Share:

Children's Party Food Ideas

Welcome to our Children's Party Food Ideas page! Planning a fun and memorable party for your little ones just got easier. Here, you'll find a variety of delicious, fun, and kid-friendly food ideas that are sure to delight your guests and keep them happy throughout the event. Whether you're looking for creative snacks, colourful treats, or nutritious options, we’ve got you covered. From themed snacks to DIY food stations, let us help you make your child's party a tasty success! Explore our simple, yet exciting recipes and tips for stress-free party planning. Let’s make your next celebration unforgettable!

Do not forget to check for any dietary preferences/intolerances and allergies from your guests beforehand

 

• Mini Sandwiches: choose popular fillings such as ham and cheese, peanut butter.  You could also use novelty cookie cutters to cut the sandwiches into shapes like stars, animals or hearts
• Fruit skewers: Thread bite sized fruits such as grapes, strawbberies, melon, pineapple ad blueberries onto skewers for easy handling
• Veggie cups: Serve fresh vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and bell peppers with optional dips such as hummus or salsa
• Pizzas: Use pre-prepared frozen or chilled pizza in either large or mini sizes.  With the larger ones you can cut them into slices and create a pizza buffet table from all of the different flavours
• Cheese and crackers: include a selection of mild cheese such as cheddar and mozzarella and fun shaped crackers
• Cupcakes/traybakes: Cupcake trays and tray bakes are readily available from supermarkets or if you would prefer to make your own themed ones - there are lots of ideas avialable on line
• Popcorn: Serve popcorn in tubs - you can make them sweet or savourty
• Jelly - use small pots to make your own jelly and you can even layer colourful jelly for a rainbow effect
• Party Food Buffet - If you have cooking facilities at your venue -  all supermarkets and especially stores such as Iceland, Farmfoods and The Food Warehouse sell frozen party food packs containing items such as Indian and Chinese selections, mini hot dogs and burgers (sliders) 

 

The BBC Good Food website has some excellent ideas for kids' party recipes including storecupboard party recipes as well as 'mocktails' specifically designed for kids.  Also, if you are looking to host an afternoon tea style party - they also have some ideas for that

 

Birthday cakes

If your venue doesn not

Birthday cake

- buy one and customise

- photo cake

-buy one

- Good Food - https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/birthday-cake-recipes  https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/super-easy-birthday-cake

- Lakeland

 

Simple Birthday Cake Recipe

Serves: 12-16
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25-30 minutes

Ingredients

For the sponge:

• 225g unsalted butter, softened
• 225g caster sugar
• 4 medium eggs
• 225g self-raising flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the buttercream:

• 150g unsalted butter, softened
• 300g icing sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2-3 tbsp milk

For decoration:

• Sprinkles, sweets, or themed toppers of your choice

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven:
   Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) or Gas Mark 4. Grease and line two 20cm (8-inch) round cake tins.

2. Make the sponge batter:

   • In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and caster sugar together until pale and fluffy.
   • Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
   • Sift the self-raising flour and baking powder into the mixture, then gently fold it in until fully combined.

3. Bake the cakes:

   • Divide the mixture evenly between the two prepared tins and smooth the tops.
   • Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
   • Let the cakes cool in their tins for 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

4. Prepare the buttercream:

   • In a bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the icing sugar, beating well after each addition.
   • Stir in the vanilla extract and enough milk to reach a smooth, spreadable consistency.

5. Assemble the cake:

   • Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a layer of buttercream on top.
   • Add the second cake layer on top and spread the remaining buttercream over the top and sides of the cake.

6. Decorate:

   • Add sprinkles, sweets, or themed decorations to make the cake fun and festive for the birthday celebration.

 

Here are some books which might be useful options if you want to do something more elaborate

• Kids' Birthday Cakes by Karen Sullivan
• Step-by-Step Cake Decorating by Karen Sullivan
• Great British Bake Off: Children's Party Cakes and Bakes by Annie Rigg
• Tigga Mac's Cake Hacks by Tigga Mac

 

Other easy recipes that might be useful:

1. Mini Sausage Rolls

Ingredients:

• 1 pack of ready-rolled puff pastry (approx. 320g)
• 400g good-quality sausages or sausage meat
• 1 egg, beaten

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan) or Gas Mark 6. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
2. Remove the sausage meat from the casings, if necessary.
3. Roll out the pastry and cut it in half lengthways. Place a line of sausage meat down the middle of each strip.
4. Fold the pastry over the sausage meat and seal by pressing with a fork.
5. Cut into bite-sized pieces, brush with beaten egg, and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden.

 

2. Fruit Kebabs

Ingredients:

• Strawberries, halved
• Seedless grapes
• Pineapple chunks
• Melon balls
• Mini marshmallows
• Wooden skewers

Instructions:

1. Thread the fruit and marshmallows alternately onto the skewers.
2. Arrange on a platter and serve.

 

3. Cheese and Pineapple Sticks

Ingredients:

• 1 block of cheddar cheese, cubed
• Pineapple chunks (tinned or fresh)
• Cocktail sticks

Instructions:

1. Thread a piece of pineapple and a cube of cheese onto each cocktail stick.
2. Serve as a retro party snack!

 

4. Chocolate Rice Krispie Cakes

Ingredients:

• 100g milk chocolate
• 50g unsalted butter
• 3 tbsp golden syrup
• 100g Rice Krispies
• Sprinkles or mini marshmallows (optional)

Instructions:

1. Melt the chocolate, butter, and syrup together in a saucepan over low heat.
2. Remove from heat and stir in the Rice Krispies until coated.
3. Spoon the mixture into paper cases and decorate with sprinkles.
4. Chill in the fridge for 1 hour before serving.

 

5. Sandwich Pinwheels

Ingredients:

• 6 slices of bread (white or wholemeal)
• Cream cheese or butter
• Ham, grated cheese, or jam

Instructions:

1. Flatten each slice of bread with a rolling pin.
2. Spread cream cheese or butter evenly over the bread.
3. Add your chosen filling, then roll the bread up tightly.
4. Slice into pinwheels and arrange on a platter.

 

6. Mini Pizzas

Ingredients:

• 4 English muffins, halved
• 100g tomato passata
• 100g grated mozzarella
• Toppings: sliced peppers, sweetcorn, or mini pepperoni

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan) or Gas Mark 6.
2. Place the muffin halves on a baking tray and spread each with passata.
3. Sprinkle with cheese and add toppings.
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling.

 

7. Jelly and Ice Cream Cups

Ingredients:

• 1 pack of jelly cubes (any flavour)
• Vanilla ice cream

Instructions:

1. Make the jelly according to the packet instructions and pour into clear cups.
2. Allow to set in the fridge.
3. Before serving, top each cup with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.