The humble peanut butter and jelly sandwich is often overlooked. In its simplicity, it is left to the confines of childhood lunch boxes and the occasional wave of nostalgia. However, on April 2, we are celebrating this sandwich during national PB&J Day. We tracked down the nine most satisfying and sophisticated PB&J combinations to revive this childhood classic.
Never thought a pb&j could be gourmet? Think again. Chefs, Chad and Derek Sarno, have elevated the basic sandwich to new culinary heights. Their version involves buttering good quality, whole wheat bread before slathering it with creamy peanut butter, stuffing it with raspberries, sprinkling on dark chocolate, and grilling the sandwich to perfection. The dish is finished with a dusting of coarse sea salt to balance out the sweet and savory flavors.
Get the recipe here.
French toast is all about that thick-cut bread. No wimpy, thin french toast will do for this recipe. Create a thick pb&j sandwich, coat it in a slightly sweet silken tofu “egg” batter, fry it in butter, then go wild with maple syrup, cinnamon, and powdered sugar. Plain french toast will never be the same again.
Get the recipe here.
Intimidated by making doughnuts? Don’t be. These gorgeous vegan treats are baked, which eliminates that scary frying situation required of the raised varieties. If you can make muffins, you can make baked doughnuts! These deliciously moist cake doughnuts are topped with a creamy, nutty, raspberry swirl for a simple yet decadent treat. Want to go above and beyond? Split one in half and spread additional pb&j and in between, creating a pb&j-stuffed pb&j doughnut.
Watch the video above, or get the recipe here.
It’s a dessert. It’s a snack. It’s delicious. These bars are easy to make and wholesome enough to eat whenever the craving calls. But be careful, they’re addictive! Thankfully, with just eight simple ingredients, you can whip up a double batch in no time.
Get the recipe here.
Stax on stax on stax…of pb&j. You don’t always need a ton of ingredients to make an epic sandwich. Take some soft, good quality bread, spread on your favorite peanut butter and jelly, then top with sliced bananas and another slice of bread. Cut the sandwich in half and stack the halves on top of each other. You just made a sandwich out of your sandwich. Win.
Get the recipe here
Not in a sandwich mood? Transform your boring pb&j into sushi. Since the ingredients are simple, go ahead and splurge. Try espresso-infused peanut butter or that jar of gourmet preserves you’ve picked up 100 times at the store but never let yourself buy. Spread your nut butter and jam of choice on a slice of soft bread (crusts removed) and roll to form a log shape. Cut the log into bite-sized pieces, and enjoy with chopsticks.
Too tired to chew? Get your pb&j fix through a (sustainable) straw. Blending up a smoothie takes even less time than making a sandwich. Whether you’re in a rush or just ran out of bread, this smoothie is the answer.
Get the recipe here.
No bread? That’s okay. Peanut butter cookies happen to be the perfect vessel for a pb&j sandwich. These tender cookies are packed with peanut buttery flavor. Guild the lily by swiping on another dollop of peanut butter and some jelly. Why have a simple sandwich when you can have a cookie sandwich?
Get the recipe here.
For those who truly want to revert back to childhood, there’s nothing like someone else making a pb&j for you. PB&J.LA is a vegan sandwich concept in Los Angeles specializing in unique nut butter and jelly combinations. Opt for the Old School with peanut butter, strawberry jam, and marshmallow fluff, or try a more mature flavor profile with the Ol’ Fashioned, a combination of salted pecan butter, Angostura bitters-infused apple jam, and orange zest. The best part? They cut the crusts off for you, just like mom.
For PB&J.LA recipe inspiration, click here.
Image Credit: Wicked Healthy
This post was last modified on December 15, 2020 7:30 am