Peanut Butter and Jelly…Toasted!
I feel like a kid who just found out her goody bag was like 8 times smaller than all the other kids’. Sure, getting a pencil and candy are great, but now that I know they’ve been handing out gift certificates, it doesn’t really compare.
Yes, this is how I feel about toasted peanut butter and jelly. Random analogy as it may be, I feel like I’ve been gypped all these years. Sure, I’ve enjoyed my white bread slathered in peanut butter and grape jam, but no one ever told me you could toast it!
Hundred (thousands?) of sandwiches later, at age 22, I finally find out. I walk into the breakroom to pull out my planned lunch that shockingly consisted of something frozen and see a coworker pulling a sandwich out of the toaster. The room immediately smells like heaven and I say “Wow that smells good!”
My coworker tells me it’s just peanut butter and jelly, to which I respond with shock and amazement. “You toast your peanut butter and jelly?!” Clever sandwich maker that I am (ha!), that thought never crossed my mind. Because I looked so dumbfounded and intrigued, said coworker was incredibly nice and let me use his ingredients to make myself one. And as you see above, so I did.
As soon as the toaster dinged, I grabbed it, cut it and immediately wanted to shove it in my mouth. But, I waited. I snapped a few photos first (just for you guys!) and then…shoved it in my mouth.
HOLY PEANUT BUTTER. It was delicious! The peanut butter melts and becomes gooier, the bread is crusty and warm, and the now heated jelly meshes with the peanut butter that much more.
So if you’re like me and haven’t yet discovered this genius idea, try it! It’s a great way to kick your peanut butter and jelly up a notch!
Tags: jelly, PB&J, peanut butter, peanut butter and jelly, toasted PB&J, toasted peanut butter and jelly
(Ssshh… don’t tell anyone, but a few of us crustless types have discovered that microwaving your PB&J (for a few seconds only) will land you in the same ooey-gooey heaven.)
Either way, I agree. Warm PB&J’s are divine!
Posted by Cork & Feast at February 12th, 2008, 1:37 pmI’ve always toasted my PBJ sandwich because I want my PB gooey and I can’t stand cold bread. :-)
You’re making me want to make one now!
Posted by Joy at February 12th, 2008, 2:03 pmOMG. I can’t believe you used to eat PB&J on un-toasted bread. For PB&J I like to toast the bread first, then put the stuff on.
But when I have peanut butter and honey, I grill it for a few minutes on my Foreman.
Money.
Posted by Jon Eick at February 12th, 2008, 3:23 pmI discovered this little slice of heaven a few years ago. Growing up we had a bread box so the bread was always room temperature. Once I got married my wife sticks bread in the fridge. I don’t like cold bread either…hence toasted PB&J!
I love them!
Posted by Freddie at February 12th, 2008, 3:40 pmI didn’t discover that little gem until a few years ago either, just before age 30. soooo good. I’m very happy for you hillary hahahaha.
Posted by melissa at February 12th, 2008, 6:05 pmGrilled PB & honey is planned for my last meal on earth! How does PB & jelly not ooze out all over the insides of a regular toaster? Do you use a toaster-oven?
Posted by JEP at February 12th, 2008, 6:47 pmpb&j on the george forman is the way to go for a quick snack
Posted by Seth at February 12th, 2008, 7:01 pmThat’s my favorite sandwich and has been for years…welcome to the club! mmmm… even better on rye bread.
Posted by evil chef mom at February 12th, 2008, 7:07 pmFor those concerned (JEP), toast the bread first!!
Posted by coworker at February 12th, 2008, 7:28 pmI was lucky enough to have discovered this at my grandma’s house as a child:) I still do it all the time. The PB gets all melty and wonderful and wow…I need to stop or I’m gonna want one!
Posted by Miss Scarlett at February 12th, 2008, 7:54 pmWe made peanut butter TOAST as kids constantly. Toast the bread, spread the PB, and boom, you’re done. I never toasted the sandwich, itself. I think it may be simplier (and cleaner, to make toast and then spread, but of course that doesn’t make the peanut butter quite as warm and gooey as toasting the whole thing. Perhaps this is a must-try — I had PB*J on white bread last night for dinner. Gourmet.
Posted by Kate at February 12th, 2008, 10:55 pmYou HAVE to try this with banana and Peanut butter! SO good!!!!!
Posted by Kaman at February 13th, 2008, 12:08 amHey Hillary,I just love the way you write. I have to confess that my teenage grand kids introduced me to the PB&J toasted just last year and guess what,I am 72 years old. Oh Well,better late than never. They are GREAT. Anna Kindler
Posted by Anna Kindler at February 13th, 2008, 6:14 amThis is how my husband and I always eat our PB&J. It is so much better!!
Posted by Deborah at February 13th, 2008, 9:15 amis untoasted pb&j really even pb&j? thank goodness you’ve figured it out!
– Us vs. Food
Posted by Us vs. Food at February 13th, 2008, 9:44 amSometimes the simplest food provides the most comfort to us. :)And yes, toasted bread is simply the best, I cannot imagine my garlic bread without its ‘toast’ factor.
