Bringing ACOTAR to the Kitchen Table with Gaby

At Snug Bookworm, we love finding the coziest, most bookish corners of the internet, where literature and daily life merge in delightful ways. One discovery we are thrilled to share is the TikTok account of the creative @happygabycooking, who artfully marries her love for cooking with her enthusiasm for Sarah J. Maas’s legendary A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series.

Gaby not only cooks up a storm but also creates a sense of community for fellow ACOTAR enthusiasts. By transforming the delectable descriptions in the book into actual dishes, she is sharing a piece of her heart—and her kitchen—with her followers. Her creations are more than just mere recipes; they are a delightful blend of her own unique culinary interpretations and innovative adaptations from online recipes, each dish drawing from beloved moments in the favorite series.

Through this immersive culinary experience, Gaby has formed a community of ACOTAR fans, all eagerly awaiting her next post to see—and taste—the fantasy world they adore.

Let’s dive into the scrumptious and imaginative world of @happygabycooking. We’ll discuss her inspirations, her creative process, and how she’s winning over the hearts (and stomachs) of ACOTAR fans everywhere. And yes, there will be recipes!

Join us on this delightful exploration of a world where literature leaves the page and comes alive in the kitchen. As we unveil @happygabycooking’s meals inspired by the ACOTAR series, you’ll see that there’s no better way to enjoy a good book than with a delectable dish by your side.

Meet Gaby

We recently met Gaby and dove deeper into what drives her, her creative process, and her aspirations. Gaby generously let us glimpse into how her ACOTAR-inspired culinary wonders come alive. We learned about her journey with cooking and how her charming TikTok videos are stirring a sense of togetherness among ACOTAR fans across the globe.

What followed was a delightful chat—so stick around, and get to know the individual who’s giving “comfort food” a whole new meaning.

What initially inspired you to start cooking dishes inspired by the ACOTAR series?

“Cooking, baking, and fantasy books have always been a way for me to escape and self care. I was feeling really overwhelmed by my job and school at the beginning of the year and was craving a way to be creative. I am the only person out of my friend group who has read ACOTAR, and I’ve really needed someone to talk to about it. The idea of cooking from a fantasy book randomly came to me one day and I felt like I needed to do it! I feel like my hunch was right.”

How do you go about selecting which scenes or elements from the books to transform into recipes?

“Usually, I comb through the books and bookmark wherever food or a meal is mentioned. Sometimes SJM goes into a lot of detail about a meal and sometimes she doesn’t. I now realize that I can’t make everything in the book so I’m trying to stick to more significant moments in the plot, like there was a lot of talk about the chocolate cookie in the first book and everyone knows the soup from ACOMAF Chapter 55.”

Could you share your approach to adapting the descriptions from the books into tangible and enticing recipes?

“It has been a lot of guesswork to adapt some of the recipes since when Feyre isn’t in a good mental headspace, she isn’t as food focused or descriptive. For the Spring Court, since the first book is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, it made sense to me that Tamlin’s court, food, decor, and overall vibes would be French. So most of the recipes I found and made were French or French inspired. For ACOMAF, it’s harder because I’m not sure exactly where and what culture Velaris is based on. Some people in my comments have said they are Mediterranean, others Italian or Greek or even middle eastern but I think it’ll be fun discovering that in my next videos.”

How do you balance staying true to the book’s descriptions while also infusing your own creativity and personal touch into the recipes? 

“It’s easier to find balance in the scenes where SJM does an in-depth description of the food! For instance, the Chocolate torte was easy to recreate as well as a chocolate cookie. I add my own flare by adding a topping or decorating the food a certain way that I like.  But with the tartlets where she does not describe any flavors, I have to take a little bit of creative liberty in the ingredients or spices I use. That’s the fun of it though! Even if I make a recipe in one way another person can come along and say they have a different interpretation of the food. I am Latina, and many of the foods we make have a lot of spice, tomato, onions, chili and meat, and beans. It’s quite different from the food in the first recipes but I hope to include a little bit of the food that I grew up eating in one of the upcoming recipes I plan to make.”

How do you envision your ACOTAR-inspired dishes resonating with readers and fans of the series?

“I hope that people who find my videos feel entertained and relaxed from the recipes. The books have helped me escape and I hope my food videos can do the same for them. I love videos that are cozy and love seeing others’ creations. I also hope it inspires them to get in the kitchen more! Lots of people talk about having book parties and being unsure about what to make. They can come to my page and find some ideas! Some folks on Instagram and TikTok have tagged me in their own videos making some of the recipes and it’s amazing. It melts my heart every single time.”

What is your favorite dish you have made so far?

“My favorite dish so far has been Feyre’s chocolate cookie! I’ve made shortbread cookies before and they are so easy. I love rolling the cookies in a log and cutting them up. I also love anything with chocolate and it seems like most people really like it too.”

From brainstorming the concept to filming and editing, what does it take to bring those visually stunning creations to life?

