Holidays & Occasions Baby Shower 56 Hostess-Approved Recipes for a Southern Baby Shower By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 19, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely As any Southern hostess knows, putting together a baby shower goes way beyond decorating your home in shades of pink, blue, or yellow—shh, it's a secret! Often a brunch or luncheon, a baby shower is really only as good as its menu—and finger food is the name of the game. Serving a snackable spread of baby shower food not only keeps the atmosphere fun and casual, but it makes sure everyone has plenty of time to talk to the expecting mama. As we're passing around newly opened tiny onesies, we're passing around bite-sized nibbles and dips, too. From our easy-to-make bites, like deviled eggs and tomato tea sandwiches, to our miniature brunch recipes for goat cheese quiche and Ham Delights, these baby shower food ideas will make hosting this memorable day easy and fuss-free. Check out these best-ever recipes for baby shower food—and get to prepping! 01 of 56 Asparagus and Goat Cheese Mini Quiches Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Asparagus and Goat Cheese Mini Quiches Everyone gets their very own, which will keep things easy and breezy. Make these mini quiches up to two days ahead. 02 of 56 Cheddar Shortbread Crackers Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Cheddar Shortbread Crackers These crisp, buttery crackers are a slightly fancier version of traditional cheese straws. 03 of 56 Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise Think of these mini sandwiches as a party-ready take on the classic BLT. 04 of 56 Ham Biscuits Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Ham Biscuits You can't go wrong topping this timeless ham-and-biscuit duo. Serve with our Creole Mayonnaise. 05 of 56 Smoky Black-Eyed Pea Hummus Recipe: Smoky Black-Eyed Pea Hummus We love to incorporate favorite Southern ingredients in new and different ways. This hummus recipe uses black-eyed peas instead of chickpeas. 06 of 56 Egg Salad Sandwiches Jen Causey Recipe: Egg Salad Sandwiches Ah, a Southern shower staple: egg salad. This recipe is made with the usual suspects—celery, pickle relish, and mayonnaise—but has a few unexpected additions, too. Grated onion, dried salad seasoning (the kind that comes in a packet), and Dijon mustard give it a flavorful twist. 07 of 56 Fried Deviled Eggs Micah A. Leal Recipe: Fried Deviled Eggs Wow the crowd with this interesting take on the traditional Southern deviled egg hors d'oeuvre. A mixture of panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese creates its fried crispy coating. 08 of 56 Strawberry-Spinach Salad with Sweet Vidalia Onion Dressing Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Strawberry-Spinach Salad with Sweet Vidalia Onion Dressing If you want to add just a slight nibble and palate cleanser to the baby shower menu, look no further than this salad recipe. 09 of 56 Buttermilk Drop Biscuits Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Buttermilk Drop Biscuits Give your buttermilk biscuits a special makeover with whole-grain mustard, fresh chives, and Parmesan cheese. 10 of 56 Mini Cheese Grits Casseroles Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Mini Cheese Grits Casseroles These mini grits casseroles add a festive touch on any spread. Make-ahead tip: Prepare the grits the night prior to serving, and then bake the casseroles before everyone arrives. 11 of 56 Bacon Bow Tie Crackers Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Tami Hardeman Recipe: Bacon Bow Tie Crackers Pairing salty bacon with buttery crackers is about as fail-safe as it gets. They're a match made in hosting heaven. 12 of 56 Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Recipe: Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad You won't find a salad that tastes more fresh, fun, and delicious than this summer-ready recipe. 13 of 56 Herbed-Goat Cheese Spread Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Herbed-Goat Cheese Spread This ain't your mama's pimiento cheese—but she'd still approve. We turned your basic cheese spread up a notch with goat cheese. 14 of 56 West Indies Crab Salad Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: West Indies Crab Salad This little-known Southern salad—it is believed to have originated in Mobile, Alabama—will be a winner at any baby shower, coastal or otherwise. 15 of 56 Radish, Avocado, and Citrus Salad with Orange-Poppy Seed Dressing Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Radish, Avocado, and Citrus Salad with Orange-Poppy Seed Dressing Not only does this citrus salad look pretty, but it tastes light and fresh. 16 of 56 Mushroom-Stuffed Phyllo Cups Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Mushroom-Stuffed Phyllo Cups Filled with mushrooms, Gruyére cheese, and a little thyme, these mini savory bites make a great fit for a baby shower brunch. 