A gender reveal party is a get-together that expecting parents host to share whether the soon-to-arrive baby will be a boy or girl. These parties are mostly themed, with food ideas ranging from what the expectant mom is craving to pink- and blue-colored snacks.
Finger foods, appetizers and sweet treats in particular tend to make an appearance at these celebrations. We’ve rounded up several gender reveal party food ideas that you can use to surprise guests or simply keep them fed during the festivities.
1. Vanilla cake pops
These festive vanilla cake pops are an easy, crowd-pleasing addition to a gender-reveal dessert table. Start with homemade cake or save time with a boxed vanilla cake mix, then crumble the baked cake and mix it with frosting to create a soft, truffle-like center.
For the reveal, tint the cake mixture pink or blue before shaping it into balls and placing each one on a lollipop stick. Dip the pops in smooth white frosting or melted white candy coating, then finish them with a mix of pink and blue round candies or sprinkles. The neutral white exterior keeps the surprise hidden until guests take a bite.
2. Cupcakes
Cupcakes are a simple way to work the gender reveal into individual, single-serve treats. Bake a batch of cupcakes with white cake mix and add pink or blue frosting to the center, so guests discover the gender when they take a bite.
Or you can stay on theme with a straightforward option by baking chocolate cupcakes, frosting one half pink and the other blue. Finish them off with cupcake toppers for a more custom feel.
3. Cakes
A cake can serve as both the centerpiece and the reveal itself. For a dramatic presentation, line the top of the cake with wafer paper. When your guests gather, light it and watch the wafer paper burn away to reveal a hidden message or color.
If there’s a young sibling-to-be at the party, you can also consider a small smash cake so they can participate.
4. Candies
Candies are an easy place to bring in the party’s pink-and-blue theme. Look for customizable options such as M&M’s that can be printed with baby-themed messages or colors, or simply fill bowls with pink and blue candies. For a playful DIY touch, fill two empty baby bottles with pink and blue candy melts and let guests pick one to reveal their guess.
5. Cookies
Decorated sugar cookies can double as party favors and gender reveal treats. Frost them in pink and blue or use both colors on each cookie, then finish with coordinating sprinkles. Baby-themed shapes such as onesies, bottles and booties can make the cookies feel especially fitting for the occasion.
6. Chocolate-dipped strawberries
With just a few ingredients, you can make chocolate-dipped strawberries that add a fresh, elegant touch to your gender-reveal dessert spread. Pick up a box of fresh strawberries and white chocolate, then wash and dry the berries thoroughly so the coating sticks smoothly.
Melt the white chocolate and split it between two bowls. Tint one bowl of chocolate pink and the other blue with oil-based candy coloring. Then dip your strawberries and place them on parchment paper to harden. For a more polished look, you can drizzle a little of the opposite color over each berry or add white sprinkles before the chocolate sets.
7. Pickles
A nod to the ever-popular pregnancy craving, pickles are a good pick at a gender reveal party. Since they can be eaten on their own, they’re also a simple gender reveal food idea. You can buy whole dill or sliced pickles for your party table.
8. Cheese, deli meats, and crackers
Arrange a selection of cheeses, like blue cheese and cheddar, with an array of crackers. You may also add deli meats to the platter along with some sliced cucumber and tomato.
For pregnancy-friendly options, choose pasteurized cheeses and deli meats that have been heated until steaming.
9. Pizza slices
Pizza slices are a convenient, reliably popular option for a gender-reveal party. Choose frozen pizzas for a simple oven-ready option, or order from a local pizzeria and cut each pie into smaller, party-friendly slices.
A mix of classic cheese, veggie, pepperoni and meat-free options can accommodate different tastes and dietary preferences without making the menu feel complicated. Then serve the slices with napkins, crushed red pepper, parmesan and ranch or marinara for dipping.
10. Shrimp bites
Shrimp bites bring a fresh and savory flavor to a gender reveal party, and their size makes them especially easy for guests to grab. Start with thawed frozen shrimp, then pat them dry and season with chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and a squeeze of lime. Sear the shrimp in a hot skillet for just a few minutes, until they turn pink and opaque.
11. Scones with blueberry and strawberry toppings
Buy or make a batch of scones. Add some whipped cream to each scone. Then decorate the scones with strawberries for a baby girl or blueberries for a boy.
12. Stacked mini pancakes
Once you’ve bought and made your premade mini pancakes, sprinkle them with sugar, then stack two or three together. Use a skewer to secure the stacks.
