Dinosaur Dig Theme: Food Ideas

Hors d’oeuvres (Dino Snacks)

1. “Fossil Footprints” Crackers

• What: Crackers with dino-shaped cheese or imprints
• Recipe: Use mini dinosaur cookie cutters to cut cheddar or mozzarella into dino shapes. Press gently into round crackers, or stamp the cracker with a clean toy dino foot.
• Presentation: Serve in mini rock-style bowls or on a “fossil dig tray” with brown kraft paper underneath.

2. “Prehistoric Claws”

• What: Baby carrots and bell pepper strips arranged like claws
• Recipe: Slice red and orange bell peppers into sharp-looking strips, mix with baby carrots.
• Presentation: Serve them poking out of a sand bucket labeled “Claw Crunch.”

3. “Amber Eggs”

• What: Grape or cherry tomatoes with cheese cubes
• Recipe: Alternate tomatoes and cheese cubes on mini skewers or toothpicks.
• Presentation: Stick them upright in a Styrofoam base covered in moss or raffia.

Main Dishes

4. “T-Rex Teeth Sandwiches”

• What: Triangle sandwiches with jagged crusts
• Recipe: Use PB&J, ham and cheese, or turkey sandwiches. Cut into triangles and use zigzag scissors or a knife to mimic jagged “teeth.”
• Presentation: Stack them in rows on a platter lined with parchment that says “Beware of Bite!”

5. “Dino Dig Nuggets”

• What: Chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs or hidden in “dirt”
• Recipe: Use frozen dino-shaped nuggets, bake and serve over crushed brown crackers (“dirt”).
• Presentation: Use a mini shovel as the serving utensil, or serve in bento-style divided trays.

6. “Volcano Dogs”

• What: Mini hot dogs or cocktail sausages in crescent dough
• Recipe: Wrap small hot dogs in crescent roll dough (pigs in a blanket), then bake.
• Presentation: Arrange them in a circular volcano shape with ketchup or cheese “lava” in the middle.

Desserts & Sweets

7. “Dino Egg Nest Treats”

• What: Rice Krispies nests with candy eggs
• Recipe: Make Rice Krispies treats, form into small nests using muffin tins. Fill with chocolate eggs or jellybeans.
• Presentation: Serve in cupcake liners with labels like “Raptor Hatchery.”

8. “Fossil Cookies”

• What: Sugar cookies with dino footprints
• Recipe: Roll out sugar cookie dough and press a clean toy dinosaur foot or bone shape into the surface before baking.
• Presentation: Place cookies on a “dig site” tray made from brown sugar “sand.”

9. “Dirt & Bones Cups”

• What: Chocolate pudding cups with crushed Oreo “dirt” and white chocolate “bones”
• Recipe: Layer pudding with crushed Oreos and add bone-shaped sprinkles or white candy bones.
• Presentation: Serve in clear plastic cups with a small spoon shovel.

10. “Molten Lava Cupcakes”

• What: Chocolate cupcakes with red/orange frosting and popping candy
• Recipe: Top chocolate cupcakes with orange/red swirl icing, add Pop Rocks or red candy drizzle.
• Presentation: Line them up in a jagged formation and label “Volcano Zone.”

Tray Set-Up Ideas

• Use wooden crates, faux rocks, or baking trays lined with brown paper and labeled zones like:
  • “Carnivore Corner” (savory foods)
  • “Herbivore Haven” (fruit and veggie snacks)
  • “Sweet Fossil Finds” (desserts)
• Add mini excavation tools (tiny shovels, paintbrushes, sifters) for fun decor.
• Scatter plastic bones, moss, and toy dinos throughout the table display.

Detailed Recipes

HORS D’OEUVRES

1. Fossil Footprints Crackers

Ingredients:

• Round crackers (e.g., Ritz)
• Sliced cheddar or mozzarella cheese
• Mini dinosaur cookie cutters or clean toy dinosaur feet

Steps:

1. Lay out the cheese slices on a cutting board.
2. Use mini cookie cutters to cut out dinosaur shapes.
3. Place the cheese cutouts on the crackers.
4. Optionally, gently press a toy dino foot into a few crackers to leave an imprint (wipe first).
5. Serve on a platter lined with brown parchment paper.

