Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

Opinions on the right way to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich can easily divide a room. I’ve heard spirited debates over nearly every aspect of the lunchbox staple, from the acceptable amount of peanut butter to the best flavor of jelly—and even the proper way to cut the sandwich. The recipe is so basic that it breeds all kinds of variables, and everyone has their own preference.

That got us thinking: What is the uncontested, no-doubt-about-it, best way to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? We tapped our Sandwich Experts (aka Taste of Home staff editors) for their opinions on building the perfect sandwich. A lot was thrown around (but, unsurprisingly, the diagonal cut was unanimous), so we compiled the data and sent it to our Test Kitchen staff to find the very best version of them all.

Many, many PB&J sandwiches later, they stepped out of the Test Kitchen with the perfect peanut butter and jelly sandwich recipe, like Rafiki presenting Simba in The Lion King. It has the perfect ratio of ingredients with the best kind of jelly and the ideal peanut butter texture. Our staff is in agreement: This is the best peanut butter and jelly sandwich recipe, no doubt about it.

This Is the Right Way to Make a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

The right way to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is to spread equal parts of chunky peanut butter and raspberry jelly on white bread, then cut the sandwich diagonally to keep everything in place. Keep the crust on for its earthy, malty flavor and caramelized texture. We’re not reinventing the wheel here, just highlighting the best type and amount of PB&J ingredients.

The peanut butter

Grocery stores carry all kinds of peanut butter: chunky, smooth, no-stir, natural, sodium-free, organic … and that’s not even taking into account all the flavored peanut butters on the shelf. Of them all, though, we found that chunky peanut butter was the best for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The peanut pieces add texture to an otherwise too-soft sandwich, and the deep roasted peanut aroma is most transparent in this variety.

The jelly

Even those with a go-with-the-flow attitude have an opinion on the best jelly flavor for a PB&J—it’s by far the most opinionated aspect of the sandwich. Even though strawberry and grape are the two classic flavors, our Test Kitchen found raspberry to be the clear winner. Raspberry jelly is deeply tart and just sweet enough, which is a nice contrast to the fatty, salty peanut butter. It has a thick texture, which I find so satisfying to bite through. If you’re not a jelly fan, reach for jams or preserves for a looser, more spreadable texture.

The bread

There are plenty of opinions on the best jelly flavor and peanut butter texture for a PB&J, but most agree on white (or wheat) sandwich bread as the vessel of choice. It’s mild and soft, which makes it the perfect raft for all that jelly and peanut butter. We’ve all gotten creative with our peanut butter and jelly sandwich bread at some point, using slices of sourdough or brioche in experimentation, but we always come back to sandwich bread for a PB&J. There is one unspoken rule, though: No more asking for the crust cut off past age eight.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Ingredients

• Jelly: When there are so few ingredients in a recipe, each one really stands out, so it’s worth splurging on the best jelly at the store for a quality flavor. My favorite is made by Bonne Maman, but use whatever you prefer. Also, I love the extra texture from the seeds in raspberry jam, but seedless jelly is fine.
• Peanut butter: Most peanut butter brands carry chunky peanut butter, so pick your favorite brand. The best peanut butter brands are packed with chunky peanuts, but are still quite spreadable. If the oil has separated from the peanut butter, give the jar a good stir, reaching all the way to the bottom.
• Bread: White sandwich bread has a mild, balanced, wheaty flavor with a touch of sweetness. It’s super soft and easy to bite through, and is sliced to the perfect thickness. If you don’t have a go-to, try one of our favorite store-bought sandwich bread brands.

Directions

Step 1: Smear the jelly

With a butter knife, mini offset spatula or the back of a spoon, spread the raspberry jelly over one slice of bread. Try to spread it in an even layer.

Step 2: Add the peanut butter

With a clean utensil, spread the chunky peanut butter over the second slice of bread in an even layer, reaching all four corners.

Step 3: Cut the sandwich

Close the slices together to form a sandwich with the filling sides facing one another. If desired, cut the sandwich diagonally.

This Is How to Customize Your PB&J

• Try a different jelly: While raspberry is our personal preference, it might not be your jam (ha!). Dig around in your fridge or explore other options at the grocery store. Strawberry and grape are classic jelly choices, and people love mixed berries for a complex flavor. Try peach and apricot if you want a sandwich that’s sweeter and less tart. This is a great excuse to open up that jar of homemade jam or jelly you canned a while back.
• Introduce other nut butters: Not a fan of creamy peanut butter? There are a ton of other nut butter options out there, like almond, cashew, macadamia, hazelnut and pistachio butter. Sunflower seed butter is an excellent nut-free option. Even apple butter or pumpkin butter will add a sweet tang with hints of warm baking spices. I love using them in my PB&J come fall.
• Break out another bread: White sandwich bread is a classic for PB&Js, but it’s not the most nutrient-dense. Replace it with whole wheat sandwich bread, or try tangy sourdough, buttery brioche, soft challah, fluffy Japanese milk bread or sweet cinnamon-swirl bread. Just make sure it’s cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Anything thicker is too much.
• Add a crunchy component: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are pretty soft, so if you’re big into adding texture to soft foods (for example, streusel on muffins or croutons on soup), you may want to layer crunchy ingredients into your PB&J. One of the easiest ways to do this is by using crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy. Salty potato chips, crisp apples and freshly baked bacon are other awesome texture enhancers. Try to find something that strikes a balance between crunchy and easy to chomp through. Pretzels may seem like a good idea, but they’d be way too abrasive here.
• Griddle the sandwich: If you’ve never tried it, I implore you to treat your PB&J as you would a grilled cheese and toast it. Butter both sides of the bread and slowly griddle the sandwich in a pan on the stovetop. The heat crisps and caramelizes the bread, deepens the sweetness of the jam, and turns the peanut butter warm and gooey. Somehow, a griddled sandwich just feels more substantial.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Tips

How far in advance can you make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?

The absolute furthest in advance you should make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is the night before eating it. There’s an art to it, though, so the bread doesn’t get completely soggy. Instead of smearing all the peanut butter on one side, split it evenly between both pieces of bread, then add the jam in the middle. The peanut butter acts as a moisture barrier between the jam and the bread, keeping the bread soft and spongy and ready for lunch the next day. As soon as the sandwich is assembled, stick it in an airtight container or zip-top bag and place it in the fridge so the bread doesn’t dry out.

What can you pack with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?

Serve your peanut butter and jelly sandwich with lunchbox-friendly sides. Place an orange, apple or banana in the lunchbox, or fill up an airtight container with a fruit salad. In the veggie world, put together a container filled with baby carrots, sliced cucumbers and snacking bell peppers with a heaping dollop of hummus. Pretzel packs, homemade Cheez-Its and veggie straws are filling sides, and a dense bean salad boosts protein and fiber. Don’t forget to pack a little treat—we love these hidden veggie brownies!

Is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich healthy?

We all have different ideas of what the word “healthy” means. We see healthy foods as those that prioritize whole, nutritious ingredients, so we don’t exactly see peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as healthy. However, there are easy, smart swaps to make this sandwich a little healthier. Replace the white sandwich bread with whole-wheat bread or homemade sourdough. Use natural peanut butter or almond butter instead of one filled with oils and stabilizers (or make your own peanut butter!), and trade sugar-filled jams and jellies for chia seed jam or fresh fruit.