# The Peanut Butter Sandwich: theme and variations **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [September 26, 2024, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749 "2024-09-26T14:07:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/1 "2024-09-26T14:07:18Z")
Today in Heloise (She lives in SanAntonio, BTW), a guy described a peanut butter sandwich introduced to him by his uncle: peanut butter, mayo or Miracle Whip, dill pickle slices, lettuce. He said it turned out to be pretty good. I often have a plain PB sandwich (on soft white bread), of course PBJ, and sometimes PB & banana, but my creativity fails me after that. I always have PB on hand and I’d like to boldly step outside of my peanut butter comfort zone. (I know there was a recent thread on alternative nut butters, but \<_hangs head_\> I didn’t read any of it.) Edumacate me, please. 🥜 🥪 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/2 "2024-09-26T14:16:30Z")
I make peanut butter on a single slice of toasted bread, not because I like it but because that’s the way our bird Rocco likes it. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/3 "2024-09-26T14:17:01Z")
I remember a kid in junior high who brought a peanut butter and banana sandwich to school every single day. There were no variations/additions/deletions ever. We had assigned seats in the lunchroom, so I can attest that this went on for an entire school year. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/4 "2024-09-26T14:18:06Z")
I’ll occasionally use a bit of hot sauce on the PB (with honey). You could also try different breads if you’re inclined. I’m partial to [Dave’s Killer Bread](https://www.daveskillerbread.com/products). ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/5 "2024-09-26T14:19:36Z")
Plain peanut butter (only ‘natural’ PB) and three pieces of bread. Actually, any sandwich I make at home always has three pieces of bread. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/6 "2024-09-26T14:19:45Z")
Most mornings, I have an English muffin half with crunchy peanut butter and AR’s Habanero Hot Honey. > **[Get 100% Pure Hot Honey Online At AR's Hot Southern Honey](https://hotsouthernhoney.com/)** > > Buy 100% natural & non-ultrafiltered AR's ® Hot Southern Honey in different flavors online at best prices. Order wholesale from us. Free shipping on orders over $60. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/7 "2024-09-26T14:25:55Z")
I have a PB&J every day at lunch. Usually strawberry jam, unfailingly crunchy peanut butter. Once and a while I’ll throw caution to the wind and pick up some other type of jam or jelly if it’s on sale. I don’t mind apple jelly. I’m usually disappointed with raspberry jam, always tastes kind of thin to me, but then a year goes by, I run out of strawberry and I figure why not. I also used to eat PB and honey sandwiches as a kid, and I’ll occasionally have one of those as well, though I don’t love how the French bread soaks in the honey. Bananas are fine as well. Whenever I hear about people mixing PB with bologna, or tomatoes, or pickles (which, on their own, make me hurl), I wish I had a palate that could accept those kinds of unholy combinations, but I’m also tempted to call in an airstrike. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/8 "2024-09-26T14:38:49Z")
I like peanut butter & honey. Made better when you let the honey crystalize a little bit on the bread before putting the two sides together. Made even BETTER when you add raisins as well. Mmm mmm mmm. Diabetic nap time! ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/9 "2024-09-26T14:39:52Z")
Mine is kind of an Asian take on a banana sandwich. Ideally a bánh mì type baguette - just a banana long crusty white bread roll. Spread the split roll with crunchy peanut butter, sprinkle with finely chopped chili, drizzle honey over the PB, zest a generous amount of lime along it (I smear with hot Indian lime pickle if I haven’t got a fresh lime), insert the banana, sprinkle with desiccated coconut and maybe a bit more chili. Eat. Although, on reflection, it’s really a banana sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/10 "2024-09-26T14:47:36Z")
Generally I just eat a plain PB sandwich, occasionally with three slices if one is a really thin “heel” piece or just the last one of the loaf. The most “variant” version I had was an accident; I decided to make some garlic bread and only realized after it was too late that I’d absentmindedly used peanut butter on it. I ate it anyway since I didn’t want to waste food; it was OK, just a bit tough. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/11 "2024-09-26T14:57:45Z")
There used to be a food truck in Seattle that was semi-famous for its hamburger dressed with PB&J. I got to try it once. It really was surprisingly good. Never would have guessed, but it did work. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/12 "2024-09-26T15:00:54Z")
Sometimes I’ll make what people call “Elvis Presley’s Fried Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich,” which many think sounds disgusting, but it’s no more fried than a grilled cheese is, and really quite nice IMO. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/13 "2024-09-26T15:07:44Z")
I just remembered the amazing PB sandwich they used to have at Melt Bar & Grilled in the Cleveland area, which was a grilled cheese sandwich restaurant with mega grilled cheese sandwiches. Buttered & grilled sourdough bread, homemade crunchy, sweetened peanut butter, a thick layer of cream cheese (to qualify as a grilled cheese!) and bananas, with an amazing raspberry dipping sauce. You couldn’t eat this thing without having peanut butter and raspberry all over your face and hands but boy was it a good sandwich! It was the only thing I ever got there, for years and years (ok other than their mac & cheese sandwich when it was on special). Now they’ve removed it from the menu ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/14 "2024-09-26T15:14:38Z")
I’m a simple soul - just crunchy peanut butter on decent bread is fine by me. For me, “special” would be crunchy PB on sourdough toast, topped with sliced tomatoes. j ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/15 "2024-09-26T15:43:53Z")
These are interesting. When you think about it, a peanut sauce figures in many Asian and Indian dishes. It’s a neutral flavor that can be tilted toward salty, sweet, or spicy at the drop of a chili. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/16 "2024-09-26T15:47:36Z")
I have one of those in Phoenix. It was good for about a bite, and then just wayyyyyy too cloying and rich. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/17 "2024-09-26T16:12:40Z")
I don’t have peanut butter at home because I can’t resist having several spoonfuls as a snack throughout the day. On the road I’ll usually snag several packets of peanut butter and jelly and a couple slices of wheat bread from the hotel breakfast bar for a sandwich later on for lunch. Sometimes I’ll throw in some potato chips for some extra crunch. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/18 "2024-09-26T16:14:31Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I like peanut butter & honey. Made better when you let the honey crystalize a little bit on the bread before putting the two sides together. > > Made even BETTER when you add raisins as well. Mmm mmm mmm. Diabetic nap time! I like to spread chunky pb on a flour tortilla, drizzle some honey on top, then roll it up. Maybe I should think about adding some banana slices. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/19 "2024-09-26T16:57:11Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I don’t have peanut butter at home because I can’t resist having several spoonfuls as a snack throughout the day. Peanut butter is a very healthy food. No need to deprive yourself. In fact in third world countries where there isn’t enough refrigeration or clean water to reconstitute powdered milk-based formula, someone came up with Plumpy’Nut a shelf-stable food for children to combat malnutrition. > **[What is Plumpy'Nut?](https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/what-plumpynut)** > > Plumpy'Nut is an effective tool to combat malnutrition, providing essential nutrients to severely malnourished children. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749/20 "2024-09-26T17:03:38Z")
I like several additions to the peanut butter. First is bacon - awesome. The version I make most often is covering the peanut butter with pepperoncinis drained of the vinegar. And third - just add romaine lettuce. Simple but the nice crunch adds a lot of enjoyment. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-peanut-butter-sandwich-theme-and-variations/1007749.md?page=2)