Kids love a good party, and what's not to love? There's music, games, friends — and of course, FOOD! Planning a party menu that will please everyone can be tricky, but with some of these Party Finger Foods for kids' foods, it's easy!
Kids love kid-sized portions of food. Kids have different taste buds than adults, so it's important to offer a range of options. Include both sweet and savory items, as well as crunchy and soft foods.
Finger foods are perfect for parties because they're easy to eat and don't require any utensils. Plus, they're less messy than larger dishes! When planning your menu, be sure to include a variety of colors, shapes, and textures. This will make the table more visually appealing and give guests plenty of options to choose from.
When it comes to finger foods for kids, simple is best. Stick to recipes that can be easily prepared ahead of time and don't require a lot of last-minute work. This will help you enjoy the party along with your guests!
1. Serve food that is easy to eat with your hands
2. Provide a variety of flavors and textures
3. Stick to simple recipes that don't require a lot of preparation
4. Make sure all the food is safe for kids to eat
5. Decorate the table with festive colors and patterns
6. Set up a buffet so kids can help themselves
IMPORTANT NOTE! Using regular paper mini cupcake liners for baking ensures that the muffin or cupcake will not stick to the pan.
Use foil cupcake liners when preparing recipes with egg/meat mixtures- those with some fat. The foil will help contain the mixture as it bakes and is less likely to seep through onto the cupcake wrappers.
It seems everything in Taste of Home is great. These are said to be very easy to freeze, so this muffin-tin recipe would be great to prepare early before your party.
These crispy on the top and chewy in the center mini Baked Mac and Cheese Bites are sure to be a hit for any child's special day!
I tried these and they are truly quick and easy. Variations for these finger foods for kids are easy. You could try adding bits of baked, chopped bacon, and ground beef and add to the types of cheese to use.
Looking for gluten-free party food? These so cute mini corndog muffins are super for partygoers that need gluten-free and also for those who do not require a gluten-free option.
So delicious! I made this by substituting prosciutto with bacon. I fried” the bacon in the oven on an indoor grill tray (less grease left on the bacon) until it was done, but not brittle. It will mold to the muffin tin easily.
Some great finger foods for kids — Sweet Sensations:
Another 4-ingredient sweet delight! Buckeyes are a family favorite, and my mom also included them in the cookie plates she gave to friends and neighbors.
These just look fun! Great for a crowd, this fun take on traditional food is a keeper! Top your mini-pancakes with your favorite toppings and dip in your favorite syrup. How about some whipped cream?
These colorful sprinkle muffins are perfect for birthdays, breakfasts, or how about a birthday breakfast. These Sprinkle Birthday Cake Muffins are a winner in the finger foods for kids category!
Cinnamon, Spice, and Everything Nice. Delicious and healthy! Oatmeal, cinnamon, honey, and no butter or sugar! They have been described as scrumptious!
“They’re easy to make, they call for simple ingredients, and they turn out perfectly every single time: crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside,”
Although all these recipes look incredibly good, Turtles are a soft spot for me. I can't wait to try these—Will let you know soon about how they turned out!
Thoughts on Safety
Safety is always a top priority when serving food to kids. Please be sure you check that all the ingredients in your recipes are safe for them to consume. If you're not sure, err on the side of caution and omit any potentially dangerous ingredients.
To help control messes, try serving some of the food in cupcake liners and mini cupcake liners. If you want to add that splash of color to the Food Table, use themed cupcake wrappers.
Have plenty of napkins on hand to help with little spills.
No matter what the occasion, certain types of food make kids happy. If you want to see real excitement at your next event, include some delicious finger foods that are sure to please even the pickiest eaters.
And when the food is made with love (and sometimes a little bit of sugar), it's irresistible. So if you're looking for a show-stopping finger food that will have everyone talking, try my free Cupcake Wrappers for a fun pop of color in your muffin and mini-muffin tin creations.
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.
Kid's parties should be fun! So why not serve fun and healthy food to make the party even better? Here is a collection of kid-friendly, gluten-free party-fruit recipes. Be sure to include some gluten-free party food for kids. All the recipes include fruit and are colorful, known kids' pleasers.
1. Cool Parties 4 Kids-. Mini Fruity Rice Cakes:
These are healthy and gluten-free party food for kids. They are perfect for little fingers to grab. You can use any type of rice cake for this recipe. These fun and easy treats are gluten-free.
