18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (2024)

Oh, peanut butter andjelly, everyone’s fave childhood throwback, how we love you! Our adult palates have moved on to include Nutella, Biscoff, and sophisticated nut butters, it’s true. But when comfort food cravings call, it’s we really hanker for. Luckily, these days our options go beyond the simple sammy. The classic combo is not just for lunch anymore. Here are 18 PB&J-inspired recipes you need to try, like, right now.

The Healthy Peanut Butter andJelly Smoothie

18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (1) When you’re craving something sweet, but don’t want to fall into a sugar coma, this smoothie hits the spot. It’s perfect for an after-the-gym treat or late night snack. (via Sun Diego Eats)

Peanut Butter andJelly Chia Pudding

18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (2) If you’re a true PB&J fan (and who isn’t?), you’ll fall in love with this healthy breakfast pudding. It’s real and it’s happening, so ready your breakfast spoons. (via Minimalist Baker)

Peanut Butter andJelly Granola

18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (3) Have you tasted the deliciousness that is Whole Foods PBJ granola? Yeah, this is just like that only, no *whole paycheck.* Home baking for the win! (via Averie Cooks)

Peanut Butter andJelly Greek Yogurt Parfaits

18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (4) This PB&J parfait has tons of flavor with no added sugar, thanks to all-natural fruit preserves. (Sprinkle & Toss)

No-Bake PB&J Energy Bites

18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (6) These tasty treats take just 15 minutes to prep and they keep well in the freezer. Make a double batch and you can take a few to the office daily for a little four o’clock pick-me-up. (via Minimalist Baker)

Peanut Butter andJelly Muffins

18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (7) You’re looking at a peanut butter muffin that’s been STUFFED with jelly. Remember back in the day when *snack* was a scheduled-in mealtime? Well, snack is back! (via A Cookie Named Desire)

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (8) This bar recipe is built on a peanut butter cookie crust. Kids young and old will gobble them up. (via Culinary Hill)

PB&J Brownies

18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (9) Talk about your food hybrids, this recipe combines TWO of everyone’s childhood faves — PB&J and brownies. Like a foodie time machine, just the smell of this recipe baking in the oven will transport you back. (via The Life Jolie)

Peanut Butter Cupcakes With Jelly Filling

18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (10) Oh, em, gee — these peanut butter cupcakes with peanut butter buttercream are simply OOZING fruity jam. Prepare to meet your new food obsession! (via Gluten Free With L.B.)

Peanut Butter and Jelly Whoopie Pies

18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (11) A plume of fluffy filling and ribbon of jam sandwiched between two sweet cookie-cakes — what’s not to love? It’s the PB&J sammy taken to a whole new level. (via Community Table)

Peanut Butter and Jelly Poke Cake

18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (12) Everyone loves a good poke cake. They travel easily, feed a crowd, and make everyone ooh and ahh. (via IHeart Eating)

Bakery Style Peanut Butter and Jelly Doughnuts

18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (13) There’s nothing better than a homemade bakery style donut — unless it’s one that’s JAM-packed with peanut butter and jelly. (via Baker by Nature)

Peanut Butter andJelly Cake

18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (14) This peanut butter cake is frosted in grape jelly-flavored buttercream icing. You’ve got to try this, like, right now. (via Confessions of a Cookbook Queen)

Peanut Butter and Jelly Pie Sticks

18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (15) Have you ever seen PB&J in such a cutie-patootie form? Whip up a batch of these and take them into the office, and you’ll be everyone’s BFF. (via Spoon Fork Bacon)

Peanut Butter andJelly Macarons

18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (16) This macaron recipe calls for peanuts to supplement the usual almonds. That’s what gives them that genuine peanut-buttery flavor you want to have sandwiching your fave grape jelly. (via Tartelette)

Peanut Butter and Jelly Snack Bars

18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (17) This one’s for all the gluten-free folks in the house. These bars have all the wonderful flavor you crave, without any of the bad stuff. (via Minimalist Baker)

Homemade Peanut Butter andJelly Cups

18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (18) These little bites call for just five ingredients and come together in 20 minutes. They make a delicious, healthy snack that’s easy to grab and go. (via Handmade Charlotte)

Sally Jones

Sally Jones is a writer and editor living in New York City. She has worked at many websites including iVillage, Ladies Home Journal, More, Parenting, Cosmopolitan, The Knot and YourTango, in jobs ranging from editor to COO. Renovation and interior design are her

unhealthy obsessions

hobbies. She has renovated every home she's lived in, including the rentals, and like... whoa, who does that? You can catch her at her blog Renov8or.

