Food and literature have always had a close relationship. Many books vividly describe delicious meals, mouth-watering dishes, and interesting ingredients that spark readers’ appetites and imaginations. Some books are even centered around food and cooking. It’s no wonder so many readers have felt inspired to recreate dishes they’ve read about and sample the flavors from the pages of their favorite books. Combining these two passions, book-inspired recipes allow us to savor the tales we love in a new, tasty way.
Cooking up recipes inspired by books is a fun way for bibliophiles to immerse themselves in the stories and worlds they love. When you make and eat food from books, you feel more connected to the characters, settings, and plots. Every bite is a journey back to the book that inspired your latest culinary creation.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the most popular and creative book-inspired recipes and how to make them at home. From the Pea Soup and Ham from E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web to Turkish Delight as featured in C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, these literary dishes will feed your appetite for reading as much as your stomach. With each recipe you prepare, immerse yourself in the book that inspired it. Let the stories and characters come alive as you sample literary delicacies. Cook your way through the fascinating selection of book-inspired recipes below!
Turkish Delight from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The rich, sweet candy that draws Edmund into the White Witch’s clutches in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe also captivates readers’ senses. Traditional Turkish Delight is made from starch and sugar mixed with rosewater, lemon, pistachios or other nuts, and dusted in powdered sugar.
Edmund’s first taste leaves him craving more: “Each piece was sweet and light to the very center and Edmund had never tasted anything more delicious.” Though the White Witch’s magical Turkish Delight may be hard to recreate, you can still experience this tantalizing Narnian treat.
Simmer sugar and corn syrup with cream until smooth, then pour into a pan lined with cornstarch and powdered sugar. When set, cut into small cubes and coat in powdered sugar with rosewater, pistachios, or coconut. One bite of this book-inspired recipe may transport you straight through the wardrobe and into Narnia!
Raspberry Cordial from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
The wildly imaginative, redheaded orphan Anne Shirley has an enduring sweet tooth for cordials, liqueurs and homemade sweet treats in L.M Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series. Bring the magic of Prince Edward Island’s summers ripe with juicy red raspberries to life with this refreshing liqueur.
Start by gently muddling fresh raspberries in a glass jar to release their bright juices and fragrant compounds without damaging the tender druplets. Sprinkle over granulated sugar and the seeds from a vanilla bean pod. Stir to dissolve the sugar then cover and set aside at room temperature for 48 hours to fully infuse the flavor.
Strain the raspberry mixture through a fine mesh sieve or layers of cheesecloth to remove solids then stir in vodka or brandy until the cordial reaches the desired viscosity and potency. Bottle and store in refrigerator for up to 2 months.
Anne would have loved splashing this sweet ruby red cordial into glasses of fizzy lemonade or lemon sorbet, using it to glaze cakes or stirring a splash into creamy rice pudding. Sip your way back to Green Gables under the shade of the Snow Queen cherry tree no matter the season. The tart sweetness dancing on your tongue may have you chattering away in the fanciful style of our beloved Anne!
Pea Soup and Ham from Charlotte’s Web
In E.B. White’s 1952 classic Charlotte’s Web, young Wilbur discovers the joys of food when he’s let out of his pen. “The first thing he found was a pail of warm milk, the next thing was an apple pie, then some doughnuts, a dish of squash, green beans in cream sauce, mashed potatoes, a ham sandwich and a bowl of peach cobbler.” But it’s the pea soup and ham that has become the iconic dish from the beloved children’s tale.
To make this hearty farmhouse meal, simmer peas, water, and ham hocks until tender before pureeing. Dice some ham and sauté it with onions, garlic, and broth. Add flour to thicken then stir in pureed peas, cream, thyme, and parsley before simmering. Finally, stir in the ham. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve with warm crusty bread—just how Wilbur would have gobbled it up!
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The four March sisters may have grown up in Civil War era Massachusetts, but they surely would have recognized the enduring comfort of molten cheese oozing out from crispy toasted bread.
Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy pass many an afternoon together in their cozy kitchen concocting creative snacks like applesauce cake, ginger cordial and popcorn. On a blustery winter day, this grilled cheese sandwich baked in the cast iron skillet would have been just the ticket.
Thickly slice hearty white bread and lightly butter one side of each slice. Flip a few slices buttered-side down in a hot skillet then top with thin slices of melty cheese like cheddar, Gouda or Gruyère. Top with another buttered slice of bread, pressing gently to adhere.
Fry over medium heat until the bottom slice is toasty and golden and the cheese interior is fully melted. Flip and fry the other slice the same way until crispy, melty and irresistible.
Cut diagonally and serve immediately as a comforting treat the March sisters would have happily gobbled up between lessons, writing sessions, dances and family time – the simple joys of life even in hard times.
Lamb Stew with Plums from The Chronicles of Narnia
When the Pevensie children first encounter Mr. and Mrs. Beaver in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, a hot meal awaits them inside the dam. Lewis depicts a scene of pure comfort: “And really it was a wonderful meal. There was a hot potato for each of them, and then sizzling sausages . . . and then toast and then butter . . . and then as a great surprise . . . very sticky marmalade roll, steaming hot.” The pièce de résistance follows: “And when everyone had eaten as much as they wanted, the remains of the food faded away, and the dishes were very clean.”
While we may not be able to recreate that magical clean-up, we can still indulge in another iconic Narnian dish that Mr. Tumnus serves Lucy upon their first meeting – Lamb Stew with Plums. Sauté lamb, onions carrots and parsnips before braising with broth and red wine. Add pitted prunes or plums, cinnamon and orange zest then serve piping hot with fresh baked bread. The book-inspired recipe of this sweet yet savory stew will have you longing for the wintery woods of Narnia with every mouthwatering bite.
Seed Cakes from Charlotte’s Web
Charlotte’s offspring enjoy the “crisp, tasty” seed cakes Templeton retrieves from a picnic near the barn in E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web. These crackers or cookies, studded with seeds and baked to a golden perfection, are simple to recreate at home.
Combine flours and salt before cutting butter into the dry ingredients using forks or a food processor. Add water or eggs and shape into a disc before chilling. Roll out the chilled dough and cut into shapes using cookie cutters. Brush with egg, sprinkle with your choice of seeds – caraway, sesame, poppy, celery, mustard or fennel seeds work well. Bake until lightly golden then enjoy these crispy seed cakes just how Charlotte’s younglings would have!
Yorkshire Pudding from The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
When Mary Lennox arrives at Misselthwaite Manor on the gloomy Yorkshire Moors, she discovers both the hidden garden and the comforting cuisine of her uncle’s stately English manor. Surely the servants cooked up deliciously crispy Yorkshire Pudding to serve with roast beef and gravy as a nourishing Sunday supper.
This simple batter pudding puffs up light-as-air thanks to high heat and rendered meat drippings. Begin by chilling milk, eggs and melted butter overnight which helps the pudding pop tall in the oven.
Whisk together eggs, milk, sifted flour and a pinch of salt. Pour rendered beef or pork drippings into muffin tins then place in a hot 450°F oven for 5 minutes until sizzling hot. Quickly divide batter between the scorching hot wells.
Bake 20-25 minutes until puffed high above the tin and beautifully browned. Serve immediately as a coveted accompaniment to sliced roasts and pan gravies.
As Mary discovers beauty, friendship and even her own confident voice, this Yorkshire classic would surely have comforted all at Misselthwaite, from Master Craven to the loyal gardener Ben Weatherstaff. The crisp contrast to succulent meat allows everyone lightness even amidst gloomy Gothic gloom.
Treacle Tart from the Harry Potter Series
A staple dessert in the Harry Potter book and film series, Treacle Tart is a beloved sweet treat across Britain. Served at Hogwarts feasts in the Great Hall, this sticky, golden tart often makes an appearance alongside equally comforting British dishes like bangers and mash, Yorkshire pudding and meat pies.
