Quick and Easy Baby Shower Food Ideas

Planning a baby shower is lots of fun, especially when it comes to brainstorming food ideas. Whether you’re looking for food ideas that match your chosen baby shower theme or you’re just looking for quick, easy, and flavorful options that everyone will love, you’ve come to the right place. Check out our 48 baby shower food ideas, including snacks, finger foods, brunch ideas, desserts, and thirst-quenching drinks.

9 Essential Tips for Planning a Baby Shower Menu

When planning a baby shower, you can be as creative as you like with the food ideas, but it’s also important to consider some practical aspects. As the host, you’ll have a lot to take care of, including decorating the venue, so it’s good to plan food that is quick to make and easy to serve and eat.

Here are some tips to help you think about the types of food to choose, how to serve it, and more:

1. Consider the size and style of the baby shower. Think about whether you’re going for a more formal sit-down gathering or leaning toward a casual affair. Will your guests be seated at a table, standing, or eating on their laps? Would you prefer baby shower finger foods or a full-on meal that guests will need forks and knives to eat? Once you’ve made this basic decision, creating your baby shower menu will be much easier.

2. Offer a variety of options. You probably know that pregnant people are advised to stay clear of certain foods and drinks—such as undercooked or processed meats, undercooked or raw fish, fish high in mercury, and unpasteurized foods—but you may want to check in with the pregnant person and other guests to find out if anyone has any specific allergies or intolerances, or follows a special diet. You can add this question to your baby shower invitation wording. That way, you're sure to have appealing, safe choices for everyone! And keep variety in mind when it comes to colors, textures, food temperatures, and degree of spiciness.

3. Keep food safety in mind. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, using separate cutting surfaces for these and other raw foods as you're preparing them. Make sure all meat is well cooked, and ensure that any hot menu items stay hot or are reheated to safe temperatures when you're serving them.

4. Label the foods. Labeling the dishes is a thoughtful gesture for baby shower guests who have food allergies or are following special diets, and it also makes it easy for guests to know what foods they’re eating. If you’ve chosen to do a buffet-style food table, label the foods with little tags or cards. Otherwise, you may decide to print a few menus that you frame and place on each dining table.

5. Use sturdy tableware. If you’ve chosen disposable plates for the baby shower, avoid poor-quality ones that food may soak through and end up staining a guest’s outfit. Avoid plastic cutlery that snaps or doesn’t cut food well. It’s a good idea to look for paper or plastic plates that are durable and can stand up to salad dressings, sauces, and everything in between. The good news is you can find quality disposable baby shower plates and cutlery at all price points.

6. Feature a creative and practical food table. Make it easy for all of your guests to get their food. A great idea is to set up two food tables (such as one for savories and one for dessert) and let guests serve themselves buffet-style. Instead of pushing the food table up against the wall, pull it out so that baby shower guests can easily drift and mingle around the table, and access the food without having to line up. Use stands made up of overturned pots or bowls to add height so that different dishes are not only more eye-catching but also easier to reach. You can cover these stands with doilies or a tablecloth so that they go unnoticed.

7. Opt for make-ahead dishes. To make the day of the baby shower much less stressful for you, try to make the majority of your food ahead of time. You can easily put together a crudité platter a night in advance. Have the cookies iced and the cupcakes frosted. Certain foods like meatballs and mini sausages can also be prepared in advance and simply heated up just before you serve them. To make things easier for you, you might also like to ask a friend who’s invited to the shower to arrive a little earlier to help out.

8. Choose mess-free foods. Having a few dips and sauces on offer is great, but you may want to think twice about serving Buffalo wings or baby back ribs. The same goes for desserts: A slice of cherry pie is harder to eat standing up or while balancing it on a napkin. Do your guests a favor and stick to cookies, cake pops, and cupcakes. Consider how you serve items, too; for example, you could assemble desserts like tiramisu or trifle in individual glasses or clear plastic cups to help make it mess-free.

