Regardless of whether you prefer the book or one of the film adaptations, you know that food plays an important role in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women.
10 Recipes Inspired by Little Women
Updated on Apr. 12, 2024
1/9
Blancmange
Total Time
15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Blancmange is a classic pudding-like dessert that is typically made in a mold. In the book, it’s a treat that Meg makes for Laurie when he’s sick, as it’s said to be good for a sore throat.
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 249 calories, 5g fat (5g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 53mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (47g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.
2/9
Bread
Total Time
45 min
Servings
2 loaves (16 pieces each)
From the Recipe Creator:
The Marches love bread! Whether they’re breakfasting on toast or snacking on a slice with butter (or burning the occasional loaf by accident—Jo certainly could’ve used this thorough bread-baking guide), it’s truly a staple.
Nutrition Facts:
1 slice: 125 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 13mg cholesterol, 226mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.
3/9
Turnovers
Total Time
30 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Housekeeper Hannah was always looking out for the March girls, making turnovers for them to eat as they walked to school or work. The pastries doubled as hand-warmers—the girls even called them their “muffs.”
Nutrition Facts:
1 hand pie: 190 calories, 10g fat (2g saturated fat), 21mg cholesterol, 100mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 2g fiber), 3g protein.
4/9
Bone Broth Recipe
Total Time
25 hours 30 min
Servings
about 2-1/2 quarts
From the Recipe Creator:
Bone broth is excellent in place of stock or broth called for in recipes. It's also enjoyable on its own or as a base for soup. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 30 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 75mg sodium, 0 carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 6g protein.
5/9
Ice Cream
Total Time
40 min
Servings
12 servings (about 1-1/2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
Pink ice cream was part of an elaborate Christmas spread given to the Marches by Mr. Laurence. Such treats would have been quite the welcome surprise, especially during the 1860s. The usual fare during the Civil War was much simpler.
Nutrition Facts:
1/2 cup: 265 calories, 19g fat (11g saturated fat), 166mg cholesterol, 88mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (21g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
6/9
Buckwheat Cakes
Total Time
25 min
Servings
8 pancakes
From the Recipe Creator:
Buckwheat cakes are referred to multiple times throughout the book. The griddled cakes the Marches munched on were much more dense and hearty than the pancakes we expect at our local diner these days. You can skip the diner breakfast and make your own pancakes from scratch (buckwheat flour optional).
Nutrition Facts:
2 pancakes (calculated without syrup and additional butter): 195 calories, 6g fat (3g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 667mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 3g fiber), 7g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat.
7/9
Gingerbread
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
9 pieces
From the Recipe Creator:
There are several references to gingerbread in the book, and the Marches and their friends surely enjoyed both the cake and cookie versions. They liked molasses candies, too.
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 414 calories, 17g fat (8g saturated fat), 68mg cholesterol, 390mg sodium, 62g carbohydrate (40g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
8/9
Plum Pudding
Total Time
2 hours 30 min
Servings
12 servings (1-1/2 cups sauce)
From the Recipe Creator:
Like many families of the time, the Marches enjoyed traditional plum pudding with their Christmas meal; like any good pudding, it “melted in one’s mouth.” Learn everything you wanted to know about Christmas puddings.
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece with 2 tablespoons sauce: 550 calories, 17g fat (10g saturated fat), 93mg cholesterol, 292mg sodium, 98g carbohydrate (80g sugars, 5g fiber), 5g protein.
9/9
Lemonade
Total Time
15 min
Servings
7 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Along with coffee and tea, lemonade was a go-to beverage for the March family, and you can be sure it was made from scratch.
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 142 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 1mg sodium, 37g carbohydrate (35g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