To make this iconic wizarding world dessert at home, make a simple shortcrust pastry dough from flour, salt, butter and water. Line a pie dish then fill with golden corn syrup or molasses and fresh breadcrumbs. Top with circular pastry cut-outs in a lattice pattern before baking until golden brown. Serve warm with clotted cream or vanilla ice cream—no magic required, but still utterly delicious!
Cauldron Cakes from Harry Potter
Along with Treacle Tart, Cauldron Cakes are a magical baked good often enjoyed by Harry, Ron and Hermione during festive Hogwarts feasts. Resembling chocolate cupcakes complete with Halloween-esque candy décor, these spooky yet sweet treats are sure conjure up some wizarding whimsy.
Bake chocolate cupcakes from a favorite recipe or boxed mix then dip the tops in melted chocolate before topping with assorted candy decorations. Mini marshmallows, candy corn, jelly beans and shredded coconut make perfect cauldron cake decorations. You can also hollow out an indentation in the center of the cupcakes using a small spoon before dipping in chocolate to resemble bubbling potion cauldrons. Top with festive sprinkles for a fun homemade dessert with a drop of magical inspiration!
Chocolate Cake from Matilda by Roald Dahl
Young Matilda Wormwood finds both solace and resistance in great literature against her parents’ crass consumerism and disregard for anything intellectual or creative. Despite her home life, Matilda possesses extraordinary talents including a sharp intellect and burgeoning psychic abilities.
Bring some of Matilda’s empowerment to life in your kitchen by baking her teacher Miss Honey’s moist chocolate birthday cake dotted with crunchy chocolate chips.
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy before beating in eggs one at a time. Whisk together buttermilk and vanilla then add to batter alternately with AP flour sifted with cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Mix just until combined then gently fold in miniature chocolate chips.
Pour batter into greased cake pans, bake at 325°F for 35-40 minutes, then test doneness with a toothpick. Cool completely before spreading lavish chocolate buttercream frosting on top and sides. Decorate with candies or additional chocolate chips if desired.
Slice generously – the Trunchbull wouldn’t be pleased! – and raise a toast to the extraordinary Matilda Wormwood and sweet, caring Miss Honey. The Book-inspired recipe of this moist chocolatey cake is sure to feed body and soul, celebrating the power of intellect and courage.
Marmalade Roll from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Among the sumptuous spread of food Mr. and Mrs. Beaver provide the Pevensie children in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a “very sticky marmalade roll, steaming hot.” This sweet, citrusy treat is reminiscent of a sticky bun or cinnamon roll swirled with tangy orange marmalade instead of gooey cinnamon-sugar filling.
Make it at home by rolling out yeast dough before spreading it with marmalade. Roll up jellyroll-style and cut into pieces. Set them swirl side up in a baking dish then cover and let rise until doubled in size. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle coarse sugar on top before baking until golden brown. Drizzle with a sweet glaze while warm for irresistibly sticky, sweet buns that evoke the coziness of a Narnian den.
Mock Turtle Soup from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
In Lewis Carroll’s beloved Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the Mock Turtle sings a song about the soup he was once, longing for rich and comforting broth brimming with meat, herbs, and vegetables. Bring Wonderland home by simmering beef shank until tender before adding carrots, celery, onion, parsley, thyme and black pepper. Separately, sauté mushrooms in sherry then blend together with eggs and heavy cream seasoned with Worcestershire sauce, paprika and cayenne pepper. Pour the egg mixture into the soup, stir in some dry sherry, and sprinkle each bowl with snipped chives. With its nonsensical backstory and medley of flavors, this soup may even have even the Mad Hatter exclaiming “Very good soup!”
Wonderland “Eat Me” Cakes from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
“Curiouser and curiouser!” cries Alice after nibbling one side of a small cake marked “Eat Me” and suddenly shooting up nine feet tall, her head hitting the ceiling! Recreate a touch of Wonderland magic at home by baking petite madeleine tea cakes dotted with rainbow sprinkles then decorating with “Eat Me” in shimmery disco dust.
