Book Club Snacks & Menu Planning

The Role of Food in Book Club Gatherings

 Gathering to discuss a book is a richer experience than reading solo. If you are hosting a book club meeting, you’ll likely want to provide some form of food and drink to your guests. Whether that means easy finger foods or literary themed cocktails, the right menu can enhance the meeting by creating an immersive experience. Consider the following when brainstorming book club food ideas:

•  How many people will be attending the meeting? Do any of them have dietary restrictions (vegan, gluten-free, etc.) or allergies?
• What time is the book club meeting, and how long will the meeting last? The timing will likely shape expectations of what type of food will be served and whether guests expect a full meal or simply snacks.
• What type of space do you have available for the meeting? Are you planning to have guests sit around a table, or will you use more informal seating? Will guests have somewhere to set down their plates and glasses? (Keep in mind that many guests will want to refer to a copy of the book being discussed as well.)
• Will you serve alcohol? If so, do guests have a way to get home safely after the meeting? It’s a good idea to have nonalcoholic options available, as some guests may choose not to drink for a variety of reasons.
• Consider food safety when determining what to serve and how to present it: Can hot items be kept hot, and do any menu items need to remain refrigerated or chilled?

Themed Menu Planning

Aligning Menus with Book Themes

Serving delicious book club snacks that match some aspect of the book is a great way to elevate any book club meeting. Some books already have strong culinary aspects to them; for example, Charmaine Wilkerson’s novel Black Cake features a recipe for Jamaican black cake (a traditional dessert featuring dried fruit and rum) being passed down through generations. It would be a natural choice to serve black cake (either homemade or from a local bakery) as an accompaniment to a book club discussion. Likewise, in Bonnie Garmus’s novel Lessons in Chemistry, the protagonist launches a cooking show based on her expertise as a chemist. Some of the recipes referenced in the novel such as lasagna or brownies would be excellent to pair with a book club discussion.

Other novels might utilize a vivid setting that can guide the choice of food and drink. For example, Maggie O’Farrell’s novel The Marriage Portrait is set in 16th-century Italy, so a host could research historical recipes and serve dishes that evoke a Renaissance banquet, such as apricots, grapes, cheeses, and Italian wine. A book’s setting can also serve as playful inspiration: David Grann’s The Wager tells the tale of an ocean voyage and shipwrecked sailors, so serving seafood dishes, clam chowder, or shrimp cocktail would all be whimsical ways to align the menu with the book.

Sometimes, a character from a novel can inspire food and drink pairings. In Gabrielle Zevin’s novel Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, the protagonist Sam is Korean American and learns to embrace this identity as the plot unfolds. Foods like kimchi and Korean-style fried chicken could set the tone for a discussion of the role cultural identity plays in the novel. Likewise, in Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Evelyn Hugo has Cuban heritage; serving Cuban sandwiches or mojitos and Cuba Libre as cocktails for book club might prompt reflection on how Evelyn relates to this aspect of her identity. Menus can also align with the genre of a book club pick. If a book is a mystery or thriller, you might consider playfully nodding to a murder in the plot with red velvet cake or cupcakes drizzled with raspberry or strawberry “blood” splatters.

Choosing foods that come from cultures different from your own can also be a way of showing cultural respect and appreciation. This may mean choosing recipes from chefs or cookbook authors with ties to the culture to boost cultural authenticity or sourcing ingredients from shops owned by individuals from that culture and supplementing the menu with prepared or catered items from local businesses. You might also share some information with your guests about the dish. Preparing dishes from a culture different from your own can be a great way to dive deeper into the world of a book.

Seasonal Considerations

In addition to aligning your menu with the book, you may also wish to consider the time of year when the book club is meeting. In general, spring and summer are great times to explore lighter dishes and take advantage of abundant fresh produce; warmer temperatures also mean that serving cold drinks or frozen desserts can help keep your guests cool. Fall and winter meetings lend themselves naturally to cozier and heartier fare such as soups, stews, casseroles, warm drinks, and baked goods.

If the meeting occurs close to a holiday, you can use themed book club menu ideas (for example, reading a thriller close to Halloween, or a romance novel in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day). Seasonality can also impact the use of space and ambiance for a book club meeting; in the summer, consider taking advantage of warmer temperatures and longer days to meet outside. If you’re meeting in the colder and darker seasons, consider having blankets and throws available for guests, lighting candles, and utilizing a fireplace if you have one.

Potluck and Collaborative Menu Planning

A potluck (when attendees bring dishes to share with the other guests) can significantly lessen the effort required for the host. It can also get book club members thinking about the work in advance of the meeting: When members sign up to provide a dish, encourage them to consider complementing the themes of the book. You can even provide suggested recipes, cookbooks, or categories of food to help spark their imaginations; for example, for a book club meeting for Ann Patchett’s Tom Lake (which is set at a cherry farm), you could ask whoever signs up to provide a dessert that incorporates cherries, whether that means a pie, tarts, etc.

