The peanut butter and jelly sandwich, affectionately known as the PB&J, is a classic American lunchtime staple. With its perfect combination of sweet jelly and nutty peanut butter between two slices of bread, it’s easy to see why the PB&J has been beloved by kids and adults alike for decades.
Making a tasty PB&J sandwich is simple, quick, and only requires a few basic ingredients that most people have on hand in their pantry. However, there are some tips and tricks to elevate your PB&J from basic to gourmet status.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn step-by-step how to make a PB&J sandwich like a pro, from choosing the right ingredients to assembling and cutting the perfect sandwich. You’ll also find plenty of tips for customizing your PB&J with unique ingredient combinations, making spreads from scratch, and taking your sandwich up a notch with some quick and easy extras.
So grab your bread, peanut butter, and favorite jelly or jam and get ready to become a PB&J master!
Choosing Your Ingredients
A great PB&J starts with high quality ingredients. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need:
Bread
You can use any type of bread you want for your PB&J. Classic choices include:
- White bread: The most traditional option, white bread like Wonder Bread is soft, pillowy, and has a neutral flavor that lets the peanut butter and jelly shine.
- Wheat bread: For a bit more nutrition and fiber, choose 100% whole wheat bread.
- Sourdough: Has a touch more flavor and chewiness than regular white bread.
- Brioche: The soft, slightly sweet French bread makes an indulgent PB&J.
- Bagels: Go for the classics like plain or everything bagels sliced in half.
- Biscuits: Buttermilk or other savory biscuits add a Southern twist.
- Waffles or pancakes: Use maple syrup or fruit spreads between layers for a breakfast-inspired PB&J.
Peanut Butter
Look for peanut butter with just peanuts and maybe a touch of salt in the ingredient list. Fillings like sugar or hydrogenated oil will just mask the peanut flavor. Creamy and crunchy peanut butter both work well. You can also use other nut or seed butters like almond or sunflower.
Jelly, Jam, or Preserves
Grape and strawberry are classic, but you can get creative with any fruit spread you like. Good options include raspberry, blackberry, apricot, and orange marmalade. Look for products with lots of real fruit and without high fructose corn syrup or artificial ingredients.
Extras
While PB&J can just contain the basics, adding a few extras can take it to the next level. Consider additions like:
- Sliced fresh fruit like banana, strawberry, or apple
- Honey or maple syrup for extra sweetness
- Sliced nuts like almonds or walnuts
- Coconut flakes
- Vanilla extract
- Chocolate hazelnut or chocolate almond spread
- Cinnamon
- Raisins or dried cranberries
Making Your Own Peanut Butter and Jelly
For the freshest, best tasting PB&J, you can also make your own peanut butter and fruit spreads at home.
Homemade Peanut Butter
- Ingredients: 2 cups dry roasted unsalted peanuts, 1-2 tablespoon neutral oil like grapeseed or canola, and a pinch of salt.
- Add peanuts to a food processor or high speed blender. Pulse a few times to break them up. Then process continuously, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. It should take 2-5 minutes for the peanuts to become a smooth butter.
- With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the oil and add salt. Keep processing until fully incorporated. You want the peanut butter completely smooth.
- Transfer to an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 3 weeks.
Homemade Jelly
- Ingredients: 4 cups mashed fruit like berries, peeled peaches, or chopped citrus. 1/4 cup lemon juice. 4 cups sugar. 1 pouch liquid pectin.
- In a large pot, combine the fruit and lemon juice. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring and mashing the fruit to release juices.
- Remove from heat, stir in the sugar, and bring back to a boil. Boil hard for 1 minute.
- Remove from heat and quickly stir in the pectin. Skim any foam, then ladle into sterilized jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rims, apply lids and rings, then process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes.
- Store sealed jars of jelly in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks.
Assembling Your Sandwich
Now for the fun part – putting it all together! Follow these steps for sandwich success:
- Start with two slices of bread. If using bagels, biscuits, or waffles, slice in half.
- Spread a layer of peanut butter on one slice, making sure to spread it evenly to the edges. Use 1-2 tablespoons for a standard sandwich.
- On the other slice, spread on jelly or fruit spread. Again, spread it evenly to the edges using around 1-2 tablespoons.
- Optional: Add any crunchy mix-ins you want like nuts or coconut on either slice before combining them.
- Put the peanut butter and jelly slices together and gently press down to adhere them.
- For a neater sandwich, use a serrated knife to trim off the crusts if desired.
- Slice diagonally or horizontally to finish. The classic diagonal cut makes for easy sandwich halves.
Pro tips for assembly:
- Spread the peanut butter first when using chunkier jellies so the fruit doesn’t get smashed into the bread.
- Chill the knife periodically in cold water when spreading peanut butter to warm, gooey layers.
- Spread peanut butter and jelly all the way to the edges of the bread to prevent the filling from oozing out.
PB&J Ideas and Combinations
The basic peanut butter and grape or strawberry jelly is a classic for a reason. But why stop there when you can combine different nut butters, jellies, and mix-ins for endless PB&J possibilities? Get creative with these ideas:
Nut Butter and Fruit Combos
- Almond butter with raspberry jelly
- Cashew butter with apricot jam
- Sunflower seed butter with strawberry jam
- Pistachio butter with orange marmalade
- Hazelnut butter with blackberry preserves
- Walnut butter with peach jelly
Crunchy Add-Ins
- Peanut butter with strawberry jelly and banana slices
- Almond butter with grape jelly, honey, and slivered almonds
- Cashew butter with mango jam and shredded coconut
- Sunflower seed butter with raspberry jam and chopped dried cranberries
- Peanut butter with blackberry jelly, cinnamon, and crushed graham crackers
Sweet and Savory
- Peanut butter with bacon, grape jelly, and arugula on whole wheat
- Almond butter with sliced cucumber and strawberry preserves
- Sunflower seed butter with roasted turkey, cheddar, and raspberry jam
- Peanut butter with prosciutto, fig jam, and fresh basil
Breakfast PB&Js
- Peanut butter and strawberry jam between maple syrup-drizzled waffles
- Almond butter and banana with honey on cinnamon raisin bread
- Sunflower seed butter and mixed berry jam on an everything bagel
- Peanut butter with hazelnut spread and raspberry jam on brioche
Storing Your Leftover PB&J
Eaten those crustless halves yet still have sandwich left? PB&Js can keep for a short time if properly stored:
- Leftover half sandwiches can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or foil and refrigerated for up to 5 days.
- Let refrigerated sandwiches come to room temperature before eating for best texture.
- To freeze, wrap tightly in foil or plastic freezer wrap. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw frozen PB&Js in the refrigerator overnight before eating.
- A bonus of freezing – the peanut butter and jelly meld together even more for extra flavor!
Conclusion
A humble PB&J may seem simple, but perfecting the classic sandwich takes a bit of knowledge. With high quality ingredients, the right assembly method, and creative combinations, you can make the best PB&Js ever.
While white bread with grape jelly is timeless, don’t be afraid to get adventurous with nut varieties, fruit spreads, and mix-ins too. With so many possible flavors, even picky eaters will look forward to lunchtime when you have the keys to PB&J success.
So gather your favorite ingredients and start spreading – your perfect peanut butter and jelly sandwich is just a few steps away!