You can then garnish each skewer with fruit. Red and blue fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries are good choices for a gender reveal party.
13. Homemade ice cream bars
Ice cream also falls under the cravings radar for expectant moms. Buy some strawberry and blueberry ice cream to make a colorful mix of blue and pink ice cream bars for your table. You can also use blue or pink popsicle sticks for your ice cream bars.
14. Fruit platter
A colorful fruit platter adds a fresh, lighter option to a gender-reveal food table. Choose a mix of fruits with different colors, textures and flavors, such as grapes, watermelon cubes, lychee, pineapple, berries and cantaloupe slices.
For a subtle gender-reveal theme, use pink fruits like watermelon, strawberries and raspberries alongside blueberries, blackberries, or purple grapes.
15. Chocolate-dipped pretzels
Expectant parents often crave this salty-sweet combination, making it an ideal snack for a gender reveal party. Buy some pretzels, white chocolate, and some pink and blue food coloring. Mix each color separately with melted chocolate before dipping the pretzels into the pink or blue chocolate mix.
16. Ring donuts
Plain ring donuts are an easy, bakery-style treat that can be dressed up for a gender-reveal brunch or dessert table. Make a simple glaze or frosting and tint it pink or blue for the festivities.
17. Deviled eggs
Deviled eggs are a savory finger food that helps balance a gender-reveal menu filled with desserts and sweet snacks. Prepare the eggs with a creamy yolk filling, then choose garnishes and mix-ins based on your guests’ preferences.
Mustard, mayo and paprika are traditional. But you can also mix the egg yolks with avocado for a creamier texture and top the appetizer with parsley or dill. Crispy bacon can also add a savory crunch.
18. Spring rolls
Spring rolls are a lightly fried delicacy and ideal finger food for any gender reveal party. The appetizer has a delicious savory filling that usually consists of carrots, cabbage, chicken or pork. Serve this with some cilantro and sesame seeds, and your guests will be asking for more.
19. Miniature chicken pies
Mouthwatering chicken pies are a perfect light snack for a gender reveal party, and they taste a lot like homemade pies. You can buy yours prebaked, heat it for a few minutes, and then serve. You can also serve these with stuffed artichokes.
20. Mini taco cups
Get some premade mini taco shells, and fill these with a cooked filling comprising ground beef, cheese, and taco sauce. Then cook until the cheese melts.
Set out sour cream and salsa on the table, and consider adding small bowls of guacamole, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce and jalapeños so guests can customize their cups.
21. Tortellini bites
Buy some premade four-cheese tortellini bites with Romano, ricotta, parmesan, and Swiss cheese. Boil the pasta or fry it until golden brown, then serve with marinara sauce, garlic parmesan sauce, pesto or olive oil.
For a party-friendly presentation, thread one tortellini onto each appetizer pick with a cherry tomato and a small mozzarella ball. The result is a colorful, two-bite snack that guests can enjoy without needing a plate or fork.
FAQs
What do guests bring to a gender reveal?
Guests can bring a small gift for the parents-to-be, a dish to share or just themselves. But for peace of mind, you can always ask the hosts what they need.
What drinks are good for a gender reveal?
Mocktails are a fun choice for a gender reveal, especially with colorful drinks that fit the party theme. Try Shirley Temples, a cotton candy fizz, a nonalcoholic Blue Lagoon or a baby blue colada for extra touches of pink and blue.
For an extra bit of party magic, serve drinks with glitter stirrers or color-changing ice that shifts the drink’s hue as it melts.
Should you serve a full meal at a gender reveal?
You don't need to serve a full meal at a gender reveal, especially if it runs between mealtimes. Finger foods, snacks, appetizers, desserts and other small bites are enough to keep guests satiated while they play games, mingle and await the surprise reveal.
What are some fun food themes for a gender reveal?
A playful food theme can tie the menu into the big reveal. Try ideas like:
Let’s taco ’bout the baby
We donut know
What will it bee?
Savor the moment and the spread at your gender reveal party
Enjoy a range of the most scrumptious gender reveal party food, including select savory snacks like pizza slices, meat and vegetable spring rolls, and shrimp. Or indulge your sweet tooth with an array of cakes, desserts or candies.
You can also enjoy wholesome snacks like fruit and sweets, or some pickles, or crackers and cheese. Get all the food you need for your gender reveal food table with Instacart.