9. You don’t have to adhere to a theme. For example, with a baby shower jungle theme, you could go for a very tropical menu with all kinds of tropical food specialties, but keep in mind that choosing to coordinate your foods to the theme may limit your options and could end up being more expensive than what you bargained for. Instead, you might like to serve all kinds of typical party foods that you know your guests will love, and then give the foods a theme by using food dye to color the cookie icing, choosing colorful paper cupcake liners, or deciding on themed table decorations. Get specific ideas on how to easily match your food to the theme in our articles on baby shower themes for boys and baby shower themes for girls.

Quick Baby Shower Snack Ideas: Affordable and Easy Bites

Planning a baby shower doesn’t have to be stressful, especially when it comes to the food. In this section, you'll find easy baby shower food ideas that work well as snacks and appetizers. These simple bites are perfect for keeping guests satisfied without the fuss, allowing you to enjoy the celebration while offering delicious options.

1. Crudité platter. For a quick and easy baby shower snack or appetizer, arrange a variety of cut or sliced raw vegetables such as carrots, bell peppers, celery, broccoli, or whatever you prefer on a large platter. Use hollowed-out bell peppers for serving dips, such as sour cream and onion, chipotle, or olive.

2. Cheese plate. Cheese is pretty much a party favorite, so plan on having many different kinds. Typically, you’ll want a mix of hard and soft cheeses. (Keep in mind that pregnant people are advised to steer clear of unpasteurized cheeses.) Make sure to have plenty of crackers, including different kinds like whole-wheat, rye, and gluten-free.

3. Olives and pickles. They say that some pregnant people have odd cravings for pickles. Whether the mom-to-be does have this craving or not, it’s a good idea to have bowls of olives, pickles, and pickled onions—all of which go well with the cheese or meat platter.

4. Egg or spring rolls. Look for readymade spring or egg rolls and bake them the day of the baby shower as a tasty snack. Serve with a sweet and sour dipping sauce that you can either buy or make.

5. Veggie sushi. Given that raw fish isn't safe for pregnant people, choose vegetarian sushi instead. If you’re an adventurous cook, you could try making the rolls yourself, filling them with anything and everything from cucumber and avocado to edamame and sweet potato. You could even go with quinoa rather than rice.

6. Deviled eggs. A crowd-pleasing favorite, deviled eggs can be decorated to look like little babies in bassinets. Simply prepare your favorite deviled eggs recipe, and using a piping bag, pipe the egg yolk filling into one half of an egg white. Then take the second egg white, cut it crosswise, and attach it to one end of the piped egg white. Then add two sliced black olives for the eyes.

7. Bruschetta. It’s hard to go wrong with this easy and tasty baby shower snack or appetizer. Simply slice up a baguette or a loaf of ciabatta, and toast the bread slices in the oven. Top each with chopped tomato, olive tapenade, or whatever spread you prefer.

8. Bacon-wrapped dates. These are a catering classic, and easy to prepare: simply wrap dates in bacon, skewer each one with a toothpick, and then broil until the bacon is crispy.

9. Puff pastry cheese sticks. You can create cheese sticks using puff pastry as a quick and tasty baby shower snack. All you do is thinly brush the sheet of puff pastry with an egg white wash, and then sprinkle the sheet of puff pastry with some salt, pepper, and grated cheese like Parmesan or Cheddar. Then, slice the dough into long strips using a pizza wheel. Place them on a baking sheet as they are or give them a little twist so they have a cute shape. Bake according to the directions on the puff pastry packaging.

10. Pull-apart bread. Bake your favorite recipe for a savory pull-apart bread. A favorite savory filling is cheese and garlic, but you could also do a sweet version with cinnamon and raisin.

Baby Shower Finger Foods: Inspired by American Cities

Incorporating flavors from iconic American cities into your baby shower menu with simple finger foods is a fun way to honor your favorite cities, and your heritage, or match your baby shower theme. Here are a few tasty ideas inspired by popular city eats:

11. Mini Italian-American meatball subs. Serve small rolls stuffed with tender Italian meatballs, marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella. These bite-sized subs, reminiscent of New York’s Italian-American cuisine, will be a crowd-pleaser with their rich, comforting flavors. You could spear each roll with a toothpick or skewer to make handling and eating them easier.

12. New York-style mini bagels. Serve bite-sized bagels as a fun finger food for a baby shower. Add a variety of toppings like cream cheese, smoked salmon, and capers. These mini bagels are perfect for a light yet flavorful finger food that’s easy to grab and eat.