18 Outrageous PB&J-Inspired Recipes You Need in Your Life (2024)

FAQs

How to jazz up PB&J? ›

10+ Ways to Switch Up a PB&J
  1. Make a regular PB&J, then toast the whole thing. ...
  2. Swap the jelly for romaine lettuce and honey. ...
  3. Make a triple decker: bread, jelly, peanut butter, bread, peanut butter, jelly, bread. ...
  4. Add Nutella OR smoked almonds OR mini chocolate chips OR cereal. ...
  5. Go for an open-faced treatment.
Sep 22, 2023

What to add to a PBJ sandwich? ›

You can also add crunch elements like coconut flakes, granola, or chia seeds. If you're feeling adventurous, try the popular bacon-peanut butter combo, or try Elvis's famous peanut butter, bacon, and banana combination.

What goes well with peanut butter on a sandwich? ›

Bananas, pickles, honey, or marshmallows — they're all ingredients that go with peanut butter, if you ask enough people.

What to eat peanut butter with? ›

A classic pairing like apple or banana slices and peanut butter are a safe bet and will leave your sweet tooth satisfied without any guilt. You can also think outside the box and try other fruits like strawberries, blueberries, pears, peaches, or raspberries.

How do you make PB&J better? ›

Forget the jelly and top your peanut butter with fresh apple slices and a dash of cinnamon. Use Martin's Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Potato Bread for even more delicious cinnamon flavor!

What flavor is best for PBJ? ›

When it comes to the classic peanut butter and jelly (PB&J) sandwich, there's no doubt that grape jelly reigns supreme. Our research indicates that its sweet, fruity flavor perfectly complements the creamy richness of peanut butter, creating a harmonious blend of taste and texture that's hard to resist.

What goes first on a PBJ? ›

Instructions for Classic PBJ

Spread the peanut butter on one slice of bread. Spread jelly or jam on the other slice of bread. Put the two slices of bread together, with the peanut butter and jelly facing in. If you'd like, you can slice the sandwich diagonally.

What side dishes go with PB&J? ›

I love my PB&J sandwiches with pretzels, apple slices and an extra scoop of peanut butter on the side to dip my apples in. On one side of the PB&J sandwiches, I put healthy options like apple slices and celery with a small bowl of peanut butter to spread on them as well as some grapes, cheese crackers and potato chips.

What is the best bread for PB&J? ›

The Bread. As we have already discussed, it is vital for a PB&J to be made with soft, white bread. Enter: Japanese milk bread, also known as Hokkaido milk bread, also known as shokupan. It is the lightest and fluffiest bread you will ever taste.

Are pickles and peanut butter Good Together? ›

Dwight Garner, a book critic for The Times, makes a strong case for this, his favorite sandwich, calling it “a thrifty and unacknowledged American classic.” The vinegary snap of the pickles tempers the unctuousness of the peanut butter, and it's an unusual pantry sandwich for when luncheon meats leave you cold.

What does eating a spoonful of peanut butter everyday do? ›

Improved heart health

One of the main fats in peanut butter is oleic acid. When substituted for other fats in your diet, oleic acid helps maintain good cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure. Managing these levels in your body can lower the risk of heart disease. Peanut butter also contains omega-6 fatty acid.

Can dogs eat peanut butter? ›

Whether speaking to new or seasoned pet parents, veterinarians are often asked 'can dogs eat peanut butter? ' The good news is that regular peanut butter is safe to give your dog as a treat. Just make sure to avoid peanut butter with Xylitol, a sugar substitute found in lower or sugar-free products.

Can cats eat peanut butter? ›

Although many cats love the taste of this salty and sweet spread, cat parents should avoid giving their feline friends peanut butter. It provides no nutritional value and, more importantly, certain ingredients, like fat and added artificial sweeteners, can be harmful or even toxic to cats.

How do you intensify peanut butter flavor? ›

You can further augment the gustatory potential of the peanut butter by using both vanilla extract and almond extract in your dough—just a splash of the latter is enough to boost your cookies' nuttiness (while remaining subtle enough that no one will cotton onto the presence of drupe essence in your legume dessert).

How do you jazz up a sandwich? ›

Stir in fillings to add texture: crunchy chopped nuts, crisp grapes or sliced apples, chewy raisins, dried spices and fresh herbs. Here, sweet pineapple adds a juicy, tropical slant on your typical sandwich.

What to add to peanut butter jelly sandwich reddit? ›

Banana shake sounds perfect. Especially good when the grilled pb&j is on a multi-grain bread with chunky pb and apple butter. :) Nutella on a pb&j is pretty awesome too. Thin apple slices, adds some crunch and a bit of sweetness.

Should I have a PB&J before bed? ›

Therefore, eating peanut butter or other foods with tryptophan before bed may alleviate sleep issues. Peanut butter is highly nutritious and rich in protein, which reduces food cravings and promotes muscle growth. It also contains tryptophan, which may enhance sleep quality.

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