Be sure to circulate the sign-up information well in advance of the meeting and monitor the book club potluck recipes to make sure that there is a balanced array of dishes (salads, entrees, desserts, etc.) Share dietary restrictions at the time of sign-up so that everyone can plan accordingly. It is also helpful to encourage everyone to share an ingredient list for their dish. If you are hosting a potluck-style meeting, plan to have extra serving utensils available for the various dishes, as well as plates, utensils, and glasses. It can also be helpful to have containers available if guests wish to take home leftovers.

Practical Menu Planning for Diverse Needs

Time-Efficient Menu Strategies

Planning and preparing food shouldn’t get in the way of you enjoying the meeting and discussion! At the start of the planning process, look at your calendar for the week of the meeting and make a realistic assessment of how much time you will be able to spend on preparations and hosting. You don’t have to commit the same amount of effort every time you host; if you are hosting a meeting the same week as a big work presentation or right before you leave for a trip, you’ll want to be especially conscious about how and what you plan, whereas you might go all out on another occasion.

To save time without sacrificing quality, consider choosing recipes that you make regularly; you’ll spend less time during preparation and reduce the chances of anything going awry, and you’ll likely have some of the key ingredients on hand already. Remember that you can often make small adjustments to align a familiar recipe with the themes of the book: For example, if your book club is reading Remarkably Bright Creatures (where much of the plot takes place at an aquarium) and you have a tried and true recipe for vanilla cupcakes, simply adding blue food coloring to the frosting elevates the dessert to reflect the themes of the novel.

If you are looking to save time, consider choosing dishes where at least some elements can be prepped in advance; for example, a quiche crust can be baked ahead of time and filled later. A slow cooker or crock pot can also be useful for cooking food so that it is simmering when guests arrive. Simpler dishes can help you save on prep work, and if you are looking to be efficient, avoid dishes with specialty ingredients that may be difficult to source or involve visits to distant stores.

Store-bought book club snacks can be a great way to save time. Consider a mixture of homemade and store-bought items; choose store-bought items when high-quality options are available or when it would be particularly time-consuming to prepare that dish from scratch. If you are serving store-bought food, consider adding garnishes such as fresh herbs, a drizzle of olive oil or honey, citrus zest, or freshly grated cheese to easily elevate the item.  

Accommodating Dietary Restrictions

Learning in advance if any of your guests have dietary restrictions can ensure that everyone is able to enjoy the meeting. If you are accommodating a specialized diet such as gluten-free or vegan, consider whether a few simple substitutions in a favorite recipe can accommodate these restrictions. If you choose this strategy, it may be helpful to test the new version in advance so that you feel confident preparing the dish. You can also research recipes from content creators who specialize in different types of diet (kosher, low-carb, vegetarian, etc.); members with specialized diets may even be able to point you in the direction of helpful food blogs or cookbook authors.

Another great option is to utilize SuperSummary’s Recipe Generator function. For various book titles, there is an option to select both a category of recipe (such as sweet or savory snacks) as well as any dietary restrictions. For example, if a book club is meeting to discuss Nikki Erlick’s novel The Measure and needs to serve gluten-free book club recipes, the Recipe Generator suggests Maura’s Marvelous Macarons and Nina’s Nutty Ninja Fudge Bites, referencing characters from the novel.

Another option is to utilize a “build your own” style menu so that guests can customize according to their dietary needs. Examples include a build-your-own baked potato or taco bar, or a build-your-own sundae bar for dessert. Some businesses also specialize in foods meeting specific requirements, such as gluten-free bakeries. Purchasing items from these businesses can be a great way to ensure that there are high-quality items that meet all dietary needs. Be sure to label all of the food items clearly; preferably, provide a full ingredient list for each item so that guests can best choose food that meets their needs.

Budget-Friendly Planning

You can create a high-impact menu while still staying within your budget. Focus on a seasonal book club menu since ingredients are often cheaper and avoid menu items that require expensive specialty ingredients (especially if you are unlikely to use them again). Replacing meat with other sources of protein (such as beans, tofu, or lentils) can both minimize costs and allow you to serve a vegan book club menu. Simple one-pot dishes such as soups, stews, and chilis can be affordable options, especially during fall and winter. If you are following a recipe, consider whether you can substitute expensive or specialty ingredients with lower-cost options or ingredients you already have on hand. Garnishes and presentation can sometimes be simplified to save costs as well: for example, if fresh berries are out of season and expensive, a cake might look just as beautiful with a dusting of powdered sugar. Overall, choose one or two items where investing some extra cost will pay off, and look for affordable options elsewhere.

Fun Beverage and Dessert Pairings

Beverage Pairing Techniques

Choosing beverages that complement the theme of the book can add a special element to your meeting. You can choose a beverage that references the setting of the book; for example, a book club meeting to discuss Horse by Geraldine Brooks might enjoy drinking mint juleps (a cocktail traditionally associated with the Kentucky Derby horse race) since the novel explores thoroughbred racing culture and revolves around a horse named Lexington. A beverage can also be a wink to the novel’s title or characters. Serving a Bee’s Knees cocktail (featuring gin, lemon, and honey) would pair well with a discussion of Jodi Picoult’s novel Mad Honey.

