What are some good baby shower food ideas on a budget?
The upcoming arrival of a new baby is a special occasion that deserves to be celebrated. And that typically means hosting a baby shower for the new mom!
Although you might be excited to do this for a family member or best friend, you may not have the funds to support an elaborate function.
But there are many ways to save money when putting together a baby shower and your menu is the perfect place to start.
Check out these baby shower food ideas on a budget to find delicious recipes you can recreate yourself or to inspire you to come up with your own budget-friendly food ideas.
Grab our free Baby Shower planning checklist to get started planning the perfect event!
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What is easy food to make for a baby shower?
When planning an inexpensive baby shower, there is no need to sacrifice taste or creativity. Many easy baby shower food ideas are also budget-friendly, saving you time and money.
From simple finger foods and snacks to delectable desserts, you can plan a full meal of some of the most popular baby shower foods. With these budget-friendly ideas, you can host a memorable shower without breaking the bank, ensuring your guests (and most importantly your guest of honor) will have a wonderful time!
Baby Shower Food Ideas: Appetizers
Vegetable Charcuterie Board
Source: Sunglow Kitchen
This vegetable charcuterie board is the perfect healthy appetizer to serve a crowd! It’s packed with colorful veggies and delicious dips and makes a beautiful vegetarian option. Check out more dip recipes below!
Everything Bagel Cucumber Bites
Source: Oh Clary
With only four ingredients, you can create this delicious and healthy cucumber appetizer for all your baby shower guests to enjoy! Cucumbers, cream cheese, Greek yogurt (or sour cream), and everything bagel seasoning is all you need for the perfect appetizer.
Italian Carrot Salad
Source: Cooking with Mamma C
You just need 25 minutes to make this delicious carrot salad featuring a red wine vinaigrette and basil. All you need is a few simple ingredients to make this crowd-pleasing dish!
Summer Fruit Salad
Source: Primavera Kitchen
This summer fruit salad is the perfect appetizer for guests at a summer baby shower. Made with blueberry, mango, kiwi, grapes, and fresh orange juice, you can accommodate a large guest list with this healthy treat.
Apple Snacks
Source: All Nutritious
For a delicious treat, without the calories, try these apple snacks. Covered with almond butter, granola, cinnamon, and dark chocolate, they make a great option for vegans, diabetics, kids, and anyone looking to cut calories!
Deviled Strawberries
Source: Recipes from a Pantry
These deviled strawberries are an easy baby shower food idea that requires just a handful of ingredients and only a few minutes to whip up! Delicious, filled strawberries are a great option for incorporating some fresh fruit into your baby shower menu.
Raspberry Goat Cheese Bites
Source: Quiche My Grits
Raspberry goat cheese bites are sweet and savory appetizers made with crescent rolls, goat cheese, raspberry jam, and fresh raspberries. They’re an affordable and easy finger food for a budget baby shower!
Cheese Ball
Source: Wholesome Yum
This easy cheese ball recipe with cream cheese, bacon, and green onions takes just 10 minutes to prep! Serve with crackers or veggies for the perfect appetizer, especially for summer baby showers.
Cajun Deviled Eggs
Source: Kenneth Temple
These Cajun deviled eggs are a great option for an appetizer at your baby shower. The Cajun spices transform the classic recipe into a truly deviled egg!
Pigs in a Blanket
Source: Healthy Mom Healthy Family
This easy pigs-in-a-blanket recipe comes together in just 20 minutes with only two ingredients. It’s a simple idea that guests young and old will enjoy!
Baby Shower Food Ideas: Brunch Ideas
Scones
Source: Christina’s Cucina
These scones require just a few ingredients and are a lovely addition to any baby shower. For an even more budget-friendly option, you can make smaller scones when you have a larger guest list.
Blackberry Cheese Danish
Source: Quiche My Grits
This blackberry cheese Danish is filled with cream cheese and then topped with fresh blackberries on a buttery puff pastry crust. For a large crowd, cut it into smaller squares and enjoy at your brunch!
French Toast Casserole
Source: Veggie World Recipes
This French toast casserole is vegan-friendly and a delicious addition to any baby shower brunch. The best part is it can be made the night before, so you have no additional prep work on the big day!
Starbucks Egg Bites
Source: Neutral Eating
These Starbucks egg bites feature fluffy eggs, savory flavors, and a hint of smokiness. They make a delicious and inexpensive dish for your brunch baby shower that can also be prepared ahead of time!
