This post is brought to you by Smucker’s Fruit Spreads.
Around here we never get tired of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. My kids and I eat them all the time. They are just a childhood favorite that I never grew out of, I’m a PBJ lover for life. They are always delicious and lunch just doesn’t get any easier. Since it’s back-to-school season I thought I’d share some fun PBJ recipes so you can change things up for your kids’ school lunch. Keeping it original with your ingredients and presentation will make lunch boxes a surprise all year!
5 Fun Ways to Make PBJ
I know I can always rely on Smucker’s Fruit Spreads to make the perfect back-to-school lunch. What a great surprise it will be for them when they open their lunch box to see these instead of just a plain sandwich!
This is the classic PBJ but instead of leaving it as a regular sandwich with your favorite peanut butter and grape jelly, then simply use a sandwich or cookie cutter and cut them into shapes. Your kids will love this! I used these animal cutters and some heart cookie cutters (not included in the set). I also used this lunch container.
Make it into sushi rolls. I used a wider loaf for these for better rolling. Cut crusts from a slice of bread, flatten the bread slightly with a rolling pin then spread the right side with peanut butter and the left side with raspberry jam then roll and cut into “sushi” pieces. You can also sprinkle with the powder of confectioner’s sugar for more fun. You can also get creative with the spreads you use. Instead of your normal 3-4 tablespoons peanut butter, try almond butter, Nutella, crunchy peanut butter, or other nut spread. New flavor combinations are always fun to try!
Everything tastes better when it comes in kebab form, right? These are a fun way to get your kids to eat some fiber-rich fruit with their pb&j sandwiches too. For cleaner cutting, I sliced the crust first then cut it into cubes and spread a little peanut butter on half the cubes then a little strawberry jam on the other half then threaded it onto sticks with fruit in between. (Something sharper than a butter knife will help you get cleaner lines.) Cut any sharp points from skewer sticks when preparing these for children. Banana slices would also be good on these, but dunk them in a water-lemon mixture first to prevent browning. You can also try toasting the bread to a golden brown first for some crunch!
Use mini waffles or pancakes instead of bread. What kid wouldn’t love these? They are a fun twist on the classic that’s sure to put a smile on their faces. You can buy mini waffles or pancakes, or quickly cook up a batch on your favorite griddle or skillet using a cookie cutter or mold. They’re almost dessert! Some maple vanilla syrup would be yummy for dipping.
Make them into a fruit wrap. This is a good way to ensure they don’t skip out on the fruit you packed into their lunch when you add it right to their PBJ. For more than a century, Smucker’s has been helping to make family meals more memorable. Today, Smucker’s offers a broad range of Fruit Spreads, Ice Cream Toppings, Syrups, Peanut Butters, and more, including low-sugar and sugar-free varieties. My favorite is the low-sugar strawberry. We always have a jar on hand—it’s perfect for the whole family.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
