Baby Shower Food
Traditional
Finger foods are often the fare of choice for baby showers, particularly when
the shower takes place at the host’s home. Sandwiches, chips and dip, fruit
salad and cut vegetables are staples. Finger foods are easy to prepare in
advance and make for better mingling than a sit-down meal. They also tie back to
the origins of baby showers where Victorian women hosted tea parties for
expecting women. For drinks, punch is a favorite, as well as tea and other
non-alcoholic drinks (out of respect for the abstaining guest of honor).
The highlight of baby shower food is frequently dessert. Baking and
decorating a cake to look like a diaper, pregnant belly or baby’s bottom is
classic.
Modern
Most likely because of its mingling power, finger foods remain popular for
baby showers. The type of food served has varied—bruschetta or dumplings make a
much trendier option than chips and dip, for instance. Here are some more
ideas:
- Wraps instead of sandwiches
- Veggie sushi over veggie plates
- Edible Arrangements (fresh fruit resembling floral arrangements) replacing
the fruit salad
Keeping with the finger food-theme, cupcakes have become all the rage for
dessert. Perhaps it was when Sarah Jessica Parker bit into one on the successful
TV show Sex and the City?
Regardless, decadently-decorated, gourmet cupcakes are a huge hit right now
at showers. Here’s a recipe from the Baby Bunch’s home kitchen:
Zingy Strawberry Cupcakes
Ingredients
¼ lb. (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup
granulated sugar
1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, sliced
2 large eggs
1 ½
cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
extract
1 tsp lemon zest
½ tsp salt
Steps
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Insert cupcake cases
into a cupcake pan.
2. In a large bowl mix together the butter and sugar
until creamy (an electric mixer makes this process easier on the arms). Then add
the eggs one at a time. Beat the mixture well after each addition.
3. In a
separate bowl combine the flower, baking powder and salt.
4. Add the dry
ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with the milk. Mix together for
2-3 minutes. Then gently fold in the vanilla, strawberries and lemon zest to the
mixture.
5. Fill the cupcake liners approximately ½ to ¾ full. Bake for 20-25
minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out
clean. Leave to cool slightly before serving.
Makes 9-12 cupcakes
If the shower is a themed-party, then serving food to match is a clever idea.
For instance, one theme growing in popularity is a “pickles and ice cream” baby
shower, a take-off on the fabled cravings of expecting mothers. Several
companies are selling pickles and ice cream-themed invitations, napkins, plates
and other decorations. To tie the theme in with the food, you could prepare a
spread of deli sandwich mixings – breads, meats, cheese and (naturally) pickles!
For dessert, you could set up an ice cream bar with toppings and different
flavored ice cream.
Modern Baby Shower Food
Gourmet Finger Foods
Cupcakes
Ice Cream Bar |