Baby Shower Food Ideas: Sandwiches
Cucumber Sandwiches
Source: Little Sunny Kitchen
Cucumber sandwiches are a traditional offering for an afternoon tea baby shower. These easy veggie sandwiches are so simple to make that they are the perfect baby shower food idea on a budget!
Egg Salad Sandwiches
Source: Budget Delicious
This twist on the classic egg salad sandwich is so flavorful and easy to make! It will be your new favorite baby shower food on a budget.
Pimento Cheese Sandwiches
Source: Mandi of the Mountains
Pimento cheese sandwiches are crowd-pleasing and budget-friendly! Try four different styles to fit your baby shower theme perfectly: classic, grilled, BLT, or tea sandwich.
Pinwheel Sandwiches
Source: Amanda’s Cookin’
These pinwheel sandwiches make the perfect finger foods for a budget-friendly baby shower! Super quick and easy to make, these pinwheels use deli meats, cheese, fresh veggies, cream cheese, and ranch and make a delicious option for your entire guest list!
Chicken and Waffle Sliders
Source: Easy Budget Recipes
These chicken and waffle sliders are served with coleslaw and a drizzle of maple syrup. They’re perfect for your baby shower brunch! You can also serve them plain with just maple syrup.
Rotisserie Chicken Salad on Croissants
Source: Simply Made Eats
This rotisserie chicken salad sandwich is perfect for your budget baby shower! It is a classic recipe, that uses prepared rotisserie chicken from your grocery store, and it only takes 10 minutes. Use mini croissants to serve a larger number of guests.
Baby Shower Food Ideas: Main Course
Sausage Balls
Source: Wholesome Yum
Make these sausage balls using just six simple ingredients in only 25 minutes! This easy recipe is a great choice for an irresistible low-carb appetizer.
Tuna Pasta Salad
Source: Life with Joanne
This easy tuna pasta salad recipe is an excellent choice for a main dish when throwing an inexpensive baby shower. With just six ingredients, you can make a large bowl of pasta salad for everyone!
Baby Shower Food Ideas: Dips
Veggie Dip
Source: Little Sunny Kitchen
There is no better baby shower appetizer than a platter full of veggies paired with this creamy and delicious veggie dip recipe! Add simple dips to your baby shower menu to add more flavor to your offerings.
Hummus (without garlic)
Source: Sunglow Kitchen
This hummus is bright, zesty, and easy to make! It comes together in just five minutes and is naturally vegan and gluten-free. The best part is your guests won’t have to worry about the garlic smell on their breath after enjoying this tasty dip.
Caramel Apple Dip
Source: Go Gluten Freely
Pair this easy and affordable cream cheese caramel dip with apple slices and cookies for some cheap baby shower food ideas. Create a charcuterie board of all the dippers with a bowl of dip as the centerpiece!
Baby Shower Food Ideas: Desserts
Cakes
Chocolate Cake
Source: Foodess
Save a lot of money by making your own baby shower cake. Try this moist chocolate cake recipe that is practically foolproof! Change out the icing to match your baby shower color scheme.
White Forest Cake
Source: Foodess
For a show-stopping treat, try this white forest cake. It makes the perfect baby shower cake when you’re following a budget, and your guests will love it!
Lemon Blueberry Trifle
Source: Amanda’s Cookin
This lemon blueberry trifle is impressive yet incredibly easy to make and won’t cost much money. The great thing about this dessert (other than being a beautiful centerpiece) is that you can serve smaller pieces to feed larger groups.
Cupcakes
Chocolate Cupcakes
Source: Sweet Mouth Joy
Add these simple chocolate cupcakes topped with delicious buttercream frosting to your baby shower treat table. Match the buttercream to your color scheme for a beautiful table creation!
Strawberries and Cream Cupcakes
Source: Ottawa Mommy Club
These strawberries and cream cupcakes are easy to make and so delicious! They make a refreshing treat for your budget-friendly baby shower.
Vanilla Cupcakes
Source: Baked Abundance
These vanilla cupcakes are easy to make and have a swirl of buttercream frosting. Add sprinkles for an extra special treat!
Cookies
Pink Chocolate Dipped Oreos
Source: Mama’s Buzz
Using only three simple ingredients, you can make these stunning chocolate-dipped Oreo treats. The adorable little treats will not only satisfy your craving but also have you swooning over their delightful charm.
Slice and Bake Cookies
Source: Earth to Veg
These shortbread cookies are inspired by the beloved Pillsbury slice-and-bake cookies. You can even customize the colors to match your baby shower theme!
Sprinkle Sugar Cookies
Source: Baked Abundance
These sprinkled sugar cookies are soft, chewy, and delicious! Colorful sprinkles are mixed in the dough and each cookie is topped with extra sprinkles for decoration. Match the sprinkles to your baby shower color scheme for more fun.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Source: Primavera Kitchen
Soft, chewy, and easy to make, these chocolate chip cookie bars are a delicious addition to your dessert table! After baking your dough on a cookie sheet, cut the squares to your desired size to feed your specific number of guests.
Sweet Treats
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Source: Baked Abundance
These pink chocolate-covered strawberries are made with 4 simple ingredients: fresh strawberries, white chocolate chips, coconut oil, and natural red food coloring. They are the perfect dessert to serve during your special occasion!
White Chocolate Raspberry Truffles
Source: Fluxing Well
With only 6 ingredients, you can make these decadent baby shower treats. This recipe is a great idea for a baby shower with a small budget, as it makes 3 dozen raspberry truffles! And not many people are going to indulge in more than one.
Chocolate Dipped Rice Crispy Treat Pops
Source: Simply Designing
These beautiful chocolate rice crispy treats pops are a great idea for a low-cost, easy-to-make sweet treat at your baby shower. Wrap them in cellophane for the perfect baby shower favors for your guests to enjoy at home.
Charcuterie Board
Source: Food Plus Words
This DIY baby shower charcuterie board offers a scrumptious and affordable way to please every palate. Change the treats to match your color scheme or use fruits for a healthier option. Use the charcuterie board to accent the dessert table or make smaller boards and use them as centerpieces at the guest tables.
Lemon Truffles
Source: On My Kid’s Plate
Sweet, creamy lemon truffles made with cream cheese and Golden Oreos make the most delicious no-bake lemon dessert. They make a great addition to your dessert table or give them as party favors!
Bite-Sized Lemon Tarts
Source: Garlic and Zest
These bite-sized lemon tarts are perfect for your baby shower dessert buffet because they’re so colorful, festive, and delicious. With only six ingredients, they’re easy to make and easy on your wallet!
Glazed Lemon Blossoms
Source: Home at Cedar Springs Farm
Try this mini lemon dessert that is perfect for any baby shower. These sweet cake bites with a lemony glaze are like a mouth full of sunshine!
Mini Lemon Loaves
Source: Baked by Clo
These dainty lemon loaves are perfect for your baby shower. They’re free from dairy and eggs so everyone can enjoy them! They make an adorable addition to a tea party baby shower.
Oreo Truffles
Source: Best Served Vegan
These three-ingredient Oreo truffles are fudgy, decadent, and easy to make without breaking the bank. And your guests are going to love them!
Baby Shower Food Ideas: Drinks
Pineapple Green Tea Punch
Source: Garlic and Zest
Try this alcohol-free punch that is perfect for baby showers. The ice ring is filled with fruit that breaks free as it melts, a refreshing addition for summer baby showers!
How to do a baby shower on a budget?
Hosting a baby shower can be a joyous and fulfilling experience. Doing it on a budget, however, can add some stress, but here are some creative ways to save money while planning an amazing event:
- Hosts – consider splitting hosting duties with close friends to reduce costs
- Location – host at home or another free (or low-cost) baby shower venue
- Invitations – send digital invitations through text, social media, or email
- Guest List – keep the guest list small for an intimate event to keep food costs low
- Time of Day – consider an early morning shower to keep food costs low
- Food – plan to make your own food, host a potluck meal, go for a buffet rather than served, or have guests bring their own beverages
- Decor – consider minimal but reusable decorations, make them yourself, buy favors in bulk, shop at the Dollar Store for supplies and tableware
- Vendors – set up a playlist versus a DJ, use a friend as a photographer, bake your own cake
Conclusion
There you have it: the best baby shower food ideas on a budget that your guests will go crazy for! With plenty of ideas for appetizers, main course dishes, and desserts, you can plan an amazing baby shower menu without spending a small fortune.
Are you planning a baby shower? Let us know which baby shower food ideas on a budget are your favorite.
Don’t forget your free baby shower checklist before you go!
Related Articles for Baby Shower Food Ideas on a Budget:
- Ultimate Baby Shower Checklist
- Baby Shower Dresses That Won’t Break the Bank
- Best Places to Have an Inexpensive Baby Shower
45 Delicious Baby Shower Food Ideas on a Budget
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