Posted by Amelia at February 13th, 2008, 10:22 amfyi, the toasted pb & j was elvis presley’s favorite snack!
i grill mine like a grilled cheese sandwich – highly recommended!
Posted by emily at February 13th, 2008, 11:40 amWow, I didn’t realize there was such a toasted PB&J following! Good to see :)
Posted by Hillary at February 13th, 2008, 12:17 pmPeanut butter and jelly,
Peanut butter and jelly,
Peanut butter and jelly is for me!
But hubby only like peanut butter. I will take this combo!
Posted by tigerfish at February 14th, 2008, 12:38 amI have to confess… I’ve never tried PB&J – toasted or raw!! I love PB (esp on toast!) but had never been tempted by PB AND J! But I’m going to give it a go…
By coincidence, this is something I’d been thinking about recently – saving the world one sandwich at a time!
Posted by kittie at February 14th, 2008, 4:31 amBeen eating these since I was young and mom made bread.
Homemade apple butter and apple jelly too!
These days, I like blackberry jam and the natural peanut butter (no added sugar). If I want it sweeter, I’ll do the pb and honey.
For a change of pace in the winter, I occasionally reach for the mint apple jelly.
I toast the bread in the toaster, butter both slices, then apply the toppings, assemble, and microwave for a couple seconds if I desire the warm center.
Cheers.
Posted by Gabe at February 15th, 2008, 10:12 amthis sandwich is *extra* good with sliced bananas on it. and wash it down with a glass of chocolate milk. it was one of my favorite meals/snacks as a kid. :)
Posted by meg at February 15th, 2008, 3:44 pmPlain rice cakes with peanut butter popped into the toaster oven is heaven. The PB melts down into the rice cake.
Posted by Addie at February 18th, 2008, 4:45 amI am not surprised that warm PB is a hit with everyone. Is there any better cookie than a PB right from the oven?
30 YEARS AGO WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE LITTLE WE CALLED THIS PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY “ROLL UPS”. I FLATTENED ONE SLICE OF BREAD WITH MY FINGERS….SPREAD THE PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY….FLATTENED THE OTHER SLICE OF BREAD, PUT IT TOGETHER, ROLLED IT UP AND PUT IT UNDER THE BROILER. YUMMY…..MY KIDS LOVED IT AND NOW THEIR CHILDREN LOVE IT TOO!
Posted by ANGELA at February 18th, 2008, 7:09 amThe best ever taste treat with PB&J is a slightly toasted cinnamon/raisin bagel and while it’s still warm, spread with peanut butter, jelly and top with thinly sliced banana. Of course you do each side separately :) The C/R bagel makes the whole experience absolutely incredible!
Posted by Nancy at February 18th, 2008, 7:44 amI love PBKJ on a toasted english muffin in the morning for quick to go breakfast or break at work
Posted by kathy at February 18th, 2008, 8:24 amYou might also enjoy it as french toast. However, I don’t add the jelly as I use syrup on it like regular french toast. My adult kids grew up with this and still fix it, as do I.
Posted by W at February 18th, 2008, 9:45 amI never liked peanut butter until a camp cook introduced me to warm peanut butter & jelly sandwich that she grilled in a
Posted by Dolly at February 18th, 2008, 5:41 pmfrying pan. Warm peanut butter & jelly sandwiches have been my favorite way to eat this snack since 1997!!
I can’t believe you just discovered this. I’ve been eating PBJ on toast for years and I’m 54 years old. Another good one is: butter your toast, place a slice or 2 of American cheese (or any type of your favorite cheese) on it and then spread strawberry jam on it. Sometimes I nuke it for a few seconds if the toast isn’t hot enough to soften the cheese. OMG!!! It’s heaven in your hand. Another one that is similar to this is making a grilled cheese but spread some jam on it before you grill it. This too is heaven. ENJOY!!
Posted by cheryl at February 18th, 2008, 11:43 pmTry toasting a (blueberry-or whole wheat) bagel then putting on crunchy peanut butter and grape or rasberry jam or jelly.
Posted by Shelly J at February 20th, 2008, 8:54 pmChewey,crunchy. Honey and peanut butter are also wonderful together. Ding!
try a grilled peanut butter with hershey square yummy
Posted by nezzey at February 20th, 2008, 9:08 pmToasted “fluffernutters” are divine. Toast the bread, then slather peanut butter on one slice, marshmallow fluff on the other and put ‘em together. Sweet, salty, crunchy, and gooey.
Posted by Bunny at November 21st, 2008, 12:38 pmThat’s not as good as open-faced PB&J broiled. The peanut butter melts and gets a little burnt too, and the jelly melts and bubbles. If you have the right kind of jelly, the bubbles will get gooey.
Note the danger in this method – PB&J prepared this way makes VERY hot peanut butter and VERY hot jelly. We’ve burnt ourselves not being able to control how quick we eat it.
Posted by rh at August 15th, 2011, 3:38 pm