10 Cookbooks for Bookworms

Have you ever drooled over the food descriptions in your favorite books? I know I have! Here are ten cool cookbooks that will help you taste the culinary delights of Westeros, Hogwarts, and more:

1. Bucholz, Dinah – The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook: From Cauldron Cakes to Knickerbocker Glory–More Than 150 Magical Recipes for Muggles and Wizards

Recreate Hogwarts feasts or an afternoon in Hogsmeade with the recipes from this book. (Sadly, it lacks a recipe for butterbeer.)

2. Dahl, Roald and Felicity – Roald Dahl’s Revolting Recipes

Illustrated by Quentin Blake, this fun cookbook has a variety of wacky recipes inspired by Roald Dahl’s novels for children, including Lickable Wallpaper, Hot Frogs, and Stink Bug Eggs. I can personally attest to the deliciousness of Bruce Bogtrotter’s Chocolate Cake, although it (and a number of the other recipes) are probably too complicated for most children to make without adult assistance.

3. Federle, Tim – Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist

If you’re less interested in butterbeer and more interested in actual beer, check out this creative and witty compendium of literature-inspired cocktails, which includes commentary, drinking games, and more along with its recipes.

4. Fowler, F.L. – Fifty Shades of Chicken: A Parody in a Cookbook

This brilliant parody of Fifty Shades of Grey may be the funniest cookbook you’ll ever read, and the steamy selection of recipes is not only cleverly written and beautifully photographed, but also delicious!

5. Gelman, Judy and Krupp, Vicki Levi – The Book Club Cookbook: Recipes and Food for Thought from Your Book Club’s Favorite Books and Authors

A great mix of recipes inspired by popular book club reads, such as Swedish Meatballs from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Sabzi Challow from The Kite Runner, and Oyster Brie Soup from Water for Elephants.

6. Jacques, Brian – The Redwall Cookbook

The woodland creatures of Jacques’s popular Redwall series had glorious feasts at least once per book, and this cookbook is your chance to recreate mouthwatering dishes like Deeper N’Ever Pie and Abbey Trifle for your own dinner table.

7. Monroe-Cassel, Chelsea and Lehrer, Sariann – A Feast of Ice and Fire: The Official Game of Thrones Cookbook

This cookbook is based on the A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones fan blog The Inn at the Crossroads, which was so successful that its authors were asked to write the official cookbook for the series. The regional cuisines of Westeros and neighboring Essos are recreated with inspiration from medieval and Roman recipes, as well as modern ones. I’ve tried several, including their takes on Sister’s Stew and Rack of Lamb, and they were delicious.

8. Travers, P.L. – Mary Poppins in the Kitchen: A Cookery Book With a Story

Mary Poppins teaches the Banks children basic cooking skills with the help of friends like the Bird Woman. An alphabetical selection of delicious English recipes perfect for kids to cook with their parents is included.

9. Walker, Barbara – The Little House Cookbook: Frontier Foods From Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Classic Stories

Relieve America’s frontier past with this cookbook full of more than 100 meticulously researched pioneer recipes.

10. Wenger, Shaunda Kennedy and Jensen, Janet – The Book Lover’s Cookbook: Recipes Inspired by Celebrated Works of Literature, and the Passages That Feature Them

This cookbook recreates more than 200 recipes from passages in famous literature, including a nice mix of genres and eras. It includes the passages that inspired the dishes, making it a great read as well as a great cookbook.

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Bonus Recs

• The Bloomsbury Cookbook
• The Cat Who… Cookbook
• Dinner With Mr. Darcy
• Dinner With Tennessee Williams
• Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook
• Nanny Ogg’s Cookbook
• The Unofficial Narnia Cookbook

What are your favorite literary cookbooks?