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Like any good party, food plays a major role in a baby shower.
Even if you’ve already got your baby shower theme locked in, deciding on food ideas for baby shower might be quite a straightforward task — but nailing the presentation and decoration is still exciting!
If you’re struggling to know where to start with the whole “event-planning-thing”, choosing the food can be a great place to kick things off.
So don’t panic quite yet, just keep reading for our tastiest (and most inspired) baby shower food ideas!
In this article: 📝
- Cute baby shower food ideas
- Easy baby shower food
- Cheap baby shower food ideas
- Finger foods for baby shower
- Baby shower brunch ideas
- Baby shower desserts
- More on baby shower food ideas
Cute baby shower food ideas
If you’re keen for the food to be the star of the show, you can choose a baby shower theme that centers around the catering.
Choosing a creative way to display your baby shower menu, like arranging your food in front of a fun backdrop of balloons, banners, and garlands will make your photos really special.
Some of our favorite cute baby shower food ideas are:
1. Teddy bear’s picnic
A song you will probably be hearing a lot of in the coming months/years, why not choose a teddy bear’s picnic theme for your baby shower food?
Use cute wicker picnic hampers with sandwiches, salads, and pastries to enjoy, and choose some pretty picnic rugs, cushions, and balloons for your decor.
2. Very Hungry Caterpillar
The classic kid’s book could inspire a colorful and fun baby shower menu!
If you don’t already know, the caterpillar enjoys himself snacking on fruits, ice-cream cones, cherry pie, cupcakes, pickles, and cheese — amongst other things!
You could also use caterpillar-shaped cake toppers, copy pages of the book for invites, and have a book gift list, too.
3. Winnie the Pooh baby shower food ideas
Winnie the Pooh is always high on the most popular themes for baby showers for our mamas-to-be on Peanut.
So what sort of baby shower food can you serve at your Winnie the Pooh-themed baby shower?
Think honey for Pooh, carrots for Rabbit, pink lemonade for Piglet, full-sized and mini-sized cupcakes for Kanga and Roo, breaded mushrooms for Eeyore, tiger bread for Tigger, and owl-shaped macarons for Owl.
4. Elephant baby shower food ideas
Elephants are another of the more popular baby shower themes, according to our mamas-to-be on Peanut.
But what about elephant-themed baby shower food ideas?
Well, you could think gray, and serve things like mushroom pâté and earl grey tea, but there aren’t that many appetizing gray-colored foods out there.
So how about getting a cute elephant-shaped cookie-cutter and using that to shape sandwiches, cakes, mini pizzas, and anything else that takes your fancy?
Or you could go one step further and go on the hunt for full-on safari baby shower food ideas ‒ how about a snake baguette (complete with forked bell pepper tongue), or cake pops decorated as different safari animals?
5. Baby-themed baby shower food
Why not have a baby theme for your baby shower food?
The sky’s the limit ‒ you could serve mini versions of normal party food, like sliders, cupcakes, and these fun-size candy bars.
You can even serve snacks like popcorn, chips, or sweets in small jars like baby food, have sippy cups for drinks, and dispense salad dressings from baby bottles!
Our favorite baby-themed baby shower food is a watermelon baby carriage ‒ carve a watermelon so it looks like there’s a bouncing baby in a carriage, and scoop out some melon balls and other berries to cover baby.
Your baby shower is a time to embrace the joy that babies bring, so have fun with it, mama!
Easy baby shower food
If you’re short on time when planning your baby shower food, here are some quick and easy baby shower food ideas:
6. Baby-Q
A fun play on words, a Baby-Q (BBQ) themed baby shower menu is sure to go down well if you’re hosting your event in the warmer months.
Think mini ‒ like baby ‒ and serve items like sliders, baby corn, and baby potato salad.
If you’re planning for budget baby shower food, why not make it a BYO food occasion?
7. Chilli
It’s pretty easy to make for a big gathering, and if you’re throwing an informal, family gathering-style of baby shower, it’s the perfect baby shower food.
All you need is a big pot, enough bowls for your guests (or paper bowls), cutlery, and the ingredients.
Then sit everyone down and tuck into some deliciously easy baby shower food!
8. Pizza
Whether you get some delivered, get some store-bought, or make your own, pizza is a super-easy baby shower food idea.
Our tip: get different toppings so everyone can find their perfect pizza ‒ maybe just one ham and pineapple!
Create a display of bases and toppings and let your guests get creative, making their own.
You could even have a decorating competition to make your pizzas into cute (edible) baby faces for some hilarious photos to look back on!
9. Get dippy
If you want people to have lots of options for their baby shower food, think dips.
Stock up on crudités (chopped carrots, celery, cucumber, bell peppers) and sweet things to dip (strawberries, marshmallows, graham crackers, brioche), then get some dips for them, like hummus, sour cream and chive, chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce, guacamole, salsa, baba ganoush, and ranch dressing.
Cheap baby shower food ideas
If you’re looking for baby shower food ideas on a budget, we’ve got you covered.
10. Potluck
This is quite possibly our favorite baby shower food idea ‒ it takes so much of the pressure away from the baby shower host and makes the whole party planning process so much easier.
A potluck is where each baby shower guest or group brings their own baby shower food to share with everyone else.
Just ask everyone to provide a little note describing what their dish is, along with any allergens so other guests can be aware.
Then tuck in!
11. Cheese and crackers
This baby shower food idea works best for baby showers held outside of mealtimes ‒ not during breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Outside of mealtimes, you won’t have to serve much food (if any), so a selection of crackers and tasty cheeses is a great baby shower food idea.
12. Baked potato bar
Ah, the humble potato. So versatile, so timeless. So tasty.
And our not-so-well-kept secret for baby shower food ideas on a budget!
Put loads of potatoes in the oven for your guests (around 1-2 per guest should be plenty), then prep a few different toppings, like shredded cheese, beans, sour cream, tuna-mayo, scallions, fried onions… whatever you can think of!
13. Tex-Mex
You’ll soon be a pro at swaddling your baby like a burrito, so why not give your guests a headstart to helping you, with a DIY taco and burrito table?!
Lay out your tortillas, shells, and favorite fillings (don’t forget the guac!) and let your guests tuck in!
Finger foods for baby shower
Whether you’re planning baby shower food for 50 guests, or 15, having a baby shower menu that your guests can pick from themselves will make your life easier!
Finger foods for a baby shower will always go down well, and are suitable whether you’re expecting a boy or a girl.
After all, you probably don’t want to spend your whole day cutting portions or serving up food, so easy finger foods for a baby shower, that your guests can tuck into themselves are great options.
We’re talking appetizers, grazing tables, DIY snacks, cupcakes, and dessert bars. Yum.
So let’s dive headfirst into baby shower finger food ideas.
14. Grazing tables
A modern classic ‒ what party is complete without a grazing table?!
Not only tasty, but platters of cheeses, crackers, meats, baby shower fruit cups, nuts, veggies, and dips also look great too, making them perfect for a baby shower lunch buffet menu.
Just make sure there are plenty of pregnancy-safe food options included so you can indulge too.
Plus, you can get whatever grazing bits you want ‒ ideal for budget finger food baby shower food.
15. Baby shower appetizers
Baby shower appetizers like bruschetta, mini quiches or pastries, seafood skewers, and salad cups are simple and easy for your guests to help themselves to.
Your appetizers could be themed to match your favorite cuisine or any funny pregnancy cravings too.
Why not set up a finger food baby shower food table full of appetizers based on your pregnancy cravings?
16. Baby shower food ideas for a girl
How about girls’ baby shower food ideas?
Well… the simple idea for girls’ baby shower snacks is to think pink!
Some girl baby shower food ideas could be: pink lemonade, raspberry macarons, cotton candy, smoked salmon, ham sandwiches, pink wafers, or beetroot hummus.
17. Baby shower food ideas for a boy
Now for finger food baby shower food ideas for a boy.
Go blue for boys’ baby shower treats, like blueberries, blue Gatorade, and blue velvet cake.
Naturally blue-colored foods are a little harder to come by than pink foods, so you may have to break out the blue food dye for baby shower food ideas for a boy!
