19 Fun Book Club Food Ideas For Your Next Gathering (2024)
- Date: July 3, 2024
- Topic: Events
- Contributors: Written by Peerspace Staff
Source: Peerspace
Hosting a book club is a great way to meet new people and exchange thoughts on your latest reading material. From the venue to the book itself, everything should be chosen with care. Have you thought about the snacks to be enjoyed? Book club food ideas can fit the theme of the novel or be more of a general selection of treats for the event. As lovers of party plans and special event venues, Peerspace has put together a list of fun book club food ideas for your next meeting we think everyone will enjoy!
1. Eat, Pray, Love
Elizabeth Gilbert’s self-discovery novel is a classic book club favorite that explores the culinary aspects of the world. Since she begins her journey with Italian cuisine, how about making some tomato bruschetta as an appetizer? The crispy bread rounds and tangy tomato are an incredible combination, especially once you’ve topped with balsamic vinaigrette and goat cheese!
2. The Kite Runner
The Kite Runner is a book that explores the highs and lows of life in Khaled Hosseini’s Afghanistan. So why not take a culinary adventure to match the literary one during your book club? Enjoy Middle Eastern specialities like spiced lamb kebabs with a side of traditional hummus! Bring pitas, sour cream, and chopped vegetables for an easy dinner meal that will be a guaranteed hit.
Now that you have the perfect recipe, don’t forget to pick a venue to match the occasion! Peerspace has plenty of quiet cafes and offices where you can host a book club. For example, you could book an entire library in New York’s Central Park West Historic District for a few hours, complete with riverfront views!
3. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
This book tells the story of an Irish family navigating the difficult world of New York City. For a book club food idea that follows their theme, try making a recipe that also combines the best of Ireland and America! Have you seen these savory corned beef pizza swirls? Each one tastes like a reuben and they’re small enough to work as an appetizer!
4. The Martian
Andy Weir’s hit sci-fi novel includes living on the Red Planet on just a diet of potatoes! So why not make potatoes a part of the book club adventure with the right recipe? You can go a little fancier than Mark did by making some homemade french fries for your next book club meeting! French fries can be baked, air fried, or oil fried, depending on your preference. Plus you can season them any way you like for the perfect snack. Just bring plenty of napkins to keep fingers oil-free while reading!
5. Charcuterie and cheese
How about some general book club food ideas that aren’t tied to a specific novel? A charcuterie board with a selection of spiced meats and cheese is a great way to go! Add some crackers or bread and you have an instant snack that guests can customize to their liking. Spreads like whole grain mustard, balsamic vinaigrette, or fig jam will elevate your snack tray another notch!
Looking to add more color to your menu? Then check out these unique rainbow food ideas for your next gathering!
6. Stuffed mushrooms
Easy to make and filling, stuffed mushrooms are guaranteed to be a hit at your book club! Most recipes call for cheese stuffing, which is rich and goes so well with the earthy mushrooms. From there, add bacon, chives, olives, and other additions. If you want lighter or vegan-friendly stuffed mushrooms, use hummus or bread stuffing as the main filler.
7. Candy platter
How about a book club food idea that will offer something for everyone? Make a candy platter with a wide variety of tasty treats! Start with some M&M’s and chocolate-covered almonds for the fudge lovers. Then include some peppermint sticks, meringue puffs, yogurt-dipped pretzels, and other choices! Candy platters can be put together in just minutes once you’ve picked up a few bags of the best candy from your favorite store!
8. Homemade Chex Mix
Few snacks are so good at bringing together different flavors and textures as a bowl of Chex mix! Don’t bother buying it; not when you can make it yourself using the right ingredients. This recipe calls for a buttery seasoning with Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and other flavors. Best of all, this crunchy snack takes less than an hour to prepare, making it perfect for a same-day book club gathering.
9. Fried spring rolls
If you’d like to bring something unusual, Vietnamese fried spring rolls are our first choice! Crunchy and herb-filled, you should pair them with sweet chili sauce for a treat that is sure to vanish from the snack table. Fried spring rolls are a little more involved than some of the book club food ideas we’ve listed here but few are so satisfying to both make and eat!
10. Homemade popcorn
Is there any party snack idea as iconic as popcorn? It’s simple to make, using ingredients you mostly have in your kitchen already. Everyone loves the taste and texture. Plus you can customize it in endless ways. Stick to classic salt and butter for traditional popcorn or use chocolate drizzle for something a bit more eye-catching. You can even use blue marshmallow glaze for sweet popcorn bites!
11. Chocolate-dipped strawberries
Chocolate-covered strawberries are a pretty snack that’s a lot easier to make than you think! All you need is baking chocolate and strawberries. Plus white chocolate drizzle or sprinkles if you want to get extra fancy. Once they’ve set, add them to a serving tray for an instant book club snack that won’t be ignored!
12. Guacamole dip
When searching for the best chip dips no list would leave guacamole out. Creamy and vegan-friendly, it’s great on corn chips, crackers, or anything else you care to dip into it. You can even make it yourself so you have full control over the flavors and spice level. A good guac isn’t hard to make; all you need are ripe avocados and some carefully chosen ingredients that are up to you. They might be lemon juice, onions, tomatoes, or tomatillos; use this recipe to get you started and customize it as you like!
13. Homemade ice cream
Ice cream is yet another dish that too many people make when they don’t have to! No-churn homemade ice cream only needs a few ingredients and enough time to freeze properly. From there, you can add cherries, chocolate chips, or anything else you want for the right flavor.
Looking for another theme for your next book club meet-up? Then you need to see our quirky Willy Wonka party ideas next!
14. Ham & cheese sliders
Mini sandwiches are a great way to satisfy your guests at any special event! This recipe for baked ham and cheese sliders is a guaranteed hit! From the buttery hot roll to the gooey cheese, each bite is a flavor explosion. Don’t forget the spicy Dijon mustard for an extra taste element!
15. Pretzel bites
Have you ever made your own pretzels before? All it takes is giving the soft dough a bath in boiling water and baking soda to change the chemistry! Make some homemade pretzel bites for your next book club. Include some mustard or cheese dip and you have a complete snack!
Once you’ve finished your pretzel bites you should also have a venue picked out for the occasion! Peerspace has party venues to go along with our many food ideas. This clubhouse in Dallas, TX, is one of our favorite book party venues! You’ll have flexible seating, pool tables, and other amenities to enjoy along with your pretzel bites and reading material!
16. Chips and queso
Corn chips and cheese…What better party snack could there be? It hits all of the right notes of crunchy, salty, and cheesy, plus it’s not expensive to buy! While you might not want to ground your own corn for chips, making a bowl of queso is a simple matter. Best of all, you can add precisely the right spices to control how hot it is. Follow this recipe for an amazing party queso dip!
17. Fruit kebabs
Keep book fingers free of sticky juices with these fruit kebabs! All you need is fresh fruit and a few wooden skewers. Use blueberries, melon, apple slices, bananas…Whichever fruit is you and your group’s favorite. Include some sweet dipping sauces for extra flavor as well!
18. Chocolate fondue
How about a book club food idea that is as much an experience as it is a snack? Set up a chocolate fondue station for your next event! A pot of hot fondue chocolate is easy to set up. From there, cut up some squares of cheese, lay out some fresh fruit, add some pretzels, and you have a few dipping ingredients that all go well with chocolate!
Fun book club food ideas: conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways to choose book club food ideas! You can use recipes that follow themes from the story or go with more general snack options. We hope we’ve inspired you; after all, that’s what Peerspace does best! And while you’re here, take a moment to browse some of the event venues near you for a space that’s just right for your book club!
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