Gluten-Free Mini Rice Cakes
Cream Cheese
Nut-Butter
Honey
Fruit
Strawberries
Blueberries
Raspberries
Bananas
Kiwi
If using raw honey, DO NOT FEED TO CHILDREN UNDER 1 YEAR ID AGE!
Directions:
Let the cream cheese soften.
put 4oz of cream cheese in a bowl.
Add 1/2 cup of nut butter to a bowl
Add 1-2 tbsp of honey (or to taste) to each bowl of cream cheese and nut butter. Stir in completely.
Prepare the fruit: wash all berries and remove stems from blueberries and strawberries.
Peel and slice the banana
If desired, use a fruit/vegetable cutter to cut shapes into the strawberry and banana slices.
Spread the mini rice cakes with either the cream cheese mixture or the nut butter mixture.
Place the fruit on the mini rice cakes in a decorative manner.
Serve soon after preparation as the rice cakes can absorb the moisture from the cream cheese and nut butter.
This is the tool I used to cut the fruit–great for also cutting fun shapes from vegetables.
These rice cakes are a great size for these and other snack-size treats.
3. The Apple Donuts from ForkandBeans.com offer so much variety.
Even picky eaters will find a favorite!
4. These colorful fruit kabobs from Dinner at the Zoo, Party Food for kids
Fruit Kabobs: Kids love fruit kabobs! This is a healthy and gluten-free option that they will love. You can use any type of fruit that you like for this recipe.
just simply add color and fun to any celebration. Use regular or Greek Yogurt with rainbow sprinkles to add some for fun and color. The kiwis are cut with small metal cookie cutters for even more interest. That adds a lot.
5. I can't wait to try this Strawberry Banana Cheesecake.
6. Banana Splits created from bananas, berries, granola, and more… From Clean FoodCrush.com
7. This would be a wonderful substitute for a traditional birthday cake. Get the recipe at hoosierhomemade.com
(hint to my kids-this would make me happy for my next birthday, just a hint.) Substitute a gluten-free cake and enjoy!
8. From Must Have Mom comes a fun fruit caterpillar.
Use it with a Picnic Theme or The very Hungry Caterpillar Party for lots of fun.
9. These fun fruit treats are made with nut-free butter so they are allergy-friendly. I also like the combination of textures–puffed rice teeth, nut-free butter, and fruit. This fun recipe for Apple Monsters is featured at Two Healthy Kitchens.
The recipes included are healthy, gluten-free, and perfect for kid's parties.
Healthy and gluten-free party food for kids is a great way to make sure that everyone can enjoy the festivities. These recipes are perfect for little fingers to grab and are healthy, gluten-free, and delicious! Be sure to include some of these recipes at your next kid's party!
You can bake and decorate this easy Dragon Cake for your child's party. Even if you are new to cake decorating, you won't look like a beginner with this fun Dragon Cake DIY.
Birthday parties have become a work of art but it is still possible to have a beautiful, stunning party without losing your mind or money. This cake is great for when there is a lack of time to create every single piece of the cake-which I enjoy doing. There are those times and this was one of them. People loved it!
Years ago, my third son had a Medieval Party Theme. I worked so hard on painting a special castle entrance for the house, designed and sewed simple “armor” and so much more. I just wish I had added this cake to the plan. It was a great party and the little guys ran around for days playing knight with the favors from the party (all DIY and cost-effective.) more to come on those items later…..
Here's how to create the cake I wish I had for #3's party!
Since I was the only one at this party with a dietary restriction and because we were in a hurry, we went the super simple route. Normally, I don't use a cake mix, but there are “those times…..” And this was one of them. And people loved it, and the kids liked the bright and colorful dragon. A win/win!
Supplies and materials:
Cake mix of your choice (plus eggs, oil, and water as needed in the mix) – (there is a Gluten-free Funetti Cake Mix available also) The Buttermilk Cake recipe would also work well.
Icing (again, we purchased the icing and in a vibrant, bright purple)
Decorating sprinkle of your choice (included with the icing for this one)
Purchased Curling Ribbon bows (for flames and hair-do)
Icing eyes (purchased in the cake decorating section of the store)
Bundt Cake Pan
Directions:
Prepare bundt pan according to package directions. You want to make sure this cake does not stick to the pan when unmolding.
Mix cake according to package instructions.
Bake cake – again according to box directions.
When done, remove cake from the oven.
Allow cake to cool on a cooling rack for about 10-20 minutes or according to the package instructions.