SuperSummary’s Recipe Generator also plans beverages! For example, a book club reading Anthony Doerr’s Cloud Cuckoo Land could select Konstance’s Cosmic Curiosity (featuring Blue Curaçao and pineapple juice) or Zeno’s Heroic Elixir (containing bourbon and elderflower).

Drinks don’t need to contain alcohol, and it’s important to have alcohol-free options available for guests. Mocktails can provide an alternative to literary themed cocktails; for example, a group reading Killers of the Flower Moon could enjoy a range of floral mocktails, such as rose-hibiscus lemonade or a blueberry elderflower spritz. Many books naturally lend themselves to non-alcoholic drink options; Nita Prose’s The Maid regularly references characters enjoying cups of hot tea, making any number of loose-leaf teas a great option. When serving coffee or tea, be sure to have both caffeinated and non-caffeinated options available for guests, especially if the book club is meeting in the evening.

When choosing drinks, it’s also helpful to keep the overall menu in mind. Wine pairings for book clubs aren’t just a matter of choosing the right beverage for the book. For example, many traditional Indian dishes are spicy, so if you decide to serve snacks like pakoras or samosas alongside a discussion of Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water, an off-dry or sweet white wine will help cut the heat (though you may also want to have a few milder options on hand).

Sweet Snacks and Book Club Desserts

Book club dessert ideas that align with the book’s mood and setting elevate the meeting. You can select a dessert that evokes the themes or settings of the book; for example, a book club reading Demon Copperhead might choose traditional Appalachian desserts such as apple stack cake or fruit cobblers, whereas serving New York-style cheesecake would reflect the Wall Street themes in Hernan Diaz’s novel Trust. Desserts and sweet snacks often incorporate decorative elements that can also help complement the book. For example, if a book club is reading Lynda Rutledge’s West with Giraffes, cupcakes or a simple sheet cake could easily be decorated with brown and black frosting to echo a pattern of giraffe spots. Serving store-bought dessert can create flexibility for a busy host; the addition of homemade coulis or chocolate drizzle, a sprinkle of cinnamon, powdered sugar, or flaky sea salt, or a garnish of fresh berries or mint sprigs will ensure a personalized touch.

Planning for Different Meeting Times

Brunch Meeting Strategies

Brunch can be an ideal time for a book club to gather; many brunch dishes (frittatas, quiches, breakfast casseroles, etc.) are healthy book club snacks that can be prepped in advance. Consider purchasing ready-to-bake croissants or cinnamon rolls so that guests are greeted with freshly baked aromas. Other book club brunch ideas include a mimosa bar with different options for juice and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic sparkling wine, as well as dish names that playfully reference the book. For example, James McBride’s novel The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store is set in a community known as Chicken Hill, so a plate of devilled or hard-boiled eggs could be labeled Chicken Hill.

Evening Meeting Strategies

If a book club is meeting in the evening, many guests will expect a more substantial menu; this is a great time to consider adding book club appetizers, finger foods, a cheese plate, and dessert options. Consider consulting with book club members to decide on the best meeting time and choose one that will allow guests to end the evening at a time that works for them. You can also consider treating your book club meeting as a dinner party; this will likely mean serving a seated evening meal, and you will need to decide whether the discussion of the book will take place during the main course or over drinks and dessert. 

Tools and Resources for Menu Planning

Using Technology to Simplify Menu Planning

Emerging technology, including AI, can assist with menu planning; a prompt like “food to serve at book club,” tailored to fit the book and guests in question, should turn up plenty of ideas. SuperSummary’s recipe generator will provide easy appetizers for small groups and can be used to filter for specific dietary requirements. Other tools such as Chat GPT can generate customized menu suggestions. Publishers and authors may offer their own recipes and resources related to a specific book, but you can also consider following food influencers who specialize in specific types of cuisine or specialized diets on social media platforms.

Planning Ahead and Staying Organized

Doing as much as possible before the day of the meeting can alleviate pressure and stress: Review the book club menu well in advance, and plan for a grocery trip or delivery 1-2 days ahead. Create a timeline working backward from the time when guests arrive so that you know exactly what you will do the night before, an hour before, etc. If the timeline seems overwhelming, consider substituting easy book club food ideas (crudites, cheese and crackers, or frozen appetizers are easy finger foods) for a more elaborate component. Don’t be shy to accept offers of help from book club members—particularly if members have dietary restrictions, they might prefer to bring some of their own food items.

Final Thoughts

Planning a thoughtful menu for a book club meeting doesn’t need to be complicated—small, intentional choices can elevate any gathering and ensure a memorable event. If you are hosting a book club meeting, consider keeping notes on book club food ideas as you read; with practice, you’ll likely find that it’s fun and exciting to come up with menu ideas. Consider themes, settings, and even playful puns as ways to align your menu with the book. If you need to spark some ideas, consider using SuperSummary’s recipe generator for tailored book club menus!