Start by creaming butter and sugar until perfectly smooth and glossy before beating in eggs one at a time followed by almond extract and vanilla. Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt then gently combine with the wet mixture, being careful not to overmix. Fold in a generous helping of colorful sprinkles or decors.
Spoon batter into a madeleine mold, filling each shell nearly full. Bake at 375°F for 8 minutes until set yet spongy. Cool completely on a rack before dusting with edible glitter and piping “Eat Me!” on top in royal icing.
While you may not shoot up in size like Alice, these charming little treats offer plenty of whimsy and rainbow delight for your next very merry unbirthday tea party!
Cheese Buns from The Hunger Games
A gift of thanks to protagonist Katniss Everdeen, the golden cheese buns from District 11 tribute Rue in The Hunger Games offer warmth and comfort amidst the terrors of the arena. Honor Rue’s memory with tender, slightly sweet rolls loaded with cheddar cheese and studded with scallions. Allow the yeast to bloom in warm milk with sugar and butter before mixing with an egg, flour, baking powder, salt, cheddar and sliced scallions. Knead until a soft dough forms then cover to rise for an hour before portioning into rolls, letting rise again, brushing tops with egg wash and sprinkling on salt flakes. Bake until puffed and golden brown then pull apart the savory, satisfying rolls while thinking of fierce Katniss and bold, beloved Rue.
Dark Chocolate Frogs from Harry Potter
The collectible Chocolate Frogs and their famous Wizard Cards are a magical treat familiar to every Hogwarts student. Bring some enchantment home by crafting rich dark chocolate molded into frog shapes then filled with a passionfruit cream filling to mimic frog spawn. Temper semisweet chocolate and pour a small amount into frog-shaped molds to form a thin shell. Once set, pipe in passionfruit curd made with butter, passionfruit pulp, egg yolks and sugar. Top off with more tempered chocolate to fully enclose the fruity cream before chilling until hardened. Unwrap your Chocolate Frogs carefully lest they make one great hop in your direction!
French Roast Coffee from The Catcher in the Rye
Even cynical youth Holden Caulfield finds some refuge from the “phonies” of the world at a late-night Greenwich Village diner. He orders his coffee “French roast, with cream on the side.” Bring some of that rich bitterness and smooth creaminess home with an intensely smoky roasted Arabica coffee served black or lightened with steamed milk or cream. Grind the beans fresh before brewing a strong pot. Pour into a mug, inhaling the complex aromas. Stir in a swirl of dairy if desired. Savor the full-bodied cup alone or over a slice of cherry pie, as Holden would have brooded over.
Ratatouille from Ratatouille
In the 2007 Disney/Pixar animated film Ratatouille, Remy the rat entertains Parisian diners with his delicious ratatouille recipe. This classic French Provençal stewed vegetable dish usually contains tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, peppers, onions, and herbs like Provence herbs, basil and thyme. It has a vibrant, Mediterranean flavor that’s vegetarian, gluten free and easy to recreate at home.
To make Remy’s famous Ratatouille recipe, sauté your chopped vegetables in olive oil before simmering them in a tomato base. Layer the vegetables in a baking dish before covering with parmesan cheese and fresh torn basil and baking until bubbly. Pair with a crispy bread to soak up the delicious juices for a hearty yet healthy vegetarian meal. As the movie taught us, anyone can cook…especially with a little help from a talented rat!
Conclusion
Our literary journeys transport us to magical realms and long-lost eras that come alive through engaging stories and unforgettable characters. Bringing the memorable food found within classic book pages to life in our own kitchens offers a tasty way to celebrate our favorite tales and revisit the rich sensory experience they provide.
These book-inspired recipes span from comforting to whimsical, familiar to fantastical. Yet they all share the ability to nourish our imagination as much as our appetites. So the next time you crave an extra serving of a beloved story, indulge in a literary recipe. With each beloved bite, let the characters, adventures, and faraway lands you love live on.