13. Chicago deep-dish pizza bites. Bring the hearty flavors of Chicago by offering mini deep-dish pizza bites, filled with gooey cheese, rich tomato sauce, and classic toppings like pepperoni or spinach. These will certainly be a popular finger food idea at the baby shower.

14. Philly cheesesteak sliders. Inspired by the iconic Philadelphia sandwich, these mini sliders are filled with thinly sliced beef, sautéed onions, and melted cheese on small buns, making them a delicious, easy-to-eat option.

15. San Francisco sourdough bites. Serve small slices of tangy sourdough bread topped with creamy brie and fig jam or a light tomato bruschetta, paying homage to the city's love of sourdough.

16. Mini cornbread muffins. A nod to the South, these mini cornbread muffins are sweet, buttery, and perfect for pairing with savory dips or eaten on their own. Their golden color and bite-sized appeal make them a delightful baby shower snack addition to your table.

17. Mini mac and cheese. Cook your favorite mac and cheese recipe, and then bake the mac and cheese in a silicone mini muffin pan to create mini versions! Before baking, sprinkle each with some panko breadcrumbs and a drizzle of melted butter to create a crispy topping.

18. Miami Cuban sandwich bites. Mini Cuban sandwiches featuring roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard, pressed into crispy bites, bring a taste of Miami’s vibrant food scene to your party.

19. Nashville hot chicken skewers. Spice up your baby shower with mini skewers of Nashville hot chicken, served with cooling ranch or blue cheese dip for a bold, Southern-inspired finger food.

20. Salsa, guacamole, and tortilla chips. A nod to northern Mexico with bowls of salsa and guacamole and your favorite tortilla chips for a classic party combination. If you’re aiming for something a little different and would like to tie the food into a tropical theme, make a tropical salsa with mango instead of tomato. Sprinkle the guacamole with crumbled queso fresco to make it more visually enticing and delicious.

Easy and Elegant Baby Shower Brunch Ideas

For a sophisticated yet simple baby shower, a brunch menu can be both stylish and crowd-pleasing. Here are some elegant ideas, including brunch finger foods that are easy to prepare and sure to impress your guests:

21. Quiche bites. A great idea for a brunch baby shower, quiche is very versatile since you can tailor the ingredients to your taste, such as spinach and ham, leek and bacon, etc. Use your favorite quiche recipe, but instead of baking it in a pie or tart pan, use a mini muffin pan. Even better, use a silicone mini muffin pan so that the mini quiches are even easier to remove and you won’t need paper liners.

22. Avocado toast bar. Set up an avocado toast station with various toppings like smoked salmon, radishes, poached eggs, microgreens, and feta for a trendy, customizable dish.

23. Tea sandwiches. A really cute baby shower food idea, especially if you’re doing a brunch or teatime-themed shower, tea sandwiches are a great choice because you can easily make so many different kinds. Think: cream cheese and cucumber, thinly sliced cold roast beef and horseradish sauce, or sliced turkey and pimiento cheese. Feel free to use the bread of your choice, and you may even want to have a gluten-free version as well.

24. Smoked salmon crostini. Small crostini topped with cream cheese, smoked salmon, dill, and capers offer a touch of luxury while remaining easy to prepare.

25. Prosciutto-wrapped asparagus. Elegant and simple, these are a flavorful, classy addition to any brunch spread, combining salty prosciutto with tender asparagus.

26. Egg muffins. Make individual egg muffins with ingredients like spinach, cheese, and bacon, baked in a muffin tin for a grab-and-go brunch idea.

27. Buttermilk pancake stacks. Mini stacks of fluffy pancakes drizzled with maple syrup and topped with fresh berries or whipped cream are a charming brunch idea for a baby shower.

28. Savory tartlets. For great brunch finger foods, try bite-sized tartlets filled with ingredients like goat cheese, caramelized onions, and roasted vegetables.

29. Spinach-and-garlic palmiers. Easy to make and elegant, palmiers can be filled with almost anything—try spinach sauteed with garlic, or olive tapenade—as long as the filling is finely chopped. Spread the filling onto store-bought puff pastry, and roll up the two ends so they meet in the middle. Using a sharp knife, slice up the rod of dough to create the palm leaf shape, and bake according to the directions on the puff pastry packaging. You can also bake a sweet version with cinnamon and sugar!

