Birthday Food Ideas & Recipes

Fun, fast birthday food ideas have to be tasty, but they don’t have to be complicated. Try these easy recipes for your next adults or kids birthday party.

Do you have a bug party theme or something to do with creepy crawlies? Try the Ants on a Log recipe, throw some Bugs in Sand or “enjoy” some Flower Pot Dirt Pudding with worms!

Want to keep things on the healthy side? Whip up some Low-fat Veggie Dip, Fruit Dip or Celery Wagons.

Not worried about your health kick . . . at least for this party? Try one of 5 simple and fun ice cream recipes. Some of these are downright fun to make, too.

The fun doesn’t have to stop when the games do. Carry your birthday party theme onto everyone’s plate.

Birthday Food Ideas with Ice Cream

You can’t just have a blob of ice cream scooped into a bowl or onto a plate (well, you can but . . .) when there are so many creative and yummy ways to serve this sweet frozen concoction. The birthday food ideas list is incomplete without some form of ice cream.

From my youth I still remember the time a creative mom served us kids ice cream clowns. I was as delighted at the presentation as the mingling of sweet flavors and textures.

So immortalized in my mind was this cheerful birthday treat I served it at a few of my son’s birthday parties. It was always a BIG hit. And now I pass this memory-making recipe on to you. Need cake to go with your ice cream? Visit the birthday cake ideas page.

Things You Need:

• Cookie Sheet
• Waxed Paper
• Recipe Items
• Imagination

Ice Cream Clowns

Ingredients:

• 1/2 gallon ice cream
• 16 chocolate chips
• 8 maraschino cherries
• 2 red licorice whips
• 8 ice-cream cones (waffle cones)
• 1/4 C coconut
• Red food dye
• 1 can whipped cream

Directions:

1. Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper.
2. Place 8 round scoops of ice cream on sheet and re-freeze (it softens).
3. Once hardened, let kids decorate their own clowns with 2 chocolate chips for eyes, a maraschino cherry for a nose, and a piece of red licorice for a mouth.
4. Place waffle cone on top of ice cream (now a head) for a hat.
5. Use red food coloring to color the coconut and put it on top for hair.*
6. How about a marshmallow or gumdrop on top of the hat for a pompom?
7. Get creative, the kids sure will!

*To make red coconut, place 1/4 C shredded coconut in a Ziploc bag. Add 3 or 4 drops of red food coloring. Shake until the coconut is evenly colored.

To Serve:

• Place “clowns” on individual plates.
• Squirt canned whipped-cream around bottom of clown for neckpiece or let kids spray (supervision is advised for the youngsters).

Things You Need:

• Shallow Pan or Plate
• Muffin Pan (12 cups)
• 12 Baking Cups
• 2 Forks

What you get:

• Makes 12 servings
• 240 calories per serving

Coconut Snowballs

This is a great birthday party food idea for a winter theme. Toss this snowball recipe (not literally) into the party food mix.

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups flaked coconut
• 1 Half-gallon ice cream, any flavor
• Food coloring (any color)*

Directions:

1. Spread flaked coconut in shallow pan or on a plate.
2. Line 12 medium muffin cups, 2 1/2 x 1 1/4 inches, with paper or foil baking cups.
3. Scoop 1 half-gallon any flavor ice ceam into 12 balls.
4. Roll each ice cream ball in coconut, using 2 forks for rolling.
5. Place ice cream ball in muffin cups.
6. Freeze until firm. NOTE: You can cover and freeze up to 2 weeks.

*Variation for tinted coconut snowballs:

• Shake coconut and 4 drops of whatever color food coloring you choose in a tightly covered container or ziploc bag until coconut is evenly tinted.
• If you have a birthday party theme, match the color to your theme.