2. Prehistoric Claws

Ingredients:

• Baby carrots
• Red and orange bell peppers
• Ranch or hummus (optional for dipping)

Steps:

1. Rinse and peel the carrots if necessary.
2. Cut the bell peppers into long, sharp “claw”-shaped strips.
3. Arrange like claws in a bowl or standing in a mini bucket.
4. Add a cup of dip in the middle for optional dipping.

3. Amber Eggs

Ingredients:

• Cherry tomatoes
• Cheddar or Colby Jack cheese
• Toothpicks

Steps:

1. Cut cheese into bite-sized cubes.
2. Thread one tomato and one cheese cube on each toothpick.
3. Repeat and display sticking out of foam or arranged on a plate in an “egg nest.”

MAIN DISHES

4. T-Rex Teeth Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• Bread (white, wheat, or both)
• Sandwich fillings (PB&J, turkey & cheese, etc.)
• Optional: fun-flavored cream cheese or spreads

Steps:

1. Make sandwiches with your preferred fillings.
2. Cut each sandwich diagonally into 2 triangles.
3. Use kitchen shears or a knife to zigzag one side to look like jagged teeth.
4. Stack in a layered display or standing upright.

5. Dino Dig Nuggets

Ingredients:

• Dino-shaped chicken nuggets (frozen)
• Graham crackers or Ritz (for “dirt”)
• Optional: small tongs or shovel for serving

Steps:

1. Bake nuggets according to package directions.
2. While baking, crush crackers in a zip bag with a rolling pin.
3. Spread “dirt” crumbs on a tray and place the nuggets on top.
4. Add a mini shovel or tongs for serving.

6. Volcano Dogs

Ingredients:

• Mini hot dogs or cocktail sausages
• Crescent roll dough (1 tube)
• Ketchup or cheese sauce

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cut crescent roll dough into strips and wrap each mini dog.
3. Bake for 12–15 minutes until golden brown.
4. Arrange in a volcano ring around a cup of ketchup or cheese dip.

DESSERTS

7. Dino Egg Nest Treats

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 bag (10 oz) mini marshmallows
• 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
• Candy eggs (e.g., Robin Eggs or M&Ms)
• Cooking spray or butter

Steps:

1. In a large pot, melt butter over low heat.
2. Add marshmallows, stir until melted.
3. Remove from heat and stir in cereal.
4. Let cool slightly, then form into small nest shapes using greased muffin tins or hands.
5. Add 2–3 candy eggs per nest once firm.
6. Serve in cupcake liners or paper nests.

8. Fossil Cookies

Ingredients:

• Sugar cookie dough (homemade or store-bought)
• Clean toy dino feet or bones for stamping

Steps:

1. Preheat oven as directed.
2. Roll out dough on a floured surface to ¼-inch thickness.
3. Use a round cookie cutter or glass to cut circles.
4. Gently press toy foot or bone into the top of each cookie.
5. Bake according to package or recipe.
6. Cool, then serve on “sand” (brown sugar or crushed graham crackers).

9. Dirt & Bones Cups

Ingredients:

• Instant chocolate pudding mix (1 large box)
• 3 cups cold milk
• Crushed Oreos (about 15)
• Bone-shaped candies or white chocolate chips

Steps:

1. Whisk pudding mix with milk until smooth and thickened.
2. Spoon pudding into clear cups (fill ¾ full).
3. Top with crushed Oreos.
4. Decorate with bone candies or stick a gummy worm halfway in.
5. Chill until serving.

10. Molten Lava Cupcakes

Ingredients:

• Chocolate cake mix
• Red and orange frosting (or food color vanilla frosting)
• Pop Rocks or red sugar sprinkles

Steps:

1. Bake cupcakes as directed and cool completely.
2. Mix red and orange frosting for a lava swirl.
3. Pipe or spread on top in a wavy, dripping style.
4. Sprinkle with Pop Rocks or sugar right before serving.

Return to Dinosaur Dig Theme