As book clubs continue to grow in popularity, so does the tradition of sharing food and drinks at meetings. In our recent survey of subscribers, we asked what snacks or meals book club members prefer for their gatherings. The responses revealed a variety of tasty options that are easy to prepare and share. Here are some of the most popular suggestions:
Shareable Snacks and Appetizers
- Cheese and crackers: A classic and simple option that never goes out of style. Add some variety with different types of cheese and crackers, such as brie, cheddar, gouda, and whole grain.
- Charcuterie trays: An elegant and Instagram-worthy choice that can include cured meats, cheeses, olives, nuts, fruits, and spreads. Perfect for a fancy book club meeting or celebration.
- Fruit and veggie arrangements: A healthy and colorful option that can be customized with seasonal produce and dips. Try arranging strawberries, grapes, kiwi, melon, carrots, celery, and cherry tomatoes in a creative way.
Easy Meals for Sharing
- Quiche: A versatile and comforting dish that can be served hot or cold, and customized with various fillings such as spinach, bacon, mushrooms, and cheese. Cut into small slices for easy sharing.
- Pizza: A crowd-pleaser that can be customized with different toppings and crusts. Consider making individual pizzas or ordering from a local pizzeria.
- Pasta dishes: A filling and versatile option that can be made in advance and reheated. Try a classic spaghetti with meatballs, a creamy fettuccine alfredo, or a spicy arrabbiata.
- Hearty soups with bread: A cozy and nourishing choice that can be made in large batches and frozen for later. Try a chicken noodle soup, a creamy tomato soup, or a lentil soup with crusty bread on the side.
- Chili: A flavorful and easy-to-make option that can be customized with meat, beans, vegetables, and spices. Serve with cornbread or tortilla chips.
- Baked potatoes with various toppings: A comforting and filling option that can be customized with different toppings such as butter, sour cream, bacon bits, cheese, and chives.
- Salads: A fresh and healthy option that can be made in advance and customized with different greens, fruits, nuts, and dressings. Try a classic Caesar salad, a spinach and strawberry salad, or a Greek salad.
Sweet Treats and Desserts
- Pies: A traditional and comforting choice that can be made in advance and served in small slices. Try a classic apple pie, a pumpkin pie, or a pecan pie.
- Cakes: A celebratory and indulgent option that can be decorated according to the book club theme or occasion. Try a chocolate cake, a carrot cake, or a lemon cake.
- Muffins: A quick and easy option that can be
Easy and Shareable Food Ideas
Food ideas from our survey respondents include shareable snacks such as cheese and crackers, charcuterie trays, and fruit and veggie arrangements. These are perfect options for when you want to keep it simple and low-stress, but still provide some tasty treats for your fellow readers.
Meals that are easy to separate into individual portions are also great for sharing. An especially beloved dish among book clubs is quiche. Pizza and pasta dishes are also popular standbys, as are hearty soups with bread, chili, baked potatoes with various toppings, and salads. Perhaps a light green salad if contributing to a potluck, or something more robust such as a bean or pasta salad if providing the main dish.
And respondents are particularly fond of dessert options of every type, including pies, cakes, muffins and sheet pan recipes such as lemon bars and brownies.
Create Meals or Snacks (or Drinks) Based on the Book
Many book clubs plan meals based on the setting of the book they’re discussing, or in some way match books with food. As fun as a themed spread can be, figuring out how exactly to bring it all together can be challenging. But don’t worry, there are plenty of resources available to help.
Taste of Home provides a list of 30 recipes to pair with books your club may already be planning a meeting around, including Korean cream cheese garlic bread for Michelle Zauner’s Crying in H Mart, a classic aviation cocktail for Sarah Penner’s The Lost Apothecary, and nutty stuffed mushrooms for Cheryl Strayed’s Wild.
The Book Club CookBook makes it easy to browse book-related recipes by type (appetizers, entrees, etc.) or book title. You can also look through their impressive list of authors who have contributed to the site. Try your hand at Elizabeth Strout’s recipe for her famous character Olive Kitteridge’s grandmother’s doughnuts; So You Want to Talk About Race author Ijeoma Oluo’s butterscotch “feminist pudding,” with optional bourbon; Alka Joshi’s “royal” rabri (a North Indian dessert) as depicted in The Henna Artist; or Amor Towles’ Latvian stew, which he discovered in Saveur magazine and which later provided inspiration for a scene in A Gentleman in Moscow.
Keep it Low Stress
Whatever food your book club shares, try to keep it low stress. Some groups love creating elaborate meals but it’s not for everyone; in fact, in an earlier survey, we found that half of book clubs either had a snack or no food at all. Some respondents had stopped participating in a book club because they felt that the hosting had become more important than the book discussion. In another survey conducted during the first year of the pandemic, a significant number of respondents admitted that, while they were missing the conviviality of meeting in person, they were happy to be able to focus more on the book discussion and less on the food. They hoped that when their group started meeting in person again, the food preparation would be dialed back.
Support Your Local Restaurants
Taking the pressure off is one of the reasons some subscribers say that their group prefers to go the restaurant route all or some of the time. Another reason is because they like to match the restaurant to the setting of the book they’re reading. However, keep in mind that a noisy restaurant can make it difficult to hear each other, which is why some groups meet in the same restaurant or cafe each time, reserving a table that they know to be relatively quiet. Eating out is also a great way to accommodate dietary restrictions, as your group can take part in a low-effort shared experience while giving everyone the chance to choose their own meal.
And let’s not forget the benefits of supporting your local restaurants during these challenging times. By ordering takeout or delivery from your favorite restaurant, you’re not only satisfying your book club’s hunger, but also helping to support a small business in your community.
Final Thoughts
No matter what kind of food you choose to share with your book club, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy each other’s company. Don’t stress too much about the food – after all, the real reason you’re all gathering is to discuss your latest read and share your thoughts and opinions.
If you’re meeting virtually, consider taking some time to share recipes or cooking tips with each other. Maybe even cook together over video chat! And if you’re meeting in person, don’t forget to take proper safety precautions and follow local guidelines regarding social distancing and masks.
In the end, the food is just a bonus to the real joy of book club – the community and connection that comes from sharing a good story and discussing it with others. Happy reading and happy eating!