Ah cool. I’ve never done potluck really outside of making a simple cake to bring and don’t have kids, but if I think about the logistics… hmm.
Mini fruit tarts caaan be made a day ahead to go straight in an esky on departure… However they are fussy to make, fragile and need to stay chilled due to the custard filling when fridge space at the host’s may already be at capacity. Same goes for mini pavs. A choc ripple cake is very easy but with the cream and delicate structure I don’t know how well it’d survive heat or bumps. Snot blocks are a bit large.
Pudding cups and frogs in a pond (clear plastic cups of lime jelly with a Freddo in) are a bit sturdier but still probably need to stay chilled if they don’t go fast. Depending on weather. And they’re dessert items.
Cake pops can be made with a bought cake and a tub of premade “frosting” (the thick fatty Betty Crocker stuff). The “candy melt” coating would make them sturdier to knocks. They don’t need refrigeration (if you don’t use things like cream cheese) but would be time consuming to make individually and run out very fast. Also safety concerns if the kids are young enough to bite into splintery wooden sticks or swallow a piece of hard sugar shell. Pain in the butt.
Pinwheel sandwiches rock for presentation but be mindful of fillings. Many contain cream cheese which should be thick enough to hold them without a fixing toothpick (unsafe) but if that’s the case refrigeration applies. Using peanut butter or Nutella is better for food safety but raises the whole nut allergy thing. Hummus can upset tummies that aren’t used to it.
Cupcakes or biscuits seem like a a safe bet. Mini cupcakes or biscuits would go further when distributed and lessen the risk of filling up before the real food/spewing. Also consider those baked ham and cheese rolls, Vegemite scrolls or cinnamon scrolls. Lamington fingers. All of this stuff has the advantage that it can be shop bought.
Also this depends on the number of kids but consider the little gingerbread Pfeffernusse if you see them.
Edit: Dude. The answer was obvious. Chocolate crackles
Yes. Also wee ones like fruit so if you can be stuffed, strawberries dipped in chocolate or a side of Nutella and you’ll be crowned the Purple Headed Dessert Queen. 👑
There are a lot of child parties in my life. The good news is kids are really easy to please.
There’s the obvious stuff:
Fairy bread will go well, only be careful to make it fresh. If you are outside, the bread will start to go yucky after an hour or two.
Chips/lollies will vanish - no matter how many you provide. I don’t know how they do it. They are not fussy, the cheapest brand is fine. Keep the good chips for the grown ups.
Party pies or sausage rolls will be very popular, but they tie up your oven if you have other things planned for that.
Mini burger buns are $4.50 per dozen, and when combined with chipolatas and a bit of sauce, you have mini hotdogs. Cheap and easy on the BBQ.
If you want healthier stuff:
They’ll eat fruit, but they’re lazy. They’ll turn their noses up at apples/mandarins, but will happily eat either if they’ve been peeled/sliced for them.
Berries are in season. We like to make little fruit salad cups, but I don’t suppose you have the plastic Ikea cups on hand for this.
Some will eat sandwitch triangles, it depends on the kid. One of mine would, the other only in an emergency.
I’m crowdsourcing DT for ideas and approval.
I have a bbq next week. There will be loads of little nieblings. What do yous guys think of fairy bread?
Fairy bread is magic. But butter not margerine!
I was thinking best quality dairy soft butter and vienna loaf sliced bread
I think the worst white fluff is Trad. 🤷🏻♀️
Yeah the freshest homebrand money can buy.
Fairy bread is a classic.
Is this one you’re hosting where there will be multiple things that have to be simple and may compete for the oven?
Or is it a potluck where you can just bring one thing but it has to remain chilled/survive transport?
If you want an easy hit you could also go the storebought lamington fingers or a Colesworth mud cake
I’m bringing stuff.
Ah cool. I’ve never done potluck really outside of making a simple cake to bring and don’t have kids, but if I think about the logistics… hmm.
Mini fruit tarts caaan be made a day ahead to go straight in an esky on departure… However they are fussy to make, fragile and need to stay chilled due to the custard filling when fridge space at the host’s may already be at capacity. Same goes for mini pavs. A choc ripple cake is very easy but with the cream and delicate structure I don’t know how well it’d survive heat or bumps. Snot blocks are a bit large.
Pudding cups and frogs in a pond (clear plastic cups of lime jelly with a Freddo in) are a bit sturdier but still probably need to stay chilled if they don’t go fast. Depending on weather. And they’re dessert items.
Cake pops can be made with a bought cake and a tub of premade “frosting” (the thick fatty Betty Crocker stuff). The “candy melt” coating would make them sturdier to knocks. They don’t need refrigeration (if you don’t use things like cream cheese) but would be time consuming to make individually and run out very fast. Also safety concerns if the kids are young enough to bite into splintery wooden sticks or swallow a piece of hard sugar shell. Pain in the butt.
Pinwheel sandwiches rock for presentation but be mindful of fillings. Many contain cream cheese which should be thick enough to hold them without a fixing toothpick (unsafe) but if that’s the case refrigeration applies. Using peanut butter or Nutella is better for food safety but raises the whole nut allergy thing. Hummus can upset tummies that aren’t used to it.
Cupcakes or biscuits seem like a a safe bet. Mini cupcakes or biscuits would go further when distributed and lessen the risk of filling up before the real food/spewing. Also consider those baked ham and cheese rolls, Vegemite scrolls or cinnamon scrolls. Lamington fingers. All of this stuff has the advantage that it can be shop bought.
Also this depends on the number of kids but consider the little gingerbread Pfeffernusse if you see them.
Edit: Dude. The answer was obvious. Chocolate crackles
Yes. Also wee ones like fruit so if you can be stuffed, strawberries dipped in chocolate or a side of Nutella and you’ll be crowned the Purple Headed Dessert Queen. 👑
that might be too messy for a bbq, how about little strawberry tarts?
Tarts are good.
Have you got a mini muffin tin? Tiny quiche, cupcakes, tart bites…
There are a lot of child parties in my life. The good news is kids are really easy to please.
There’s the obvious stuff:
If you want healthier stuff:
fruit salad cups are a great idea 😸
little frankfurts and tomato sauce
A bowl of fortune cookies mixed with twiggy stix