Animal Cracker Safari Board

Featured in: Daybreak Buddy Bites

This playful safari-themed platter combines crunchy animal crackers with colorful fresh fruit, including grapes, strawberries, pineapple, apples, and blueberries. Accompanied by creamy vanilla yogurt, chocolate hazelnut spread, and peanut or sunflower seed butter dips, it creates a delightful landscape of flavors and textures. Mini marshmallows, candy-coated chocolates, shredded coconut, and pretzel sticks add fun accents that mimic jungle elements. Easy to assemble and visually inviting, this board is great for entertaining and kid-friendly snacking.

Updated on Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:27:00 GMT
Vibrant Animal Cracker Safari Board featuring colorful fruits, yogurt dip, and playful animal crackers. Save to Pinterest
Vibrant Animal Cracker Safari Board featuring colorful fruits, yogurt dip, and playful animal crackers. | buddybiteskitchen.com

A whimsical, colorful party platter featuring animal crackers, fresh fruit, and playful dips—perfect for delighting kids at any celebration.

This platter has been a hit at every birthday party we've hosted, sparking smiles and fun conversations among children and adults alike.

Ingredients

  • Crackers: 2 cups animal crackers (classic or frosted varieties)
  • Fresh Fruit: 1 cup green grapes, 1 cup red grapes, 1 cup strawberries halved, 1 cup pineapple chunks, 1 cup apple slices (dip in lemon water to prevent browning), 1 cup blueberries
  • Dips: 1 cup vanilla yogurt, 1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread (e.g. Nutella), 1/2 cup peanut butter or sunflower seed butter
  • Treats & Garnishes: 1/2 cup mini marshmallows, 1/2 cup colorful candy-coated chocolates (optional), 1/4 cup shredded coconut (optional grass effect), 1/2 cup pretzel sticks (for logs)

Instructions

Step 1:
Wash and prepare all fruit. Pat dry with paper towels.
Step 2:
Arrange animal crackers in themed clusters across a large board or platter to mimic a safari landscape.
Step 3:
Create jungles and savannas using clusters of grapes, pineapple, strawberries, apple slices, and blueberries.
Step 4:
Place yogurt, chocolate spread, and peanut or sunflower butter in small serving bowls. Position these as watering holes around the board.
Step 5:
Scatter mini marshmallows and candy-coated chocolates as playful accents.
Step 6:
Use shredded coconut to mimic grass and pretzel sticks for logs or pathways.
Step 7:
Ensure all items are easily reachable by small hands. Serve immediately.
A kid-friendly Animal Cracker Safari Board: fresh fruit, creamy dips, and delightful animal-shaped cookies. Save to Pinterest
A kid-friendly Animal Cracker Safari Board: fresh fruit, creamy dips, and delightful animal-shaped cookies. | buddybiteskitchen.com

Our family loves gathering around this platter, sharing stories about each animal cracker and picking favorite fruits together.

Required Tools

Large serving board or platter, small bowls for dips, sharp knife (for fruit), paper towels

Allergen Information

Contains Wheat (animal crackers), milk (yogurt chocolate spread), peanuts/tree nuts (peanut butter chocolate spread), soy (chocolate spread candy-coated chocolates). For allergies, use suitable substitutes (e.g. nut-free butters dairy-free yogurt) and check all labels carefully.

Nutritional Information

Calories 260, Total Fat 9 g, Carbohydrates 40 g, Protein 4 g (per serving)

This whimsical Animal Cracker Safari Board has animal crackers, assorted fresh fruits, and delicious dips for fun eating. Save to Pinterest
This whimsical Animal Cracker Safari Board has animal crackers, assorted fresh fruits, and delicious dips for fun eating. | buddybiteskitchen.com

With its fun presentation and easy preparation, this board turns any occasion into a memorable safari adventure.

Common Recipe Questions

What fruits work best for this board?

A mix of grapes, strawberries, pineapple, apples, and blueberries provides vibrant colors and a variety of sweet flavors.

Can the nut butter be substituted?

Yes, sunflower seed butter is a great nut-free alternative that maintains a creamy texture and rich taste.

How to prevent apples from browning?

Dipping apple slices in lemon water before arranging helps keep them fresh and visually appealing longer.

What do shredded coconut and pretzel sticks represent?

Shredded coconut mimics grass texture while pretzel sticks represent logs or pathways for a themed look.

Are there allergy considerations?

This board contains gluten, dairy, and nuts; using suitable substitutes and checking ingredient labels is recommended for allergies.

Animal Cracker Safari Board

A vibrant board with animal crackers, fresh fruit, and fun dips, perfect for festive gatherings.

Prep Time
20 minutes
0
Total Time
20 minutes
Created By Max Buddyfield

Recipe Category Daybreak Buddy Bites

Skill Level Easy

Cuisine Type American

Recipe Yield 8 Number of Servings

Dietary Preferences Suitable for Vegetarians

What You'll Need

Crackers

01 2 cups animal crackers (classic or frosted varieties)

Fresh Fruit

01 1 cup green grapes
02 1 cup red grapes
03 1 cup strawberries, halved
04 1 cup pineapple chunks
05 1 cup apple slices, dipped in lemon water to prevent browning
06 1 cup blueberries

Dips

01 1 cup vanilla yogurt
02 1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread
03 1/2 cup peanut butter or sunflower seed butter

Treats & Garnishes

01 1/2 cup mini marshmallows
02 1/2 cup colorful candy-coated chocolates (optional)
03 1/4 cup shredded coconut (optional grass effect)
04 1/2 cup pretzel sticks (for logs)

Steps to Follow

Step 01

Prepare Fruit: Wash all fruit thoroughly and pat dry using paper towels.

Step 02

Arrange Crackers: Distribute animal crackers in themed clusters across a large serving board or platter to create a safari landscape effect.

Step 03

Build Fruit Sections: Form jungle and savanna areas by grouping grapes, pineapple chunks, strawberries, apple slices, and blueberries.

Step 04

Set Dips: Place vanilla yogurt, chocolate hazelnut spread, and peanut or sunflower seed butter into small serving bowls and position around the board as watering holes.

Step 05

Add Accents: Scatter mini marshmallows and optionally candy-coated chocolates to add playful details.

Step 06

Create Landscape Details: Use shredded coconut to simulate grass and arrange pretzel sticks as logs or pathways.

Step 07

Final Presentation: Ensure all items are easy for children to reach. Serve immediately for best freshness.

Tools You'll Need

  • Large serving board or platter
  • Small bowls for dips
  • Sharp knife for fruit preparation
  • Paper towels

Allergy Warnings

Review each ingredient carefully for allergens. If unsure, consult with a healthcare provider.
  • Contains wheat, milk, peanuts/tree nuts, and soy. Substitute with allergen-free products when necessary.

Nutritional Info (per serving)

These details are for general information only. Always consult a healthcare professional for dietary concerns.
  • Calorie Count: 260
  • Fat Content: 9 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 40 grams
  • Protein Content: 4 grams