Planning to throw your little one an ocean themed birthday party but not sure what to serve your guests? Take a look at this list of 23 unique birthday party foods that your guests will love. This list includes appetizers, entrees, and desserts to ensure every dish you serve will take your guests on an oceanic adventure.
Appetizers:
- Turtle Kiwis
Make these cute little fruit turtles with kiwis and grapes. Just use a slice of kiwi for the turtle’s body and attach grapes to make the turtle’s arms, legs, and head.
- Coral Reef Vegetable Tray
Turn your vegetable tray into a colorful coral reef. Start by making a base out of whatever dip you’re providing for the vegetables. Then, arrange as many different colored vegetables among the “sand” as you can. Some vegetables to include are carrots, celery sticks, white and purple cauliflower florets, snap peas, and small bell peppers. - Octopus Humus
Nothing is cuter than a octopus hanging out in a bowl of hummus. To make the octopus, just use a whole bell pepper for the body and bell pepper strips for the tentacles. Make sure to put the strips half submerged into the humus to give the illusion of the octopus emerging from the ocean depths. - Watermelon Clam Fruit Tray
Serve your guests some fruit from inside a giant claim. Just cut out a clam shaped mouth into a watermelon, remove the insides, and load it up with the rest of your fruits. You guests will now have to brave the clam’s jaws every time they reach for fruits.
- Seaweed Dip
If you’re planning on serving chips at your party then you should also serve this spinach and artichoke dip by Onion Rings and Things. Its green color will match with your ocean theme perfectly, especially when you label it as Seaweed Dip. - Goldfish
Goldfish are a great snack to have at an ocean themed party because they are already shaped like fish. Just pour them in a bowl and let your guests enjoy. - Sea Water
If you’re looking to serve a signature drink at your party, then serve up some sea water in a Large Drink Dispenser. Check out this Ocean Water recipe by Lil Luna. Made from coconut extract and Sprite, this beautiful blue drink will look just like the ocean.
Entrees:
- Stuffed Seashell Pasta
You can turn any pasta dish into a seashell pasta by using shell shaped noodles. This recipe by Love and Lemons takes jumbo shells and stuffs them with cheese and spinach. Once topped with tomato sauce, they will love like they came straight from the ocean. - Seaweed Pinwheels
Pinwheels are a great party food and are easily turned into an ocean themed food. Just use a green tortilla and they will look like they are wrapped in seaweed. This food is especially great because of how versatile it is. It can be filled with whatever you like. Check out this recipe by A Couple Cooks which uses cheese, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes for the filling.
- Hot Dog Octopus
Hot dogs are a popular dish to serve at a kids party. For an ocean themed party, just cut the bottom of the hot dog to make the tentacles of an octopus. You can even place these sea creatures in a bowl of chili to make it look like they are swimming. - Deviled Egg Boats
Deviled eggs are a fun bite sized treat that would fit perfectly at an ocean themed birthday party. Just add toothpicks with little sails attached and you’ll have egg boats, perfect for sailing the sea. Check out this classic deviled egg recipe by Downshiftology. - Burger Ships
Burgers are another entree that can be turned into miniature boats. Just add a tooth pick with a sail attached to each bun and you’ll have an adorable armada of ships. Check out these already made Toothpick Flags for the perfect toppers.
- Starfish Sandwiches
Finger sandwiches are a great addition to any party. Whether you decide to serve ham, egg salad, or peanut butter, make sure to cut them into a star shape. This will make them look just like starfish! - Crab Sandwiches
Create sandwiches with crescent rolls for an easy entree that looks just like a crab. Add some eyes to the top of each sandwich and don’t be surprised when they start crawling away with each guest that passes by.
Deserts:
- Fish Cupcakes
A great cupcake idea for an ocean themed birthday party is to turn them into fish. Use blue or green icing for the body of the fish and add M&Ms along half of the cupcake to make scales. On the other half, place the eye of the fish and two M&Ms sideways to make a mouth. - Oyster Cookies
Add a tray of oyster cookies for an adorable treat straight from the ocean. To make these cookies, use any shell shaped cookie (like these Madeleine Cookies) and put a layer of pink icing on the bottom of it. Add an edible pearl into the icing and then place another cookie on top to complete the oyster. - Sand Pudding Cake
A vanilla pudding cup is a delicious treat that can easily be turned into sand pudding cups. Just layer vanilla pudding and smashed vanilla cookies into individual cups and you’ll have a beachy treat.
- Coral Candy Reef
Create a coral candy reef to delight your guests. This reef should contain sour straws as “seaweed,” sticks of rock candy as “coral,” and sour strips layered on a kabob as “kelp.” You can even add some gummy fish, sharks, and worms swimming throughout the reef. - Aquarium Terrariums
Check out this recipe for Aquarium Terrariums by Craft Land. It uses blue Jell-O and smashed vanilla cookies to create an ocean in a cup. You can even add fish, candy rocks, and mint leaves to complete these terrariums. - Ocean Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Chocolate covered pretzels are a real treat. To make them ocean themed, just use lots of sparkles and a light blue for the chocolate. You can also drizzle some white chocolate on top to give the illusion of sea foam on water.
- Shark Gummies
For an incredibly easy desert, just set out a bowl of Shark Gummies. They’ll fit right in with the rest of your ocean themed foods. - Sea Star Cookies
Use a star shaped cookie cutter to make your cookies into sea stars. You can then use pink or yellow icing to complete the look. - Sand Castle Cake
For the birthday cake, consider turning the cake into a sand castle. For the cake’s shape, you can choose either round or circle as long as you remember to add some towers around it. You can also add flags and some candied seashells to complete the look.
I hope you found these food ideas helpful. Let me know in the comments which treats you plan to serve up at your ocean themed party.
Throwing an undersea themed birthday party but not sure how to entertain your guests? Check out this list of 24 Under the Sea Birthday Activities Kids Will Love.