18. Halloween baby shower food ideas
Expecting a little one near the spooky season and looking for fall baby shower food ideas?
Naturally, Halloween baby shower food ideas are all about pumpkins, apples, and other autumnal foods.
Some fall baby shower food ideas could be pumpkin pie, candy corn, pumpkin hummus, mini apple pies, and deviled eggs (get it?).
Baby shower brunch ideas
How about if you’re having a baby shower earlier in the day
You might want to think about planning a brunch baby shower menu.
Here are our favorite baby shower brunch food ideas for a truly elegant baby shower:
19. Waffle bar
Everyone loves waffles ‒ they’re a sure-fire baby shower food hit!
If you’re hosting a baby shower at your house, pre-made a batch of waffle mix, then set up a safe place for a waffle iron, so people can make their own fresh waffles.
Then add some waffle toppings for your baby shower brunch guests to add ‒ berries, fresh cream, chocolate shavings, bananas, yogurt, and maple syrup make delicious additions.
20. No-secco bottomless brunch
Okay, to the mama-to-be can’t drink anything boozy, but how about some non-alcoholic “no-secco” for a baby shower brunch idea?
Pick a classic bottomless brunch menu, like omelets, waffles, French toast, eggs Benedict, quiche, or shakshuka, then make sure everyone’s glasses are topped up!
21. Afternoon tea
If you’d like your baby shower to be a sophisticated affair, afternoon tea can work well for small or larger groups.
Dainty finger sandwiches, cakes, biscuits and scones, and all different kinds of tea are beautifully simple, delicate baby shower food ideas.
Use vintage cake stands, teapots, and cups for a boho vibe.
Baby shower desserts
If pregnancy has given you a sweet tooth, or if you need baby shower food ideas for girls, your baby shower menu could be focussed on desserts.
You know, “sugar and spice, and all things nice”!
Easy to tie in with your color scheme or theme, these baby shower food ideas get the seal of approval from us.
Why not go one step further and just have a baby shower dessert table, full of all your favorite baby shower foodie sweet treats?
22. Cake pops or macaroons
So versatile, so yummy, cake pops and macaroons can simply be colored or flavored to match your baby shower food theme.
Or you can transform them into whatever you want ‒ teeny-tiny baby bumps, bumblebees, baby faces, teddy bears, flowers, planets… the list goes on.
23. Showstopper centerpiece
A large tiered cake will make for a stunning centerpiece for your baby shower food display.
A naked cake, decorated with fruit or flowers is great if you’ve chosen a nature or boho theme, or a fully-decorated tiered cake is a great chance to show off what your baby shower is all about!
You can find plenty of inspo in our baby shower table decor guide.
24. Cupcakes for everyone
Create a focal point with lots of individual cupcakes decorated to match your baby shower food theme, with dinosaurs, animals, stars, rainbows, flowers — the options are endless!
If your baby shower is also a gender reveal party, you could hide colored buttercream in the center of the cakes as a sweet way to celebrate your new baby boy or girl!
25. Ice cream
A bellissimo idea if you’re hosting a summer baby shower, having an array of ice cream flavors, cones, sprinkles, and sauces will satisfy every ice cream lover!
An ice cream truck might add a retro vibe to your celebration and be a fun talking point, too.
More on baby shower food ideas
Now you have some more baby shower food ideas, you might have a few other burning questions about baby shower food.
So let’s get stuck into your baby shower food questions.
Do you have to serve food at a baby shower?
No, you don’t have to serve food at a baby shower
But if you’re expecting to have your guests for a few hours, it can be a good idea to arrange for some food to be served, or available for them to order themselves.
Whether you’re after baby shower food ideas on a budget or you’re low on time, we’ve got lots of different ideas for baby shower food for you to choose from.
What kind of food do you serve at a baby shower?
It’s totally up to you!
You can go for as much or as little baby shower food as you want, fitting into your tastes, your theme, and your budget.
What should I serve at a 2pm baby shower?
At around 2pm, your baby shower guests will likely be expecting some lunch to be served at your baby shower.
You could go with afternoon tea, a finger food baby shower buffet, or even a potluck for 2pm baby shower food.
Do you have a cake at a baby shower?
It’s not fundamental to have a baby shower cake, but it is a bit of an expectation from your guests.
The great news is that we have loads of baby shower cake ideas for you to choose from.
Should you have alcohol at a baby shower?
You don’t have to at all ‒ while some guests might want a tipple, the mama-to-be won’t be drinking.
Some baby showers don’t serve any alcohol out of respect for the mama-to-be, but others can be a bit boozier.
What drinks should I serve at a baby shower?
It’s traditional to serve non-alcoholic drinks at a baby shower, s the mama-to-be doesn’t feel left out, but you can make them virgin versions of her favorite cocktail.
Not sure what mocktails and non-alcoholic drinks to serve? How about:
- Faux-jito (mojito)
- Virgin colada (piña colala)
- Cos-no-politan (cosmopolitan)
- No-groni (negroni)
- No-secco (prosecco)
- Cuddles on the beach (sex on the beach)
Can you serve just desserts at a baby shower?
Of course you can! In fact, a baby shower dessert table is one of our favorite baby shower food ideas.
Top tips for baby shower food
Getting the right amount of baby shower food and knowing what to serve can be tricky, so here are our top tips for organizing your baby shower food.
How much food do you serve at a baby shower?
It’s easy to go overboard with baby shower snacks and appetizers, but try to keep it within budget.
Wondering how many appetizers should you have at a baby shower?
A general rule of thumb is 2 different appetizers for every 4 guests.
What types of food do you serve at a baby shower?
Offer different options of baby shower food for different tastes and different dietary requirements, but don’t feel you have to cater for every whim.
Check with your guests if they have any specific or unusual allergies in advance, and plan around them.
If someone’s gluten intolerant, make sure they have something to enjoy, but remember that you don’t have to make all your baby shower food gluten-free.
List the ingredients
If any of your baby shower foods have common allergens (like gluten, nuts, shellfish) or aren’t suitable for some dietary lifestyles (like vegan, vegetarian, halal), adding little placecards to say what’s in them can save you from memorizing all the ingredients for the inevitable questions.
Make as much as you can in advance
You’ll probably have a lot to organize on the day of the baby shower, so do what you can to make the baby shower food as prepared as possible.
Your freezer might just be your best friend!
Baby shower finger food is generally best
A finger-food buffet-style baby shower menu is the most popular among our mamas-to-be on Peanut, mainly due to the ease of clean-up.
Plus, you won’t have to worry about cutlery and having enough space for people to sit.
What should I serve at a 2pm baby shower?
At around 2pm, your baby shower guests will likely be expecting some lunch to be served at your baby shower.
You could go with afternoon tea, a finger food baby shower buffet, or even a potluck for 2pm baby shower food.
What food do you serve at a baby shower brunch?
Any baby shower brunch food you like!
Here are a few options of baby shower foods to serve at brunch:
- Waffles
- Omelets
- French toast
- Quiche
- Shakshuka
- Eggs Benedict
- Afternoon tea
- Bagels
- Pastries
- Avocado toast
- English muffins
- Charcuterie board
What kind of food do you serve at baby shower?
That’s up to you, your budget, your guestlist, and your mama-to-be!
Take your pick of our top baby shower food ideas and share your favorites with the other mamas-to-be of Peanut!
💡 More baby shower tips:
10 Baby Shower Themes for Boys
10 Baby Shower Themes for Girls
Baby Shower Etiquette: 7 Guidelines
What to Write in a Baby Shower Card
The Best Baby Shower Invitation Wording Ideas
Baby Shower Favors: Ideas, Cost, and More
15 Baby Shower Games
7 Fun & Memorable Gender Reveal Games
24 Twin Baby Shower Ideas
26 Ideas for Baby Shower Prizes
10 of the Most Fun Virtual Baby Shower Games
Virtual Baby Shower Ideas
What is a Baby Sprinkle? Invitations, Games & Gifts
Best Baby Registries: Tried & Tested
The Ultimate Baby Shower Playlist
Our Top 10 Baby Shower Venues
How to Make a Diaper Cake
28 Show-Stopping Maternity Photoshoot Dresses
16 Stylish Summer Maternity Clothes