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Peanut butter and jelly is the perfect sandwich. It’s a little sweet, a little savory, and so easy to customize for tastes and allergies! Plus, kids love PB&J sandwiches, which makes them perfect for back to school–you can pack them for school lunches, but they’re also a great afterschool snack and playdate treat. With my daughter starting preschool, this board is designed with that in mind. We can’t wait to meet all of her new friends!

With homemade Uncrustables, fruit, and salty snacks, this PB&J board covers all the bases. I even included one of my favorite snacks: ants on a log! Uncrustables are sold in two flavors, so one of the best parts of making your own is you can pick exactly what combo of nut butter and jelly you want! Plus, you can really fill them up so you get a better ratio of filling to bread. 

If your kids are anything like mine, they love nut butters! Just keep in mind that nut butter can be a choking hazard for kids under 4 years old, so you shouldn’t serve it in globs or spoonfuls as it can be hard for them to swallow. That’s why we love peanut butter toast and PB&Js in our house! If you spread the nut butter thin, it’s easier for little ones to eat (my daughter is adamant about spreading it herself). 

For more kid-friendly snacks, try my Back to School Snack Charcuterie Board, Kids’ Lunch Bento Boxes, Rainbow Fruit Tray, Girl Scout Cookies Board, and Ice Cream Sundae Toppings Board.

Peanut Butter & Jelly: A Brief History

Peanut butter was first invented by John Harvey Kellogg (yes, that Kellogg!) in the late 19th century as a healthy protein alternative to meat. While Kellogg was promoting nut butters to a wealthy, elite clientele, George Washington Carver, one of America’s leading agricultural minds, was educating farmers and Congress on the benefits of peanut agriculture and peanut products. 

So as peanuts became hugely popular across multiple class groups, more and more recipes for peanut butter sandwiches were developed and published, combining the paste with quince, tomatoes, celery, hard-boiled eggs, maraschino cherries, green peppers, pickles, and salad dressing. Don’t knock it ‘till you try it!

The first recorded PB&J was a peanut butter and currant jelly finger sandwich published in The Boston Cooking School magazine in 1901. So how did grape jelly become the classic peanut butter partner? Welch’s created concord grape jelly in 1918 for World War I rations; the ample availability of concord grapes combined with the product’s shelf stability made it ideal for soldiers. 

With the commercial success of Welch’s jarred jelly in 1923 and the creation of sliced bread in 1928, peanut butter and jelly, which was cheap and nutritious, became a staple in American school lunches. And the rest is history!

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PB&J Snack Board Ingredient Options

When you think of peanut butter and jelly, you probably immediately think of smooth peanut butter, grape or strawberry jelly, and soft white bread (if you ask me, the best bread for peanut butter sandwiches is potato bread!). But there are so many ways to play with flavors!

For instance, Greg and I try to avoid serving our daughter food with added sweeteners, so we’ve been trying chia seed jam, which is a great alternative. But we still use the jarred stuff in a pinch (or for a treat!); our household favorite is Bonne Maman Wild Blueberry Jam because of the soft, chewy blueberries! Conversely, I tend to avoid seeds in my jam; it’s just not my favorite texture.

Breads

• Potato bread
• Brioche
• Sourdough
• Mini toasts
• Baguette

Nut & Seed Butters

• Creamy peanut butter
• Crunchy peanut butter
• Almond butter
• Sunflower butter
• Cashew butter
• Nutella
• Granola butter (this is totally nut & seed free!)

Add-Ins 

• Cinnamon
• Honey
• Cocoa
• Maple syrup
• Vanilla
• Cocoa powder
• Pumpkin spice
• Flaky sea salt

Jams & Jellies

• Grape
• Strawberry
• Raspberry
• Blackberry
• Apricot
• Blueberry

Fresh Fruit

• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Blackberries
• Sliced peaches
• Bananas
• Apples
• Grapes
• Blueberries
• Mandarin oranges
• Orange slices
• Cantaloupe

Crunchy Snacks

• Pretzels
• Graham crackers
• Ritz Crackers
• Nilla Wafers
• Apple chips
• Banana chips
• Harvest Snaps
• Veggie Straws
• Trader Joe’s Crunchy Curls 

Fun Extras

• Ants on a log
• Yogurt-covered raisins
• Mini marshmallows
• Granola
• Chocolate chips
• Honey roasted peanuts

Allergy-Friendly Substitutions

You might know that peanuts are not actually a nut; they’re a legume! That means a lot of folks who have peanut allergies can actually eat tree nuts. But there are also options for people who are totally nut- and peanut-free (which is also what is considered school-safe)! 