17 of 56 Bacon-and-Cheddar Grits Quiche Alison Miksch Recipe: Bacon-and-Cheddar Grits Quiche You've never had quiche quite like this one. Made with a grits "crust," it makes for a hearty addition to a brunch spread. 18 of 56 Warm Spinach-Sweet Onion Dip with Country Ham Warm Spinach-Sweet Onion Dip with Country Ham Recipe: Warm Spinach-Sweet Onion Dip with Country Ham This classic dip gets a Southern twist with sweet onions and country ham. If hosting the event, you'll be happy to hear this dip can be made in advance and reheated. 19 of 56 Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Recipe: Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad By using a mix of multicolored cherry tomatoes and small fresh mozzarella balls, this simple salad becomes super easy to serve at a luncheon or shower. 20 of 56 Deviled Potatoes Hector Sanchez Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Deviled Potatoes Consider these hors d'oeuvres a cross between deviled eggs and potato salad. 21 of 56 Cheddar-Caramelized Onion Bread Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick Recipe: Cheddar-Caramelized Onion Bread This bread makes a much more fun alternative to your frozen rolls, trust us. 22 of 56 Queso-Filled Mini Peppers Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Queso-Filled Mini Peppers Forget about serving your guests basic tortilla chips. These mini sweet peppers are a great bite-sized vessel for cheese dip. 23 of 56 Basic Deviled Eggs Southern Living Recipe: Basic Deviled Eggs Deviled eggs simply can't be beat. 24 of 56 Buttermilk Chicken and Waffles Jennifer Davick Recipe: Buttermilk Chicken and Waffles Dress up this funky Southern classic for a fancy occasion. 25 of 56 Crustless Ham and Collard Greens Quiche Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Crustless Ham and Collard Greens Quiche Consider this crustless quiche your baby shower savior. It feels fancy and tastes amazing—but is so easy to make. A bag of frozen chopped collard greens eliminates prep time. 26 of 56 Fresh Fruit Salad Jen Causey Recipe: Fresh Fruit Salad Every brunch or shower needs the quintessential fruit bowl, and this recipe goes above and beyond with a dressing of orange juice, honey, and fresh mint. 27 of 56 Marinated Shrimp Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Marinated Shrimp If you're hosting a spring or summer shower, look no further than this cool pickled shrimp. Tip: Keep the shrimp cold on the spread by nestling the serving bowl inside a larger bowl of crushed ice. 28 of 56 Spinach-and-Artichoke Bites Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith Recipe: Spinach-and-Artichoke Bites If you've ever wondered what your favorite party dip would taste like wrapped up in a buttery crescent roll, here's your answer. Delicious. 29 of 56 Gourmet Grilled Cheese with Bacon Callie Nash Recipe: Gourmet Grilled Cheese with Bacon Because pairing small bites of this elevated version of classic grilled cheese with shooters of our Roasted Tomato Soup will be about the most comforting thing to serve your expecting mama. 30 of 56 Tomato Tea Sandwiches Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele Recipe: Tomato Tea Sandwiches The Southern hostesses that came before us would approve. This classic tomato sandwich only requires a few ingredients, but that's all it needs. 31 of 56 Deviled Egg Salad and Asparagus Tartines Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Deviled Egg Salad and Asparagus Tartines This fresh take on finger sandwiches is much more eye-catching (and delicious). 32 of 56 Mini Shrimp Rolls Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Mini Shrimp Rolls This recipe proves that all this time, the only thing Grandma's vintage shrimp salad recipe was missing is jalapeno. 33 of 56 Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad Grandma's retro ham salad gets twirled up for luncheons with this pretty presentation. Plus, you can make the cheese puffs ahead of time. 34 of 56 Herbed Goat Cheese-Melon Party Bites Jennifer Davick Recipe: Herbed Goat Cheese-Melon Party Bites These cute bites are ideal for a summer shower. Prep them the morning of the party and let them chill for an hour or two. 35 of 56 Ham Delights Photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Ham Delights These cheesy sliders are practically required at any Southern shower or luncheon. This recipe is so easy to throw together and double or triple if you're serving a large crowd. 36 of 56 Shrimp on Seasoned Crackers with Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Shrimp on Seasoned Crackers with Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese Pepper jelly and cream cheese is an iconic Southern pair on appetizer boards, and Chef Adam Evans just upped the ante on it by adding seasoned crackers and pan-fried shrimp. 