Things You Need:

• 1 Pint size Ziploc Bag per participant
• 1 Gallon size Ziploc Bag per participant
• 2 Forks

What you get:

• A fun activity
• Sweet, smooth ice cream

Ice Cream in a Bag

A fun and exciting birthday activity is to have the participants make their own ice cream. I’ve included two ways in which to do this and both are loads of fun.

With this recipe, big and little kids make individual bags of ice-cream.

Ingredients (for each individual serving):

• 2 Tbls sugar
• 1 C half-and-half
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 C of salt (Kosher or rock salt works best)
• Ice cubes – Enough to fill each 1 gallon ziploc bag half-way

Directions:

1. Combine the sugar, half and half, and vanilla extract in pint size bag and seal tightly.
2. Place the salt and ice in the gallon-size bag, then place the sealed smaller bag inside.
3. Seal the larger bag and shake, smoosh, toss and catch for 5 minutes.
4. Voila! You’ve got sweet, smooth ice cream that can be eaten right out of the bag which can then simply be tossed.

Variation:

• To make this treat even more treatful, add fun mix-ins such as sprinkles, chocolate chips, gummy worms, maraschino cherries, nuts, etc.

Things You Need:

• 3 lb. Clean Coffee Can
• 1 lb. Clean Coffee Can
• Duct Tape (one more use for Duct Tape!)

What you get:

• 1 Pint of Ice Cream
• 8 Satisfying Scoops

Coffee Can Ice Cream

This recipe can be doubled to accommodate more birthday guests.

Ingredients:

• 1 Pint half-and-half
• 1/3 C sugar
• 4 Tbs of a favorite pudding flavor mix
• 10 Cups ice
• 1 1/2 C rock salt, kosher or sea salt (regular salt works too but not as well)

Directions:

1. In a medium size bowl (or to save cleanup – in the smaller can), combine and thoroughly mix: half and half, sugar, and pudding mix.
2. Tightly place lid on the small can and seal with duct tape.
3. Place smaller coffee can inside the larger coffee can and surround with ice and salt by layering 5 cups of ice with 3/4 C salt.
4. Tightly place lid on 3 lb. can, seal with duct tape, and let the rolling begin!
5. For a fun activity have kids sit or stand in a circle and kick or toss the cans between each other for 10 minutes.
6. After 10 minutes, take the small can out of the larger can.
7. With spatula, scrape down sides of can as the ice-cream will form more quickly on the sides.
8. At this point you can add fun things to the ice-cream such as chocolate chips, nuts, sprinkles, etc. Reseal and replace in larger can.
9. Add remaining salt and ice, then have your “ice cream makers” roll or kick cans amongst each other for another 10 minutes and . . . start scoopin’!

Simple Birthday Food Ideas – Snacks ‘n Such

A list of birthday party snacks would not be complete without bugs, worms, dirt and ants. These are especially fun for kids parties, but the adults love them too.

Plus, if you ever run out of lunch ideas, some of these recipes work great for kids and adults alike. Need after-school snacks? Keep reading!

Things You Need:

• Ziploc bag for each guest
• Imagination

What you get:

• Harmless Hemiptera
• Ingestible Insects
• Consumable Creeping, Crawling Creatures

Ants on a Log (see photo above)

If you have ever been camping, you have probably had ants get into your food. Here’s a delectable birthday food idea that lets you get even with the pesky ants.

Ingredients:

• Celery sticks
• Peanut butter
• Raisins

Directions:

1. Cut celery stalks into 1 or 2 inch pieces.
2. Spread enough peanut butter to cover celery.
3. Place 5 or 6 raisins on top of peanut butter.
4. Start munchin’

Bugs in Sand

Did you ever want an ant farm for your birthday? If you did, you probably never thought about eating the ants. This easy recipe makes eating bugs fun.

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbls graham cracker crumbs for each guest (sand)
• Mini chocolate chips (ants)
• Raisins (rolly-pollys)
• Red-hots (lady-bugs)
• Gummy worms (you guessed it!)