Delicious and Easy Baby Shower Dessert Table Ideas

Besides having a baby shower cake as a centerpiece, you may want to have a dessert table with an assortment of other sweet offerings. Here are some ideas for crowd-pleasing sweets and desserts:

30. Cookies. These are easy to customize and you can use your favorite recipe. You can tailor the cookies to the theme by using specific cookie cutter shapes like a bow tie, baby bottle, or a toy rattle. Or, you could simply ice round cookies to match the theme by adding food coloring to the icing.

31. Cake pops. Easy to make, whether you start by buying a cake or baking one from a mix, all you need to do is mash the cake, mix it with frosting, and then form the balls. Dip the balls in different colors of icing or melted candy melts and sprinkle them with edible glitter or sugar beads to make them really snazzy and unique.

32. Scones with clotted cream and jam. If you opted for brunch-themed baby shower food, here’s your dessert option. Offer flaky scones with a selection of jams and clotted cream for a British-inspired brunch spread that feels indulgent.

33. Cupcakes. Everyone loves cupcakes, and they’re fun to decorate to match your chosen baby shower theme. Use different colors of frosting, and top the cupcakes with marzipan figures, mini flags, cocktail umbrellas, edible glitter, or any other idea you might have. If you’re really creative you could even pipe the frosting so that it looks like a flower.

34. Brownies or blondies. Bake a batch of brownies or blondies and cut them into small squares, or use cookie cutters to create fun, themed shapes.

35. Chocolate truffles. An easy, no-bake chocolate truffle recipe is all you need to create this simple, crowd-pleasing baby shower dessert.

36. Monkey bread. Bake your favorite cinnamon-and-sugar monkey bread, and have some cream cheese frosting on the side for dipping.

37. Ice pops. Who doesn’t love ice cream? But for an easier alternative (avoiding the chore of scooping out the ice cream), serve ice pops. Your guests will love to feel like kids again. And for a super cute baby shower dessert table idea: Decorate the dessert table to look like an ice cream cart. You can buy or prepare ice pops in a color that matches your theme, too.

38. Chocolate-dipped strawberries. This baby shower dessert idea is a great way to add some fresh fruit to your dessert table. Plus, chocolate-dipped strawberries are a crowd-pleaser. Decorate them to look like the berries are wearing tuxedos, if you’re having a little gentleman theme, or decorate them to look like little ladybugs if you’re working with a ladybug theme.

39. Fruit salad. Fruit salad is always a good choice, especially for those guests who would like a healthier dessert option. Use a melon baller to scoop watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew. Add cubes of pineapple and different berries. Serve the salad individually in glasses or clear plastic cups, or in a large hollowed-out watermelon that can be made to look like a baby carriage.

40. Fruit skewers. This baby shower dessert idea makes serving and eating fruit fun and easy. Simply string cut or cubed fruits like grapes, orange, kiwi, pineapple, and berries onto a skewer. You might even like to arrange the fruit so that it looks like a rainbow.

41. Tiramisu. It’s easy to whip together this no-bake dessert. Instead of assembling it in a pan, create individual cups of tiramisu. Not only will it look pretty, it’ll be easier for your guests to enjoy as they can take their mini cups and enjoy their desserts while mingling.

42. Trifle. You can bake your favorite sponge cake recipe or buy one at your local store to create a homemade trifle. Assemble the dessert in individual cups to make serving easier.

43. Chocolate fondue fountain. Take the baby shower dessert table to the next level with a vat of melted chocolate for dipping, or have it flowing from a chocolate fountain. You may be able to buy one of these at your local big box store, or rent one from a party supply store. Have skewers, bowls of fruit, and cookies like vanilla wafers or ladyfingers on hand for dipping. For a baby shower, you might even consider using white chocolate, as the color might better tie in with the rest of your theme, or you could add food dye to match your theme.

