35 Delicious Ways to Make Peanut Butter and Jelly, including sandwiches, bars, cheesecake, cake, granola bars, cookies, scones, brownies and more!
April 2nd is National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. It’s a great day to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. But even better… scroll through this collection of 35 delicious ways to make peanut butter and jelly. You’ll find some fun ways to enjoy this popular flavor combination!
Share the peanut butter and jelly love on social media today using the hashtags #NationalPeanutButterAndJellyDay #PeanutButterAndJellyDay and #RecipesForHolidays.
Be sure to check out my April Food Holidays page so you never miss a food holiday in the month of April!
“You can spread jelly on the peanut butter, but you can’t spread peanut butter on the jelly.”
-Dick Van Dyke
The History of Peanut Butter and Jelly
From The National Peanut Board:
In 1901, the first peanut butter and jelly sandwich recipe appeared in the Boston Cooking School Magazine of Culinary Science and Domestic Economics written by Julia Davis Chandler. She said to use currant or crab-apple jelly and called the combination delicious and as far as she knew, original.
Still, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich was an exclusive food, and its popularity among the masses was yet to come. As Grapelade and pre-sliced bread became popular, another breakthrough happened with peanut butter—commercial brands found a way to create creamier peanut butter that didn’t stick to the roof of the mouth so easily. And during the Great Depression of the 1930s, families discovered peanut butter provided a satisfying, high protein, less expensive meal.
But the major event that took the peanut butter and jelly sandwich over the top in popularity was WWII.
Peanut butter and jelly were on the U.S. Military ration menus in World War II. Peanut butter was a high-protein, shelf-stable ingredient and easily portable on long marches. Grapelade had already accompanied soldiers in the first world war and added a sweetness to the sandwich. With pre-sliced bread so easy to use, the natural inclination was to combine these three items, and before long the good ol’ PB&J was a part of the American soldier’s life.
When soldiers came home from the war, peanut butter and jelly sales soared. Kids loved it because it tastes great, parents loved how easy it was to make and how kids could make it themselves with pre-sliced bread. Many families and college students on a budget relied on PB&J.
The Ultimate Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich by Tangled with Taste: PB&J’s taken to a whole new level of awesomeness! Three levels of crusted bread separated by layers of peanut butter and jelly plus fresh strawberries.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Pancakes by Veggie World Recipes: These peanut butter and jelly pancakes combine the sweetness of the fruit and maple syrup along with the protein and nutrients of the chia seeds and the peanut butter to create the perfect breakfast!
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies by The Food Charlatan: A soft, tender cookie recipe with TONS of peanut butter flavor is baked with a dollop of jam on top.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Babka by Little Figgy Food: To make babka takes some time, but is worth it. From the richness of this eggy bread to the classic peanut butter and jelly filling used, it’s decadence!
Peanut Butter Jam Thumbprints by Sally’s Baking Addiction: This dessert combines extra soft peanut butter cookies, salty peanuts, and a sweet jam filling.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes by Sugar and Soul: These encompass raspberry filling inside of a vanilla cupcake that’s then covered in creamy peanut butter frosting and peanuts! It tastes just like a PB&J Sandwich!
Peanut Butter and Jelly Oatmeal Cookie Sandwiches from By Jaclyn: This is a fun twist on a childhood classic!
Peanut Butter and Jelly Yogurt Parfaits by Cupcakes & Kale Chips: These are a fun and yummy way to enjoy everyone’s favorite pairing of PB&J with layers of Greek yogurt, fresh strawberries, of course a few spoonfuls of peanut butter and jelly, and a crunchy peanut butter and jelly granola with bits of dried strawberries.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream by Butternut Bakery: This ice cream is swirled with homemade strawberry jam and crunchy oat crumbles. It’s so easy to make and tastes just like a classic pb&j!
Peanut Butter and Jelly Donuts by Heather Christo: These donuts are so pillowy light and fluffy, with layers of crackly vanilla glaze, oozing raspberry jam and creamy peanut butter glaze.