My favorite almond butter is the Trader Joe’s Creamy Salted Almond Butter! We go through about a jar a week in our house, especially now that my daughter has hopped on the nut butter train.

Tree Nut-Based Butters

• Almond butter
• Cashew butter
• Mixed nut butter

School-Safe Butters

• Sunbutter (sunflower seeds) 
• Wowbutter (soy) 
• Granola Butter (oat)

Soft Gluten-Free Bread

• Udi’s Gluten Free Soft White Bread 
• Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Hawaiian Sweet Bread
• Schär Gluten-Free Brioche Style Bread 

Pro tip: Peanut butter is naturally vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free, but you should always check the labels for additives or cross-contamination warnings!

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12 PB&J Flavor Variations You Have To Try

Some of these combos won’t surprise you: the rich, roasty flavor of peanut butter makes it pair beautifully with both sweet and savory (and spicy!) ingredients.

1. Peanut butter + brie + raspberry (though unexpected, this is a particularly fun combo of savory and sweet)
2. Peanut butter + jam + bacon 
3. Peanut butter + banana + bacon 
4. Peanut butter + hot honey or Sriracha 
5. Peanut butter + sliced banana + bacon
6. Peanut butter + apple butter
7. Peanut butter + fig jam
8. Peanut butter + Nutella
9. Peanut butter + Marshmallow Fluff + sliced banana
10. Peanut butter + honeycomb
11. Peanut butter + sliced pickles
12. Peanut butter + cheese burger

Pro tip: Try toasting your PB&J! After building the sandwich, lightly butter the outsides and cook it in a pan like a grilled cheese or air-fry it at 400°F until golden and crispy. Some folks even deep fry it!

Want to Create Your Own Flavor Pairing?

You can always start with simpler combos, like the ones I listed above. But if you want to explore new combos, use this 4-ingredient formula: peanut butter + jam + fresh fruit + crunch. Here are some of my favorites:

Peanut Butter	Jam	Fruit	Crunch
Creamy Peanut	Strawberry	Banana	Pretzels
Crunchy Peanut	Raspberry	Apple	Graham Crackers
Almond Butter	Apricot	Pear	Biscoff Cookies
Sunflower Butter	Grape	Strawberries	Pretzels
Creamy Peanut	Hot Honey	Banana	Crumbled Bacon
Creamy Peanut	Honey	Peaches	Salt & Vinegar Chips

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How to Make Homemade Uncrustables

I love making my own Uncrustables at home because you can avoid products with added ingredients, like fully hydrogenated vegetable oil and sugars. I made my Uncrustables in two different shapes using this set of sandwich makers (there is also a fully stainless steel option), but you can also make them with just a cookie cutter and a fork!

1. Spread the peanut butter and jelly in the center of the sandwich, leaving at least a ½ inch border.
2. Add the sandwich to the cutter and press it closed to remove the crust and form the Uncrustables. (If doing it yourself, use a cookie cutter to make the shape and then press the tines of a fork around the edge to seal the pieces of bread together)

No matter your method, there are a few tips you should follow:

• Use a soft bread, like potato bread, brioche, or white bread
• Don’t overfill! You want to make sure there is at least a ½ inch border around the filling
• Instead of putting a thick layer of peanut butter on one piece of bread, put a thin layer on both pieces so the jelly doesn’t have direct contact with bread. This keeps it from getting soggy! (And avoids the peanut butter choking hazard.)
• If you’re packing a lunch, freeze the sandwich for at least 30 minutes before packing so it’s thawed but still chilled for lunchtime

How to Assemble a Peanut Butter & Board

Once you’ve made your homemade Uncrustables…

1. Place the round Uncrustables in one corner of the board and the square Uncrustables in the opposite corner. 
2. Spread the peanut butter on half of the Ritz crackers and the jelly on the remaining crackers, then sandwich them together. Place them in the center of the board between the Uncrustables.
3. Fill the celery with peanut butter and top with the raisins to create Ants on a Log. Add the Ants on a Log to an empty corner of the board and add the strawberries to the opposite corner.
4. Arrange the apple slices on either slice of the crackers. Fill in any remaining spaces with the mandarin and green pea snacks. 

Pro tip: Have the kids help you make the Uncrustables! There are no sharp knives needed.

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FAQs

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Show Me Your Peanut Butter & Jelly Uncrustables 

I hope this post inspires you to make homemade Uncrustables. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the snacks and spreads you create from my tips. If you make something inspired by this post, please tag me at @ainttooproudtomeg so I can see and share! 

And, if you liked these recipe ideas, please rate and review.