37 of 56 Mamau's Cheese Straws Robbie Caponetto; Prop Styling: Mary Beth Wetzel; Food Styling: Pam Lolley Recipe: Mamau's Cheese Straws Is it really a Southern shower if there's not a tray of cheese straws on the table? We'll let your guests decide if you leave them off the menu. 38 of 56 Crudités Platter Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs Recipe: Crudités Platter Leave it to Nashville entertaining expert Katie Jacobs to put together the most gorgeous spring appetizer platter we've ever seen. This colorful dish is an easy way to make eating healthy fun for any kids in attendance. 39 of 56 Chicks in a Blanket Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Recipe: Chicks in a Blanket Instead of classic pork sausages, this recipe uses chicken-and-apple sausages for a lighter, more flavorful take on the classic appetizer. 40 of 56 Focaccia With Ricotta and Crispy Herbs Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Focaccia With Ricotta and Crispy Herbs No one will realize this beautiful focaccia appetizer started with pizza dough from the grocery store. That's right: You don't need to fuss with yeast bread to serve this summery dish. 41 of 56 Pear-and-Brie Puff Pastry Tarts Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Pear-and-Brie Puff Pastry Tarts These pear tarts look impressive, but they're so easy to pull together. A tip from the Test Kitchen: If you want to make the tart a bit sweeter, skip the pepper and brush the pears with apricot jelly before baking. 42 of 56 Snickerdoodle Doughnut Hole Muffins Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Snickerdoodle Doughnut Hole Muffins Instead of running by the doughnut shop before the baby shower brunch, make these easy doughnut hole muffins that will delight everyone. 43 of 56 Vera Stewart's Egg Salad Peter Frank Edwards Recipe: Vera Stewart's Egg Salad Georgia native and Southern hostess Vera Stewart shared this recipe for her mama's egg salad, which is a favorite for Masters watching. 44 of 56 Caesar Salad Bites Photo: Jennifer Davick/Prop Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell/Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns Recipe: Caesar Salad Bites Throwing together an appetizer has never been so easy than with these healthy salad bites. 45 of 56 Spicy Sausage-and-Cheddar Kolaches Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Spicy Sausage-and-Cheddar Kolaches You're going to love our savory spin on the classic Czech pastry that's beloved in Texas. 46 of 56 Pimiento Cheese Sausage Balls Anna Theoktisto/Getty Images Recipe: Pimiento Cheese Sausage Balls We know every Southern host has a sausage ball recipe, but we just changed the game with the addition of pimiento cheese. 47 of 56 Strawberry Caprese Salad IAIN BAGWELL Recipe: Strawberry Caprese Salad This springy version of classic caprese is easy to serve as an appetizer over toasted baguette slices. 48 of 56 Muffin Pan Tomato Tarts Alison Miksch Recipe: Muffin Pan Tomato Tarts Instead of slicing a tomato pie and risking a mess or everyone not getting their share, serve up these personal-size tomato tarts. 49 of 56 Cheese Dreams Photo: Johnny Miller; Styling: Sarah Smart Recipe: Cheese Dreams These cheesy bites are the ultimate make-ahead appetizer for a busy host. Refrigerate the day before or freeze them for up to three weeks. 50 of 56 Hot Brown Party Rolls Victor Protasio; Food Stying: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Hot Brown Party Rolls Test Kitchen Pro Ivy Odom created this Kentucky-inspired recipe for a Derby party, but they're delicious and easy to make for any gathering. 51 of 56 Strawberry-Avocado Salad with Sesame-Ginger Dressing Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Recipe: Strawberry-Avocado Salad with Sesame-Ginger Dressing This colorful spring salad is such a pretty way to start a meal. Instead of everyone serving themselves from a large bowl, pre-portion the salad into serving cups for an easy grab-and-go appetizer. 52 of 56 Mini Muffuletta Sandwiches Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Mini Muffuletta Sandwiches The entire platter of these mini sandwiches will be gone in a flash. 53 of 56 Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites Instead of your usual sausage balls with breakfast sausage, this dressed-up version uses spicy chorizo and sweet potatoes for complex flavor. 54 of 56 Slow-Roasted Cherry Tomato Bruschetta Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Recipe: Slow-Roasted Cherry Tomato Bruschetta Cherry tomatoes are in abundance during the summertime, and this easy recipe is our Test Kitchen's new favorite way to use them. 55 of 56 Easy Egg Salad Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Easy Egg Salad We love presenting these egg salad tea sandwiches on a tiered cake stand for visual appeal in an appetizer lineup. 56 of 56 Spicy Strawberry-Goat Cheese Crostini Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Spicy Strawberry-Goat Cheese Crostini It's amazing how much flavor is packed into a recipe with so few ingredients (and that looks this beautiful!). "Perfect combinations of flavors. My family loved it. Very light and fresh!" wrote one reviewer who gave this recipe five stars. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit