Hosting a party for your toddler can be great fun — but feeding a room full of small, fussy guests can feel a bit daunting. Help is at hand with our 10 fun party food ideas for toddlers to munch on, guaranteed to give you clean plates every time. Our top tip: keep it simple, and let the cake be the star of the show.
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#1. Sandwiches
Create fun, healthy sandwiches that are sure to be gobbled up, using bread with the crusts removed or flour tortillas. Roll them into pinwheels or cut them into fun shapes.
- Flatten each slice with a rolling pin to make it thin
- Add your toddler’s favourite filling — butter or spread with ham and mild grated cheddar always goes down well
- Place another rolled slice or tortilla on top
- Use a biscuit cutter to create fun shapes
Or:
Gently roll the sandwich lengthways to create a pinwheel-shaped cylinder- Wrap in cling film and pop in the fridge for an hour
- Just before your guests arrive, cut into pinwheel shapes
- To serve, arrange the pinwheels as the body of a caterpillar, with a tomato for the head, raisins for eyes and a little cress for feet
You might also enjoy: 15 Guilt Free Healthy Food Ideas for Kids
#2. Mini Pizzas
Create mini pizzas using our quick scone dough recipe, or spread tomato paste on half a muffin and top with mild cheddar or mozzarella for an individual pizza per guest.
For slightly older children, set out an assortment of toppings and let each child build their own.
You might also enjoy: 12 Brilliant Birthday Party Cake Ideas
#3. Fruit Sticks
Most toddlers love chopped fruit, but it becomes far more interesting on lolly sticks — safer than cocktail sticks for little hands.
Fruit that works particularly well includes strawberries, grape halves, and slices of melon, kiwi, pineapple and banana. Finish each stick off with a tangerine smile.
You might also enjoy: 11 Easy Kids Party Food Ideas
#4. Smoothie Jellies with Ice Cream
For an alternative to shop-bought jelly, make your own using your child’s favourite juice or smoothie recipe. Simply add gelatine to the heated juice or smoothie, then pour into small bowls or glasses to set. Serve with ice cream.
For a recipe for 12 small or 24 mini jellies, like the ones pictured, try this one on BBC Good Food.
#5. Rice Krispie Buns or Rocky Road Bars
These are packed with sugar, but it’s a party, and a little treat now and then never hurts. For a tasty Rice Krispie recipe, melt your favourite chocolate bar with a little butter, pour over rice krispies to coat, stir in mini marshmallows, and spoon into mini muffin cases. Chill in the fridge to set.
For a chocolate-free version, try our Rice Krispie Chewies. For something a bit more deluxe, our Rocky Road Cake Recipe and No Bake Refrigerator Cake Recipe are both worth a try.
#6. Dough Balls
You can buy ready-made dough balls or prepare your own using our yeast pizza base recipe. Bake them in the oven and serve warm, but not too hot, with a little dish of garlic butter for dipping.
Make them more fun by shaping the dough into different forms before baking.
#7. Bread Sticks
Make your own bread sticks or buy ready-made ones from the shop.
Let the children dip them in chocolate sauce and sprinkles for a sweet treat, or in hummus or homemade tomato sauce for something more savoury.
You might also enjoy: 1st Birthday Party Ideas for a Stress-Free Day
#8. Cake Pops
When younger kids are served cupcakes or muffins, they often just eat the icing and leave the rest behind. Cake pops make a great alternative for a toddler party — they’re easy to hold and just the right amount of sugar for little ones. Use your favourite cake mix and a cake pop mould for perfect results every time. Cake pop moulds are widely available in kitchen and homeware shops, as well as online.
#9. Marshmallow Treats
Create fun marshmallow top hats by spooning a little melted chocolate into a bun or muffin case, popping in a marshmallow, adding a bit more chocolate on top, and finishing with a Smartie. Simple to make, and the kids love them.
Or make marshmallow pops by dipping marshmallows into melted white chocolate and then into sprinkles.
You might also enjoy: 5 Easy Party Food Ideas for Kids with Allergies
#10. Biscuits
Savoury or sweet, all kids love a biscuit — and most of us parents are rather partial to one too.
We have plenty of biscuit and cookie recipes in 50 Best Bake Sale Ideas, from Emoji Cookies to Gummy Bear Thumbprint Cookies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead can I make toddler party food?
Many of these ideas can be prepped the day before — sandwich pinwheels, dough balls and jellies all chill happily in the fridge overnight. Anything with fresh fruit is best cut closer to party time so it stays fresh.
What if some children have food allergies?
Always check with parents in advance about allergies or intolerances, and keep ingredient lists handy on the day. Our allergy-friendly party food ideas are a good place to start for safe swaps.
How much food should I make for a toddler party?
Toddlers tend to eat small amounts and graze rather than sit through a full meal, so little portions of a wide variety usually work better than large quantities of just a few things.
Do I need to serve savoury and sweet food?
It helps. A mix of simple savoury bites (sandwiches, dough balls, breadsticks) alongside a couple of sweet treats keeps everyone happy, including any grown-ups who sneak a bite.
More Party Food Ideas You Might Like
- 15 Guilt Free Healthy Food Ideas for Kids
- 12 Brilliant Birthday Party Cake Ideas
- 11 Easy Kids Party Food Ideas
- 1st Birthday Party Ideas for a Stress-Free Day
- 5 Easy Party Food Ideas for Kids with Allergies
Save These Ideas for Later
Planning a party can be a lot to juggle, so why not bookmark this page or pin your favourite ideas above so they’re ready when the next celebration comes around?
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Do you have other toddler party food ideas? Leave a comment below and let us know — we’d love to hear from you!