Refreshing Baby Shower Drinks: Punch Recipes and More

Refreshments are an important part of a baby shower, but it’s common to wonder “Do people serve alcohol at baby showers?” Well, that’s completely up to the host and parent-to-be! Because the pregnant guest of honor can’t drink alcohol, many baby showers will offer both options. Beyond serving the usual wine spritzer or sparkling wine, consider some alcohol-free drinks, like mocktails, punch, and homemade sodas at the baby shower. Below we have some great baby shower drink ideas, including recipes for both pink and blue punch:

44. Mocktails. It’s easy to come up with a mocktail with just a little bit of imagination. If you’re having a medieval prince or princess theme, you could serve ginger beer with a squeeze of lime and a rim of salty cayenne and call it spicy mead! Or, come up with something tropical for a rainforest theme.

45. Iced tea. Offer a few different iced teas for your baby shower drinks, including a sugar-free version. Add fresh sliced peaches and berries to your iced black tea to make it look like sangria.

46. Seasonal favorites. If the baby shower happens to take place around summertime, why not offer the classic thirst-quencher, lemonade? You could also make limeade, or combine both lemons and limes. For fall or winter, you could even serve hot cider or hot chocolate instead of the usual coffee or tea.

47. Flavored sodas. Instead of your usual brands of flavored soda, why not offer a homemade soda bar? Gather together different syrups, many that you can make yourself. Think mango, coffee, berry, passion fruit, grapefruit, etc. Each guest can flavor her own soda as she likes. Have some sprigs of fresh mint for garnish and striped paper straws or swirly straws to make drinking fun. You could even take it one step further and have vanilla ice cream on hand to create ice cream floats!

48. Tropical punch. Go for something old school for the baby shower, and serve a punch made with your favorite lemon-lime soda and some juice or nectar, such as mango or passion fruit. Jazz it up with a container of sherbet turned out into the punch like a big, rainbow-colored melting island.

Delicious Pink Punch Recipe: A Sweet Sip for Any Baby Shower

This sweet pink punch recipe brings a pop of color and refreshing flavor to a baby shower. With its light, fruity taste, it’s perfect for sipping throughout the celebration.

Ingredients:

• 1 liter of ginger ale

• 1 liter of pink lemonade

• 2 cups of cranberry juice

• Fresh raspberries and mint leaves for garnish

• Ice cubes

Instructions:

1. In a large punch bowl, mix the ginger ale, pink lemonade, and cranberry juice.

2. Stir until all ingredients are well combined.

3. Add ice cubes and garnish with fresh raspberries and mint leaves for a pretty presentation.

4. Serve cold and let your guests enjoy this sweet, refreshing punch!

Tasty Blue Punch Recipe: A Flavorful and Cool Punch

This refreshing blue punch for a baby shower is a fun and vibrant addition to the celebration. Its cool, fruity flavor will keep guests coming back for more, and the striking color is perfect if you’ve picked blue for your baby shower color scheme.

Ingredients:

• 1 liter of lemon-lime soda

• 1 liter of blue fruit punch

• 2 cups of pineapple juice

• Fresh blueberries and lemon slices for garnish

• Ice cubes

Instructions:

1. In a large punch bowl, combine the lemon-lime soda, blue fruit punch, and pineapple juice.

2. Stir gently to mix the flavors.

3. Add ice cubes and garnish with fresh blueberries and lemon slices for extra color and flavor.

4. Serve chilled and enjoy this flavorful, cool punch!

The Bottom Line

You’ll no doubt have lots of fun planning and serving the food for the baby shower.

If you’ve decided to prepare most of the food yourself, round up some of the parent-to-be’s friends and family to help. Make it easier on yourself by using some store-bought elements or asking each guest to bring a small plate to share.

Set up food and dessert tables so that guests can serve themselves buffet style, and stick to foods that aren’t too messy to eat while standing up and mingling.

If you have a set theme, you can tie the baby shower food ideas into the theme by using colored frosting, or themed cups, straws, napkins, and cupcake liners. Cookie cutters are also your friend! Cut everything from brownies to sandwiches into shapes that match the theme.

Have fun with it! Your options are endless, and you might find you really get into it once you get started. And remember, no matter what food and drinks you serve, your guests—especially the guest of honor—will really appreciate your efforts and thoughtfulness.

While you’re here, check out our baby shower checklist to double-check that you’ve covered everything for the upcoming event.