The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Peter Rabbit Menus & Recipes
Step into the whimsical world of Peter Rabbit with menus and recipes inspired by Beatrix Potter’s much loved story-The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Whether you’re planning a baby shower, a child’s birthday, or a seasonal brunch, you’ll find everything here to bring the countryside charm of Mr. McGregor’s garden to life!
What food is in Peter Rabbit?
When Peter Rabbit sneaks into Mr. McGregor’s garden, he dashes through a menu of fresh English produce: lettuces, French beans, radishes, parsley, and the young cabbages Mr. McGregor was just planting. He loses a shoe among the potatoes, gets caught in a gooseberry net, and scampers behind black-currant bushes. Along the way, he passes an old mouse hauling peas and beans to her family and Mr. McGregor hoeing onions.
Back home, Peter’s siblings enjoy a simple supper of bread and milk. Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail have gathered blackberries while Peter has had his adventures, and share them with currant buns and brown bread their mother bought from the baker.
After his misadventure, Peter is soothed with a spoonful of chamomile tea, a gentle nod to old-fashioned home remedies.
Choose a Peter Rabbit Menu
Planning a Peter Rabbit party? Whether it’s a baby shower, a children’s birthday party, or a literary luncheon, these menus offer inspiration grounded in The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Ingredients mentioned in the original story are highlighted in bold.
Ideal for a light, elegant cocktail-style brunch with finger foods. Best served on tiered trays or vintage china.
Savory
- Tea Sandwiches on Brown Bread. Fillings: Traditional cucumber and cream cheese, and a French-inspired combination of thinly sliced radishes with fresh butter
- Mini Vegetable Garden Quiches.
Sweet
- Freshly baked scones. Serve with blackberry jam and clotted cream.
- Mini Blackcurrant Tartlets
- Gooseberry Fool. A traditional English dessert made with stewed gooseberries folded into lightly sweetened whipped cream.
Beverages
- Mrs. Rabbit’s Camomile and Apple Cooler
- A Selection of Herbal Teas. Include Earl Grey, chamomile and mint.
Perfect for little hands, finger foods and outdoor nibbling.
Savory
- Mr McGregor’s “Veggie Patch” Cups. Individual cups filled with carrot and cucumber sticks, snap peas, and breakfast radishes, served with a parsley yogurt dip.
- Mopsy’s Mini Muffins. Try savory herb and cheese muffins with hidden veggies like grated carrot or zucchini.
- Peter’s Pocket Pies. Mini hand pies filled with savory vegetables, potato and cheese filling.
Sweet
- Mini Jam and Brown Bread Sandwiches. Cut into bunny shapes and fill with blackberry jam.
- Flopsy’s Fruit Skewers
- Cottontail’s Carrot Cupcakes. Top with a swirl of cream cheese frosting
Beverages
- Garden Berry and Apple Punch
A rustic, sit-down luncheon, perfect for book clubs or a garden table setting.
- Freshly baked rustic brown bread with whipped herb (parsley) butter
- Garden Crudité Platter (Crisp carrot sticks, cucumber batons, and bell pepper slices) with French Onion Dip
- Pickled Plate with lightly pickled breakfast radishes and pearl onions. Serve alongside wedges of sharp farmhouse cheese.
Main Meal
- French Bean & Baby Potato Salad with a mustard vinaigrette, fresh dill and parsley.
- Warm caramelised onion and aged cheddar cheese tart
Dessert
- Warm Gooseberry and Oat Crumble. Serve with thick cream or custard.
Choose a Recipe
Traditional British Recipes Inspired by Peter Rabbit
These recipes are inspired by the foods found in the stories, from the vegetables Peter swiped in Mr. McGregor’s garden to the treats Mrs. Rabbit might have served at home.
Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail’s Blackberry Brown Bread Pudding | The Tale of Peter Rabbit
With leftovers from Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail’s dinner, Mrs. Rabbit might’ve made this 19th-century blackberry brown bread pudding the next day.
Mrs. Rabbit’s British Currant Buns | The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Dive down the rabbit hole to explore traditional British Currant Buns, the type Mrs. Rabbit might have chosen in ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit.’ Delve into the history of currants dating back to the 14th century and follow the recipe to experience a traditional taste.
Mrs. Rabbit’s Camomile and Apple Cooler | The Tale of Peter Rabbit
With several little bunnies at her feet, Mrs. Rabbit had plenty of experience and knows exactly which herb to reach for! Learn about why Mrs. Rabbit would have reached for Camomile, then make a refreshing Camomile and Apple cooler drink to serve at your next Peter Rabbit party.
“You may go into the fields or down the lane, but don’t go into Mr. McGregor’s garden.”
— The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter (1902)
FAQ: Food in The Tale of Peter Rabbit
What food is mentioned in The Tale of Peter Rabbit?
The Tale of Peter Rabbit includes a variety of foods mentioned during Peter’s garden adventure and family life. These include lettuces, French beans, radishes, parsley, young cabbages, potatoes, peas, beans, onions, gooseberries (implied by the net), blackberries, brown bread, currant buns, bread and milk and chamomile tea.
Which fruits and vegetables are in Mr. McGregor’s garden?
Mr. McGregor’s garden features lettuces, French beans, radishes, parsley, young cabbages, potatoes, peas, onions and possibly gooseberries (suggested by the net Peter gets caught in).
What does Peter Rabbit’s family eat at home?
Peter Rabbit’s family eats simple English food. His sisters, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail, have brown bread and milk, blackberries and currant buns.
What does Peter Rabbit’s mother give Peter when he’s sick?
After Peter returns home feeling unwell, his mother gives him a dose of chamomile tea, a traditional herbal remedy known for its calming and digestive properties.