When cool, turn upside down on a cooling rack. (Do this by placing a large plate or cooling rack on top of the bundt pan, and then invert the pan in one fluid motion while holding the plate tight to the pan.)
Allow the cake to cool completely.
Once cool, cut the cake as shown below.
Decorating the Cake
STEP 1: Once the cake has cooled, cut it into 2 pieces, as shown. One piece is slightly larger than the other.
STEP 2: Cut a third piece, a small wedge approximately 3 inches. In this photo, we have removed the front small piece. It will be used soon.
STEP 3. As shown, cut another piece near the back of the cake as shown. It is approximately the size of piece
How to make the wings:
Using the template provided in the Resource Library, trace the wing onto parchment paper. Turn the template over and trace again. Melt the purple melts. VIDEO COMING SOOn.
FINAL TOUCHES.
You can choose to create the dragon with ribbon flames and hair, which is wonderfully bright and colorful.
or you can also use candy melts (using a template in the RESOURCE LIBRARY) to create a candy spine and the very fun wings.
I used “CHOCO MAKER” to melt the candy melts. It is so easy to use and has a very easy clean-up. The other tool I used, (which I will always use from now on) is the Pastry Icing Pen–love this tool. It makes creating smooth lines so easy. (Link coming soon)
Hope you enjoyed seeing how this cake is created. A picture says 1000 words, especially in this case. If you have questions please email me at hello@coolparties4kids.com and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
It's winter in our part of the world, and it is starting to get cold. Imagine a day out enjoying the autumn weather with the family. With a little preparation, you can come home to a warm dinner, a fun Potato Bar for a fun family treat.
It's so simple and fun. Provide the taters and toppings and add some conversation.
It's going to be a great night!.
Here's how to put it together.
Buy Russet Potatoes for great baked potatoes. Russet Potatoes are the best for baked potatoes because they have a high ratio of starch (the solids) to moisture. This produces a lighter, airy, and fluffy texture. The Alton Brown method is below. I am not a fan of canola oil, so use your favorite appropriate oil.
Depending on appetites, purchase one potato per person. These are filling…Wash the potatoes.There are two options for preparing your baked potatoes.
Use the Alton Brown method (in the video). or
.Cover; cook on low heat setting 7 to 8 hours. If you are using smaller potatoes, aim for 7 hours. For super large potatoes bake for 8 hours.) (below)
Set out your toppings. You could prepare these the night before or early in the morning of your busy day. Refrigerate until you use them.
Potato Bar Time!
After potatoes are done,
have fun topping your baked potatoes
with a variety of toppings.
Toppings can include:
chopped bacon
sour cream
shredded cheddar cheese
goat cheese
feta cheese
colby-jack cheese
crumbled blue cheese
onions-carmelized
onions chopped
green onions
chopped tomatoes
sliced black olives
sliced green olives
Chopped chives
steamed or fresh broccoli
wilted spinach
toasted pecans
chili
shredded pork (w/bbq sauce)
Ranch Dressing
BUTTER! always great on baked potatoes!
These are just some suggestions. Create a Potato Bar to suit your family's tastes and needs.
As you enjoy your Potato Bar feast, take time to connect with those you care about and enjoy the all the seasons. Plus, A Potato Bar can be appreciated any season of the year.
Potato Bar Printables
Included in our Resource Library are printables designed to enhance your Potato Bar family Night. included is a Bake Potato Bar Sign and printable table tents with labels and blank table tents for you to add your own creative toppings. Just make sure you sign up for the Resource library and these and many more printables are yours.
For more family fun suggestions, take a look at some of our ideas here.By entering your information into this form you are agreeing to our site privacy policy and terms and conditions. You will be added to our email marketing service and receive our newsletter. This information is used to deliver your requested content and ongoing education/information from Positively Party Printables.
Autumn is here…Time for Apple Cider Recipes! There is a briskness to the morning air… Leaves have started turning beautiful hues of gold, red, yellow and brown. Some leaves have started falling…
The season is changing….It's Autumn-
my favorite time of year.
As we start getting ready to close our homes up in preparing for cold weather, it's definitely time to bring sweet, heart-warming scents into our homes.
The scent of Apple Cider in the air is a heart-warming and comforting scent of autumn.
For me, drinking warm, soothing Apple Cider also brings a sense of tradition and sweet memories.
By entering your information into this form you are agreeing to our site privacy policy and terms and conditions. You will be added to our email marketing service and receive our newsletter. This information is used to deliver your requested content and ongoing education/information from Positively Party Printables.