“It takes me a little while to first comb through the book to find a food scene. Then, I do some googling around to find recipes and pictures for inspiration. Once I’ve settled on what I’m going to make, I head to the store to find the ingredients. It then takes me time to prep the ingredients, set up the filming spot, actually cook the food/film it, and then edit it including voice over. Then posting to both TikTok and Instagram, writing out the captions and the recipes. All in all it does end up taking a chunk out of my time but it’s been a fun project so far.”

Are there any other book series or fictional worlds you would love to explore through your culinary creations in the future?

“Of course! I’m open to delving into any fictional book worlds. I’ve recently finished Kingdom of the Wicked and the Cruel Prince series so maybe I’ll get an idea from one of those. I also fell in love with Outlander (the show) last year and I need to read the books now. I’d love to recreate something from the show/book. Eventually, I’d like to do book reviews, where I cook something from a book and talk about it as a review. When I have enough time, fingers crossed I can do this.”

I think you would make the best cookbook, have you ever thought about making one?

“Haha thanks for believing in me! Before posting TikToks it never crossed my mind. I have baked and cooked with my family my whole life, it’s something that my family is passionate about. But I never thought I could pursue it in a “professional” way. As I make more videos, gain more experience with recipe development, and more of the following I would definitely envision myself creating some sort of fantasy cookbook with recipes inspired from multiple fantasy worlds. Perhaps that is something for me to look forward to.”

Videos and Recipes

Let’s dive into the reason we’re all here – the cozy videos that engaged us and countless ACOTAR fans. Here, we’re showcasing Gaby’s top three videos, each one paired with the inspiring recipe that brought it to life.

Feyre’s Chocolate Cookie

@happygabycooking ACOTAR Cooking Episode 7: Feyre’s Emotional Support Chocolate Cookie made with @tonyschocolonely_us 🍫. These are super easy to make and delicious. Adding a couple flakes of salt on top really makes the difference ❤️ #booktok #cooktok #acotarcooking #acotarbaking #bakingasmr #feyre #tamlin #springcourt #sjmaas #chocolaterecipe #cookies #acotar ♬ It’s Been A Long, Long Time   – Harry James and His Orchestra, Vocals by Kitty Kallen

• Chocolate Sable Cookies Recipe
• Gaby: “I was looking for a chocolate cookie french recipe and these came up! I love shortbread cookies and they are very easy to make. The chunks of chocolate in these cookies are delicious. I added my own twist to the recipe by topping with a little salt. Someone in my comments also said you can give them a dusting with powdered sugar if that’s more your style.”

Tamlin’s Chicken Thighs in a White Wine Sauce

@happygabycooking ACOTAR Cooking Epi 3: Feyre’s first dinner in Prythian. Although this was a simple recipe it was still delicious! Can’t wait to get to Velaris food though 🥘#ruffinoprosecco #chicken #cookingasmr #feyre #springcourt #sjm #acotar #tamlin #springcourt #sjm #sjmaas #booktok #cooktok #cozytok ♬ Soldier, Poet, King – The Oh Hellos

• Recipe
  • 4 Boneless Chicken Thighs, Skin On
  • 1 Tablespoon of Mustard
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • ½ Lemon
  • ¼ cup of prosecco or white wine
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons of your preferred seasoning
    • Lay your chicken thighs skin side up in a baking dish.
    • Pour a couple tablespoons of olive oil, and the juice of half a lemon, and mustard on the chicken
    • Liberally season your chicken with salt, pepper, and your favorite seasoning blend. Ensure that your seasonings, oil, and mustard are well massaged into the chicken
    • Place four garlic cloves with the chicken and pour in ¼  cup of your wine. You can also add another ¼ cup of water as the sauce will reduce in the oven
    • Bake at 400 Degrees F for about 35 minutes
    • Pair your chicken with peas and your favorite bread rolls.
  • Gaby: “I wanted this recipe to look like the food in medieval movies! Luckily, the book was pretty descriptive about the food in the Spring Court and mentioned a pale sparking wine multiple times. Rather than use white wine I swapped it out with Prosecco and it tasted pretty good! The mustard and wine in the recipe are my nod to France although this recipe was my experiment and not authentically French.”

Chocolate Torte

@happygabycooking ACOTAR Cooking Series Ep 1 – Chocolate Torte from the Spring Court 🍫 What should I make next? #acotar #feyre #feyrearcheron #springcourt #bakingasmr #cozytok #tamlin ♬ Prelude – Over the Garden Wall & The Blasting Company

• Chocolate Torte Inspiration Recipe
• Gaby: “This was the first video I made! I had never made a chocolate torte before so I went searching for a recipe and it seemed like it was a flourless chocolate cake.  This came out so beautiful and it definitely looks ever better with a dusting of sugar on top.”

If you’re a fan of the ACOTAR series or even just getting started, tasting the dishes inspired by the books is an exciting experience. Gaby’s content brings to life our favorite moments from the books, providing a multisensory experience to explore the series.We hope Gaby’s creations spark some new ideas for your next cooking adventure. 

We hope this gives you fresh ideas for your own kitchen adventures. So, the next time you’re ready to cook something, why not bring your favorite book to life with some creative dishes? There’s a whole new way to connect with the stories you love, right from your own kitchen.