Buzz
The peanut butter and jam sandwich is a classic American favorite, perfect for a quick lunch or snack. This easy-to-make dish can be prepared simply, or you can get creative by adding other unique and delicious ingredients. Let's start with the basic recipe first!
Ingredients
- Sandwich bread (typically one or two slices used to make a sandwich)
- Peanut butter
- Jam
Steps
Making a Basic Peanut Butter Sandwich
Prepare the ingredients. You will need peanut butter, jam, and a few slices of sandwich bread. You can also add butter for extra flavor. There are many types of bread and butter to choose from, so feel free to experiment and find what you like best.
- Some peanut butter brands contain added sugar and trans fats, which are unhealthy. For a healthier option, consider using organic peanut butter. Natural peanut butter has a layer of oil on top, but if you stir it carefully when opening and then store it in the fridge, the oil won't separate.
- Jam comes in a variety of flavors. The most common are grape and strawberry, but you can also try more unique options like raspberry or a mixed fruit jam.
- For bread, choose one that won't overpower the other ingredients, like whole wheat or white bread. Avoid strongly flavored varieties like rye or sourdough.
Spread peanut butter evenly on one slice of bread. Use as much peanut butter as you prefer, but if you're taking it to go, use just enough to prevent it from spilling out before you eat it.
- First, stir the peanut butter to soften it for easier spreading. If you're using chunky peanut butter, a helpful trick is to microwave it for about 20 seconds at high power. This will soften it and make spreading much easier.
- If you want to add butter, spread it on the bread before applying the peanut butter.
Spread jam on another slice of bread. You can use a spoon or knife for this step. Like with the peanut butter, be careful not to use too much jam, unless you're planning to eat it immediately and really love that flavor.
Put the sandwich together. To avoid the peanut butter and jam spilling out, act quickly. It’s best to hold both slices of bread together and quickly press them into a sandwich.
Cut the sandwich bread. The best way to cut a sandwich is diagonally, from one corner to the opposite corner, creating two triangle-shaped pieces. Alternatively, you can cut it straight across to get two rectangular halves.
Enjoy your delicious and easy-to-make sandwich! Just remember to wash your hands after preparing the sandwich, as you might have some peanut butter and sticky jam left on your fingers.
Get Creative
Add some crunch. Make your sandwich more unique by adding crispy cereals, pretzels, or plain crackers. The benefit of adding cereals is that it boosts fiber content and provides other essential nutrients, making your meal a healthier choice.
Add sweetness. There are many sweet ingredients you can add to your sandwich, such as syrup (especially maple syrup), sliced bananas, honey, brown sugar, or other berries like blueberries or pomegranate seeds.
Toast the bread. Toasting your sandwich bread makes it crunchier and more flavorful. Additionally, toasted bread is easier to spread peanut butter on since it won't tear as easily as regular bread.
- You can also use crackers instead of bread, as peanut butter and jam spread easily on crackers and give a different flavor.
Substitute regular bread with French toast bread. You'll need 2 slices of bread, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of milk, a pinch of cinnamon, some brown sugar, peanut butter, and jam.
- Mix the cinnamon, egg, milk, and brown sugar together. Dip the bread slices into the mixture, but be careful not to soak them for too long. Place the bread on a hot pan and cook for a few minutes. Flip and cook the other side for a few more minutes. Once done, remove the bread from the pan and spread peanut butter and jam. Put the bread back in the pan for about 1 more minute on medium heat. Finally, plate the sandwich, cut it in half, and enjoy!
Use banana bread instead of regular bread. Try making banana bread and spreading peanut butter and jam on it. This creates a delicious treat that combines the nutrients from bananas with the sweetness of the bread.
Tips
- If there’s a long gap between spreading the jam and eating the sandwich, the jam might soak into the bread, making it soggy. To prevent this, spread peanut butter on both slices of bread before adding the jam in the middle, which helps maintain the sandwich’s texture. However, be sure to spread a thinner layer of peanut butter than usual. A light layer of peanut butter before adding the jam will also prevent the bread from becoming soggy.
- You can make smaller sandwiches by folding a single slice of bread in half.
- For those allergic to peanuts, cream cheese can be used as a protein alternative. Low-fat cream cheese offers more protein and less fat than regular cream cheese. You can also substitute peanut butter with sunflower, almond, or cashew butter, depending on your tolerance. Roasted nuts can be blended into a butter-like consistency using a food processor.
- Use a cookie cutter or sandwich cutter to remove the crust from the bread. A single cut can quickly give you a perfect sandwich.
- If preparing sandwiches for a trip or school, use a resealable sandwich bag. Once the sandwich is inside, close the bag partially, leaving a small opening. Then, blow air into the bag as if inflating a balloon and quickly seal it. This method keeps the sandwich from getting squashed.
- Try making an “open” sandwich with just one slice of bread and spread your favorite ingredients on top. Spread peanut butter first and then jam on top. This method may cause the peanut butter and jam to spill out, so be careful while eating!
- If preparing a sandwich for lunch, you can use frozen bread slices. The bread will thaw over time, but it will still have a cool texture when eaten.
- Remember to clean up after preparing the sandwich so others don't have to deal with the mess.
- If you don’t have jam, try combining peanut butter with marshmallow fluff or honey for a tasty alternative.
- When making sandwiches for lunch, spread peanut butter on both slices of bread and then add jam to prevent the bread from becoming too soggy.
- If you're allergic to peanut butter, you can try soy butter as a substitute, as it has a similar flavor to peanut butter.
Warning
- If anyone in your household has a peanut allergy, make sure not to place the peanut butter knife or the jam jar together. Even a small amount of peanuts can trigger a dangerous allergic reaction.
Things You’ll Need
- Plate or paper towel
- Butter spreader
