautifully put-together baby shower cake.
Baby Shower Cheesecake
If cheesecake is more your speed, these raspberry-swirled mini cheesecakes from Cooking Classy might be just what you’re looking for.
Baby Shower Macarons
A flower-adorned macaron tower is a sweet complement to a baby shower dessert table. This one’s from Bizzie Bee Creations in Torrance, California.
S’Mores Cookie Cups
For a little something different, try this twist on the campfire staples from Together As Family.
Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
From Well Plated, these offer a healthy and delicious option.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Mint Brownies
Chocolate and mint make a delicious pair—and it’s a great idea to offer a gluten-free option. These are from My Gluten-Free Kitchen.
Cotton Candy Mousse
These sweet little cups from In Katrina’s Kitchen are delicious and pretty.
Chocolate-Dipped Waffle Cones
Party Host Helpers owner Renée Patrone Rhinehart fills these chocolate-dipped cones with fruit and serves them with Greek yogurt as a dip.
Teddy Graham Jell-O Pool Cups
For a fun summer baby shower vibe, top these with little paper drink umbrellas.
Cakesicles
Customize these cakesicles with your baby shower colors and theme. Pop them in the freezer for 10 minutes before dipping, advises @madebymichelle.
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Custom chocolate-covered strawberries? Yes, please. These are from @luluberrries, a Los Angeles-based custom dessert creator.
Drinks are just as important as food—don’t forget to include a few different ones on your menu, says Forbes. “You can serve a variety of drinks, such as water, juice, soda, tea, coffee and mocktails,” she says. You can set up a drink station or a bar where guests can make their own drinks or choose from a selection of pre-made options.
Baby Shower Mocktails
If you’re looking for a baby shower mocktail, this tart cherry drink is a sophisticated option. Party Host Helpers collaborated with Gabrielle Monahan, owner of Evergreen Curated, to create it.
Another baby shower mocktail idea: lavender lemonade (hold the vodka), from La Dolce Vita Mobile Bar, which serves Atlanta and Northern Georgia. (A mobile bar is also a fun option to consider for your baby shower!)
You can order personalized mocktails, like these from BoBri Mocktails, which serves the mid-Atlantic and parts of New England.
Baby shower tables are a chance to go over-the-top with decor like flowers and balloons, and another way to show off your creativity. You can include themed tables like a baby shower candy table and cover them with food, decor, confetti—and whatever else your heart desires.
Here are a few ideas for baby shower tables:
Baby Shower Candy Table
The mirror accent adds something special to this picture-perfect baby shower candy table by Sweet Tooth Candy in Riverside, California.
This “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” candy table from New Jersey event planner Jenny Orsini and Shea’s Sweet Shoppe is truly magical.
You can center your candy table, like this one by Cured Catering in Toronto, around a stunning centerpiece.
Baby Shower Donuts Table
A baby shower donuts table—or donuts wall—is a popular alternative to a candy table.
Baby Shower Dessert Table
When you want a variety of sweet things, a baby shower dessert table is the way to go. This breathtaking dessert table is covered in baby’s breath—clever!—and features desserts such as a croquembouche and cake pops.
A lemon-themed dessert table might sound like an oxymoron, but this one from Amour Decor Events in Orange County, California, works perfectly.
Baby Shower Charcuterie Table
A baby shower charcuterie board is awesome—but how about a whole table? Balloons, flowers, cheese, meat and more make for a festive vibe when put together.
Baby Shower Fruit Table
A table full of fruit like this one from Munas Catering, based in Phoenix and Minneapolis, is a fresh way to make your baby shower menu stand out.
Above all, it’s important to have fun when you’re planning your baby shower food, says Forbes. “Don’t worry too much about making everything perfect, and enjoy the process of creating a menu that reflects your personality and style,” she says.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Kathy Corona is the owner, baker and cookie decorator of Dulce Cookies Co. in Centerton, Arkansas.
Cheyenne Forbes is the marketing coordinator at Party Host Helpers, a party-staffing company that started in Philadelphia and grew to serve clients nationwide.
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