Directions:

1. Pour crushed graham cracker crumbs into Ziploc bags.
2. Give each guest a bag of crumbs and allow them to fill their “sand” with desired bugs.

Things You Need:

• Only a few minutes of your time.

What you get:

• Revenge on the Marabunta

Flower Pot Dirt Pudding

Everyone (almost everyone?) has heard of dirt pudding or worm pudding or flower pot pudding. You know, the one with chocolate pudding, crushed Oreos and gummy worms in a flower pot?

If you are familiar with this concoction but you need a refresher on how to make it, I can help. Even if you have never heard of this silly idea, it’s worth a look. It is very easy to make, yummy to eat and popular with kids and adults.

Head on over to the dirt pudding recipe on this page for all the details. You might be surprised at your popularity when this one hits the table.

More Scrumptious Birthday Food Ideas

It’s fun and convenient to be able to simply dip and munch on healthy vegetable sticks or fruit slices in between activities. Healthy snacks that actually taste good make for a much more enjoyable party, too.

If you have a snack station set-up to stave off hunger and maintain energy levels, particularly if your party falls between traditional meals, provide these nutritious snacks:

Things You Need:

• Blender or Food Processor

What you get:

• Makes 1 1/2 cups of Veggie Dip

Low-Fat Veggie Dip

Raw veggies are great, but your guest are more likely to eat them with dip. This simple recipe is tasty and doesn’t take long to make.

Ingredients:

• 2/3 C low-fat cottage cheese
• 8 oz reduced fat cream cheese, cubed
• 1 tsp cider vinegar
• 1/2 tsp Worchestershire sauce
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1/8 tsp each: dried basil, savory, and thyme
• 1 Tbls minced parsley
• Raw vegetables of choice, cut into strips

Directions:

1. Process cottage cheese in blender until smooth.
2. Add remaining ingredients and process until smooth.
3. Chill at least 1 hour before serving.

Things You Need:

• Blender or Food Processor

What you get:

• 2 cups of dippage

Fruit Dip

Raw fruit tends to be a little more popular than raw veggies, but a delicious dip may add to the popularity.

You can always buy a small tub of carmel at the grocery store, but this tasty treat is a nice alternative.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz reduced fat cream-cheese, softened
• 1 jar marshmallow cream
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• Variety of fresh fruit, sliced or whole

Directions:

1. Process all ingredients in blender until smooth.
2. Serve with sliced fruit or whole berries.

Fruit Dip Recipe Variation:

• Omit cinnamon.
• After transferring cream cheese mixture to serving bowl, pour about 1 cup caramel ice-cream topping over top.
• Serve with apple slices
• This is great for a fall snack.

Things You Need:

• Toothpicks
• Recipe items

What you get:

• 12 celery wagons

Celery Wagons

This is 1 of 2 fun and healthy build-your-own-snacks recipes. Number 2 is right below this one.

These are great birthday food ideas for a Cowboy or Western birthday party theme.

Ingredients:

• 4 celery stalks
• 4 carrots
• Peanut butter or cheese spread
• Raisins

Directions:

1. Cut each celery stalk into 3 pieces.
2. Cut each carrot into 12 “coins.”
3. Run 2 toothpicks through the bottom of each celery piece to serve as axles.
4. Push a carrot coin onto each toothpick end to serve as wheels.
5. Spread peanut butter or cheese on celery.
6. Place 3 or 4 raisin “passengers” on board.

Recipe Variation for Sailing Theme – Celery Boats:

• Omit carrot wheels.
• Instead, cut a slice of American cheese twice diagonally to form 4 triangles.
• Attach the cheese to a toothpick to form a sail.
• Poke the sail into the celery and sail away.

Things You Need:

• 6 mixing bowls or serving bowls
• Ziploc bags

What you get:

• 8 bags of trail mix

Trail Mix

This is recipe number 2 for the Cowboy or Western birthday party theme. Number 1 is just above.