PB&J Oatmeal Cookie Bars by An Affair From the Heart: These are reminiscent of a classic pb&j sandwich with a little oatmeal cookie rolled in, baked into a simple dessert bar.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Tiramisu by Giadzy: The flavors of a classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich come through in the most sophisticated way in this delicious dessert.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sweet Rolls by The Typical Mom: These are like cinnamon rolls but way better. Enjoy for breakfast or dessert from scratch.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins by Graceful Little Honey Bee: This recipe is great because it packs all of the flavor of a traditional PB&J sandwich into a portable snack.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Granola Bars by Recipe Boy: These are a delicious and healthy after school snack or afternoon treat!
Homemade Peanut Butter and Jelly Cups by Handmade Charlotte: This dessert takes only a few minutes to make and 15 minutes to set! Five ingredients and you’ll be in PB&J heaven, minus the bread.
High Altitude Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies by Curly Girl Kitchen: This is an easy recipe for soft peanut butter cookies swirled with strawberry or raspberry preserves.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream Sandwiches by Chocolate with Grace: These feature soft peanut butter cookies, vanilla or raspberry ice cream, and a layer of fruity goodness.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sushi Rolls by Eating on a Dime: Kids call them PB&J roll ups. Whatever you want to call them, the kids will love them either way and they’ll want you to add them to your snack rotation.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Burger by Grill on a Dime: Creamy peanut butter and jelly top your burger for a flavorful recipe.
Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich by Planted in the Kitchen: This sweet and savory sandwich is easy to make in just 10 minutes and is filled with warm and gooey peanut butter and jelly on deliciously toasted slices of bread.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Linzer Torte by Eats Well With Others: Two peanut buttery layers of shortbread are filled with a layer of grape jelly to make delicious cookie sandwich.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cake by I Bake He Shoots: What do you do when you desperately want a peanut butter & jelly sandwich, but you don’t have any bread? You make a Peanut Butter & Jelly Cake, that’s what you do.
Peanut Butter and Jelly French Toast by Everything Erica: You can make this an elevated brunch dish and easily mix and match different types of nut butters/jams/fruits to make it uniquely yours.
Copycat Crumbl Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies by Brooklyn Active Mama: It’s a soft, chewy cookie that is loaded with chunks of peanut butter and jelly. Crumbl cookies have become very popular in the United States, and now you can make your own at home!
Peanut Butter and Jelly Brownies by The Original Dish: Classic brownie batter topped with dollops of peanut butter and your favorite jelly, baked until fudgy, and cut into squares.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake Bars by Maria’s Mixing Bowl: This dessert combines two of the best treats in the world – pb&j and cheesecake!
Peanut Butter and Jelly Shortbread Bars by Poetry & Pies: This is tender peanut butter shortbread filled with homemade jam.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Scones by Erica’s Sweet Tooth: These scones are spiked with a healthy amount of peanut butter chips and drizzled with a luscious peanut butter glaze for plenty of PB goodness with mixed berry jam layered inside the dough.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Pop Tarts by Butternut Bakery: Here we have buttery and flaky gluten free pie dough with peanut butter and jelly filling and sweet peanut butter icing.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake by Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt: There are pockets of strawberry jam inside the cheesecake, so when you cut into it, jam comes slowly oozing out. There is also a peanut butter and jelly topping.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookie Cups by Liv for Cake: The base for these cookie cups is a peanut butter cookie filled with a little bit of seedless raspberry jam and peanut butter mousse on top of that, and it is topped with more jam and chopped peanuts.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars from Baked by an Introvert: In these bars, there’s a chewy peanut butter crust layer, jelly layer, and crunchy topping.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Blondies by Dinner Then Dessert: These are tasty peanut butter brownies with swirls of strawberry jam.
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cups by Zen and Honey: No one can resist that combination of peanut butter and jelly so these easy-to-make sweet treats are always a hit!
Fun Facts About Peanut Butter and Jelly:
- According to the Peanut Board, peanut butter and jelly were staples in military rations during WWII, and the returning G.I.s helped popularize the sandwich.
- The average American will eat 1500 PB&Js before they turn 18.
- Americans eat an average of 2,984 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in a lifetime.
- It was President George W. Bush’s favorite sandwich.
- Astronauts on the International Space Station use tortilla, peanut butter, and jelly to make their PB&J’s in outer space.
- 3 in 10 parents make PB&J for themselves when they make one for their kids.
- The most Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches eaten in a minute is six, according to official record-keepers Guinness World Records.