Vegan toddler party food that omnis will love?

[crunchy_mommy]

The cake is the tough part, I'd really like to do a gluten-free vegan cake so I can enjoy it too but maybe I should just make a wheat-based cake?? I was thinking a chocolate cake since it disguises any weird ingredients lol. And how would a Tofutti-based frosting go over for omnis?

As far as the nibblies... here's what I'm thinking so far but I need a lot more ideas... I'd love to do one or two plates of 'cute' food (you know, where you make it look like an animal or something?) but can't find any vegan ideas!!

-hummus platter with veggies & crackers

-fruit salad

-fresh popped plain popcorn (will everyone eat it without butter on it??)

-chips & salsa

-TJ's cinnamon cat cookies (like animal crackers)

What about drinks? Is tea & water enough? Should I maybe get some juice & seltzer so people can make spritzers?? How about coffee... do I need to get some white sugar & dairy milk for people's coffee? Or maybe we just shouldn't offer coffee?

[Spring Lily]

Oh, I love those TJ's cinnamon cookies. I'd be concerned about popcorn and toddlers, for choking reasons, but you know your friends best.

I made a gluten-free vegan cake last year for a party, with tofutti frosting, and everyone thought it was delicious! I found the recipe on here, actually, let me know if you want me to search for that thread for you.

Also, if you have vegan sour cream & mayo, you can make a spinach dip. I have done it before just using the Knorr seasoning packet, but you could make it from scratch if you have time. I was just dairy-free and eating eggs, so I used regular mayo, but I'm sure a vegan version would work too.

Crackers with a nut butter would work, if there are no allergy issues.

Also PB&J sandwiches, cut into animal shapes with cookie cutters, doesn't get easier or more mainstream than that!

ETA: for drinks, we put out a pitcher of water. The juice/seltzer is a good idea. You could also have sparkling water with juice or a bottle of Italian soda syrup. Or a bottle of lemon juice for them to add to their water. For a large party we've gotten a flat of Hanson's sodas at Costco. We don't serve coffee, no one ever wants it except great grandparents, and for them we'll make one small pot just out of respect!

[Baby_Cakes]

Yup!  Those all sound like good ideas.  We also had Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos (we are suckers for them) and I made red velvet cupcakes from Vegan Cupcakes...

I use store bought icing that's vegan (Pillsbury makes one with no dairy) b/c it makes my life easier, but you could also make vegan buttercream icing that is super yummy...

You could also have pretzels or animal crackers.

We didn't have any children at our DD's party, it was all adults.  So we also made sure to have wine and beer.  I would skip the coffee if you don't want to have cows milk available for guests.  Sometimes omitting things like that is easier than only having soy or another non-dairy option available.

[catnip]

http://catnip13.blogspot.com/2010/12/allergy-friendly-chocolate-cupcakes.html

Try these cupcakes. Trust me, once they have cooled, you'd never know that they are vegan and GF (I eat gluten, but frequently bake for friends that don't). Hot out of the oven, they  are a little gritty, but cool and iced, they are perfect.

I just try to have coconut and soy creamer on hand for coffee. Soda-juice spritzers are a nice treat.

Guacamole and corn chips are a nice GF option.

Tofutti icings are usually good. I make an amazing icing that is basically 1/4 each tofutti, earth balance and spectrum shortening, then vanilla, 4 cups of p. sugar and lemon juice. It is SO unbelievably good.