Of course, trail mix is good ANY time.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz M&M candies
• 8 oz peanuts
• 4-6 pretzel sticks
• 8 oz raisins or other dried fruit
• 8-12 oz cereal (Crispix, Cheerios, child’s favorite)
• 8 oz small fish crackers

Directions:

1. Give each guest a Ziploc bag with their name on it.
2. Place all ingredients in separate bowls.
3. Allow guests to fill their Ziploc bag to create their own unique mix blend.

Things You Need:

• Large Mixing Bowl
• Reclosable sandwich bags, i.e., Ziplocs
• Recipe Cards or Printer Paper and Scissors
• Tape or Glue

What you get:

• 12 individual bags of Mermaid Munchies

Mermaid Munchies

This is a variation on the trail mix recipe for an Under the Sea or Mermaid birthday party theme.

Ingredients:

• 10 oz bag of pretzel sticks (fishing poles)
• 1 box goldfish crackers
• 1 lb M&M candies (bubbles)
• 1 jar salted peanuts (rocks)
• 10 oz of raisins (jelly fish)

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
2. Divide mix into 12 sandwich bags.
3. Print recipe and glue or tape to front of bag with fish or mermaid sticker to decorate.

Things You Need:

• 1 small mixing bowl at least 2 cups in size
• One medium mixing bowl
• 1 Jelly roll pan. Can be metal or glass
• Cooking Spray
• Theme shaped cookie cutters

What you get:

• Lots of jiggling fun!

Finger Jell-O

The great thing about Jell-O is it can be shaped to suit any party theme. It’s healthy, fun, and as wiggly as the kids who eat it. It is one of the ultimate birthday food ideas.

Ingredients:

• 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
• 1 6oz package flavored gelatin

Directions:

1. Dissolve 1 unflavored gelatin packet in 1 cup cold water.
2. Dissolve 1 flavored gelatin packet in 1 cup boiling water.
3. Combine by adding dissolved flavored gelatin to unflavored gelatin in the medium mixing bowl.
4. Add 1/2 cup cold water to medium mixing bowl with combined gelatin.
5. Chill in a pan sprayed with cooking spray until solid.
6. Use theme shaped cookie cutters to cut shapes. Kids can cut their own.

Recipe Hint:

I always serve whipped topping with Jello-O. Kids have fun “decorating” their Jell-O shapes with canned whipped topping. Just make sure they don’t start decorating each other!

Things You Need:

• Goldfish bowl
• Large mixing bowl

What you get:

• 8 Servings

Goldfish Jell-O Bowl

Ingredients:

• Rock Candy
• 1 pkg blueberry Jell-O
• 10 Gummy fish
• 6 green licorice whips

Directions:

1. Wash and dry a new goldfish bowl.
2. Distribute candy rocks along the bottom of the bowl.
3. In a large mixing bowl, make blueberry Jell-O according to the quickset method.
4. Add gummy fish and short pieces of green licorice whips.
5. Carefully pour Jell-O mixture into the goldfish bowl.
6. Refrigerate at least two hours.

Things You Need:

• Craft sticks
• Cookie sheet or cake pan lined with waxed paper

What you get:

• Cool, yummy snacks

Monkeys on a Stick

For a monkey, jungle, or zoo birthday party theme, try this fun birthday food idea. It is a tasty, fun snack.

Ingredients:

• 1 craft stick per guest
• 1 banana per guest
• 1 jar peanut butter
• Chocolate sprinkles or chopped nuts

Directions:

1. Push a popsicle stick into banana.
2. Coat banana with peanut butter.
3. Roll peanut butter coated banana in chocolate sprinkles or nuts (or both).
4. Freeze for at least 1 hour before serving.

Do you have any birthday food ideas?

If you have a great idea for our next birthday party, let us know in the comments. Or contact us with more details.

Birthday buffet photo credit: Photo by Elmer Cañas on Unsplash