The Sweet Alternative To Bread You Should Try On Your Next PB&J

Like bacon and eggs, cookies and milk, or wine and cheese, peanut butter and jelly is a pairing so iconic it begs to be left alone. But, just as breakfast, dessert, and snack spreads can be taken up a notch with the right swaps and additions, so can your PB&J. Enter the waffle –– this breakfast classic can add a fun twist to your childhood favorite sandwich. Simply swap your standard bread for a waffle and slather it with your spreads of choice to create a toasty, crunchy, and slightly sweet creation.

If you don't have a waffle iron, no worries. A generous helping of peanut butter and jelly is right at home on a toasted frozen waffle. Plus, this option is convenient and portable. For those with a waffle iron and a bit more time to spare, homemade waffles create an extra fluffy PB&J base. Even if you don't have waffle mix or frozen waffles available, you can press your usual peanut butter and jelly sandwich in a waffle iron for a playful creation.

While waffles are one of the most intriguing bread swaps you can try with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, the fun doesn't need to stop there. If you can spread peanut butter and jelly on it, you can make a sandwich out of it. Other types of bread are an obvious (but delicious) place to start. Start by swapping your standard white or wheat bread for something more flavorful like raisin bread, sliced challah, brioche, or rye. Or, change the shape by trying a bagel or tortilla instead of a rectangular slice.

If you'd like to get more creative, peanut butter and jelly also pair well with other breakfast favorites like French toast and pancakes (though you'll probably need a fork and knife to enjoy these combinations). And just as croissants work as a base for grilled cheese or a gooey, French-inspired s'more, they also work as a flaky backdrop for peanut butter and jelly. For a smaller, snack-sized option, try spreading PB&J on crackers, pretzel thins, or graham crackers.

Although you may be tempted not to mess with the classic pairing of peanut butter and jelly, your taste buds will be grateful for the experimentation. Start by making a slight tweak of swapping out the peanut butter for another nut butter like almond, hazelnut, cashew or pumpkin seed butter. Although unconventional, cream cheese is another spreadable substitute that contrasts the sweetness of jelly and adds richness to your sandwich.

When it comes to jelly, try replacing your standard, smooth jelly with preserves or jam that include chunks of fruit and some added texture. To get the chew factor up a notch, swap in fresh fruit like sliced apples, strawberries, or bananas. But if you prefer smoothness, opt for a new flavor of jam or try out apple, fig, or pumpkin butter.

If you can't stand to part with your customary peanut butter and jelly, that's understandable. Instead of swapping out items, you can add others to the mix. For a sweeter take on PB&J, add a drizzle of honey or maple syrup, or take inspiration from fairy bread by using sprinkles. Toasted marshmallows or gooey marshmallow fluff also make for a luscious bite. To add some crunch to your sandwich, sprinkle on granola or nuts. No matter which way you slice it, these combinations prove that the humble PB&J can be gourmet.