Three years ago, my sister and I launched a cozy book club for two. As introverts, we loved our quiet time bonding over books and pastries. Inviting others felt overwhelming, so we kept it simple. Each month, we chose a book and met weekly on Facebook Messenger to chat about it. Weekly meetings? Only we’d agree to that! For example, we savored warm pastries while discussing stories. Sometimes, she visited, and we baked together, filling the kitchen with laughter. We named our club Pastries and Prose. Now, I’m excited to share our cozy book club with you through this blog.
Pastries and Prose is your virtual bookstore café, a welcoming space for readers who love a cozy book club vibe. Whether you’re in a reading nook or at a café, we offer book recommendations, pastry pairings, and tips to make reading sweeter.
Image alt: Cozy book nook with books and pastries
What to Expect from Pastries and Prose
Welcome to Pastries and Prose, your cozy corner for books and café-inspired treats! Starting September 2, 2025, we’ll share fresh content every Tuesday and Friday to inspire your love for reading and indulging. Expect a delightful mix of cozy book and pastry pairings, practical reading tips, and community-driven content for book lovers. Here’s what you’ll find:
Cozy Book and Pastry Pairings
Dive into curated book recommendations—think cozy mysteries, heartwarming romances, or indie novels—paired with delicious café-style pastries. Every other week, we’ll share a simple recipe to elevate your reading experience, like savoring a warm scone with a gripping novel.
Bookish Lifestyle Tips
Enhance your reading life with practical, budget-friendly ideas. From creating the perfect reading nook to finding time to read as a busy parent, our tips will help you make every moment with a book special.
Author Spotlights
Cozy up with the storytellers behind your favorite books! Twice a month, we’ll dive into the world of a different author—from rising indie voices to beloved bestsellers. Discover their background, explore their unique writing style, and get to know the books they’ve crafted. Whether it’s a debut novelist or a seasoned writer, our Author Spotlight will bring you closer to the stories you love.
Book Lists
Get ready for reading adventures tailored to your mood! Twice a month, our handpicked Book Lists will guide you through themed picks, from cozy autumn mysteries to uplifting summer reads, or special collections like “undiscovered indie treasures” or “stories to warm your heart.” Designed to complement our Cozy Book and Pastry Pairings, each list ensures your next book—and treat—feels just right.
Monthly Book Review and Online Book Club
Join us for a cozy read-along each month! We’ll announce a new book at the start of every month, followed by a heartfelt review on the last Friday, starting , Sept. 29, 2025. Read along with us and share your thoughts in the comments to connect with fellow book lovers in our online book club. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a shared story and a sweet treat together!
Sample of Book and Pastry Pairing
To capture the spirit of Pastries and Prose, here’s a cozy pairing to get you started:
The Bookshop on the Corner follows Nina, a librarian who starts a mobile bookshop in a charming Scottish village. This heartwarming story blends romance, adventure, and the joy of books—perfect for a cozy read. (Get it on Bookshop.org or Amazon | Listen on Audible)
Vanilla Scones
Ingredients
Scone:
2 cups flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
11/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup cold heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon milk
Optional: seeds scraped from one vanilla bean
PREPARE THE SCONES:
1.Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2.Place the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in the bowl of a food processor, and whisk to combine. Add the butter to the food processor, and pulse the food processor until the mixture looks like coarse meal. With the food processor running on low speed, stream in the cream and the vanilla extract.
3.When the dough has gathered itself into a ball, turn off the food processor and divide the dough into three equal portions. Flatten each portion of dough into a disc shape, about 1 1/2-inches thick. Score each disc into 6 triangles with a knife, and pull the triangles slightly away from one another (allowing about 1/2-inch in between).
4.Bake the scones for 16 to 20 minutes, until set in the centers and slightly golden on the bottoms.
ADD THE GLAZE:
In a small bowl, stir the powdered sugar, vanilla bean seeds, and milk together until smooth. Spread a small amount of glaze on top of each scone.
Notes
If you do not have a food processor, grate frozen butter and mix with a fork until a coarse meal is created. Then use hands to form into a ball. Then proceed with recipe instructions.
Credit: https://www.recipegirl.com/
Join Our Cozy Community
We’re thrilled to embark on this literary and culinary journey with you! Pastries and Prose celebrates the joy of reading with a side of sweetness. Stay tuned for our next post on September 2, where we’ll share 5 cozy fall reads you will want to curl up with. Want to shape our content? Share your favorite cozy book or pastry in the comments below.
Happy reading and indulging!
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