Baby Shower Food

Hostesses of any type of gathering typically report that planning the menu is the most difficult challenge in putting together a party. When it comes to this reported difficulty, baby showers seem to present just as big a challenge as other events. However, you can create an elegant menu for a baby shower that won’t require you to slave for hours in the kitchen.

First, consider the time of the shower. If you’re hosting a brunch, of course, you’ll need a heavier menu than is required for a shower at 2:00pm. If your shower is later in the afternoon, keep in mind that people may be starting to get hungry for dinner, so you may need some hors d’oeuvres that are a bit heavier than for earlier in the afternoon. Secondly, if your shower has a theme, try to find one or two menu items of baby shower food that fit with the theme. For example, if you have a nautical themed baby shower, serve mini crab cakes or shrimp cocktail. Here are some sample menu ideas and baby shower food ideas.

For Brunch –Consider serving quiche with a green salad along with a fruit and cheese tray. You can make quiche the night before so that you have only to bake it just before guests arrive. Make at least two varieties of quiche, preferably one without meat for your vegetarian guests. After presents are opened, serve cake (from the bakery) and coffee.

For Early Afternoon – This is the time for serving a very light menu, as people have likely just eaten lunch. You could opt for a dessert only menu, offering two or three varieties of desserts along with coffee and soft drinks. If you choose to make the desserts yourself, choose those that can be made a day or two in advance so that you aren’t baking the morning of the shower. Alternatively, you could offer light hors d’oeuvres and cake. A tray of crudités with some cheese and fruit is simple to prepare and pleasing to most palates. A couple of hot homemade dips are also good. Consider spinach dip, artichoke dip or a baked onion dip with crackers. End with baby shower cake or petit fours decorated with booties on top.

For Late Afternoon – Simple but heavier fare is appropriate. Chicken salad in small pastry puffs are elegant and easy to eat baby shower finger food. Peeled boiled shrimp is also appropriate as are other filling appetizers like bruschetta, mini quiche or finger sandwiches. Appetizers such as these will tide your guests over until dinner. Keep the sizes each piece small so that guests don’t feel too full.