Although most kids attend birthday parties with thoughts of cake and ice cream swirling in their heads, would they really notice if this large fruit rainbow was there instead?
Kids and adults alike are wooed with their eyes and we're pretty sure this rainbow is rather woo-worthy. It's from the home of Brittany over at Tangled & True. You could make it as large as an entire table if you wanted and it could be filled with just fruits of the season or whatever happens to be on sale the week of the party.
It's a big bold look that in combination with a few other sweet treats on the table might actually be enough to make some kids forget about the traditional cake and ice cream pairing. It could easily be finger food, or you could potentially make skewers that are easy for kids to pick up. If neither of those options sound appealing, you could even fill wedge-shaped take home boxes to make a mobile fruit rainbow.
Would your kids swing for an all fruit birthday party? What about with yogurt popsicles on the side Or would the cake be sorely missed? Let us know below!
(Image: Tangled & True)

Shaw's Original Fir...
I have a friend with coeliac's and ran out of time to make her a gluten free birthday cake. Instead, I bought her half a watermelon and stuffed it full of candles. She loved it.
We threw a rainbow-themed party this weekend for my daughter's first birthday. We made a very similar fruit rainbow and it was a big hit!
Ha ha ha
Yes, they will notice. But the fruit will also get eaten. But we go to non-cake parties too but it usually involves a popsicle or cookie or something.
We didn't skip the cupcakes, though. It's not a party without cake.
My kids would love that! Whenever we go to parties with a fruit platter, my kids always eat far more than their fair share, especially if berries are involved.
I just did this for my daughter's third birthday! Well we had rainbow cupcakes too...
I love this idea, but then I already love fruit more than cake! ; )
We did this for my wedding. My parents insisted that Asians wouldn't eat the too sweet wedding cake and we ordered a giant fruit table. It was demolished. The cake ... can be found in the freezer.
It always grates on me when I see strawberries and blueberries together. They have COMPLETELY different seasons. I 100% guarantee that one or the other, or possibly both, are no good. But maybe I'm just a crank, and/or a berry snob. ;)
This cracked me up because we were at a party this weekend and while all the other kids ran for the cupcakes my almost two year old son made a beeline for the bowl of blueberries.
ps: @jillandmo, I don't know where you live but my local farm has early and late blueberries and the early ones usually overlap with the strawberries. Last year we got both from our CSA two weeks in a row.
Yum. My daughter would love this. But, she loves cake too.
There are many different varieties of strawberries which mature at different times -- all the way from early spring through to late fall. (there are even fall-maturing cherries -- I know because there are some in our neighborhood).
The fruit plate is great, but if there was no birthday cake, our kids would cry and feel cheated...
I was just about to do a search for alternatives to birthday cake when I saw this! My daughter's pre-school requests no sugary desserts so I wanted to come up with a healthy alternative that's still fun to bring in for her birthday. This would be perfect.
@levmarc, I'm stealing this idea too for my son's second birthday next month. His daycare doesn't allow sugary treats but this should work. I'm thinking of cute skewers and a cup of yogurt dip for each kid. There are only 6 kids at his daycare so we can just plop this on the table and let them have at it! I probably will slice the fruit into smaller pieces, especially the grapes.
Jillandmod--
Strawberries and blueberries are both in season in California right now. I can buy terrific ones at our local farmer's market. But then I don't know where you live.
We did something similar for my daughters 2nd birthday party. Since she is not a huge fan of sweets (like cake and such, I swear she's not from my side of the tree), we had each family bring their favorite piece of fruit instead of a gift. And while everyone was congregating a few of us chopped the fruits up and made a huuuge fruit salad. You would have thought she died and went to heaven, she loved it! Although we did end up with 4 watermelons, so... lesson learned on that part I guess :)
Brilliant idea - will also be shamelessly stealing this in the future. I live in Calgary and would have scurvy if I waited for seasonal fruit!! : )
it is very cute-but for gods sake let a kid have a birthday cake. everything in moderation!
I think it's brilliant, but would also serve cake. Agreed with the moderation, and if you get creative and make one from scratch they don't have to be all that bad for you.
Finally, there are 16 grapes (yes, I counted) on that plate. That is not enough!
We eat fruit everyday and love it - esp strawberries and grapes. Birthdays mean CAKE!!
I love this! I'm definitely going to do this for the dessert buffet for the Tiny Dancer's birthday party.
Oh yes, the kids would definitely notice the fruit rainbow and they would NOT be happy! Let the kids have their birthday cake.
Love the fruit rainbow - especially with added bowls of fluffy fruit dip for the clouds! Maybe even put this on TOP of a cake??? BUT....Nothing REPLACES the cake;)