How to Make a Jelly Sandwich

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: December 30, 2021 References Tested

Jelly is sweet, tangy, and most importantly, versatile, making it the perfect complement to a variety of sandwiches. Whether you’re letting jelly shine on its own, pairing it with its reliable, nutty sidekick or getting a little creative, here’s a guide to making a jelly sandwich completely your own.

Ingredients

Plain Jelly Sandwich

Bread (2 slices)
1 tablespoon (15 g) of jelly

Optional Ingredients

1 tablespoon (15 g) of butter
1 tablespoon (15 g) of peanut butter (can substitute tahini or sunflower seed butter)
1-2 slices of cheese
½ cup (43 g) of pretzels, potato chips, or granola
1-2 slices of bacon

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Plain Jelly Sandwich

1
Spread jelly on one side of each of your 2 slices. Aim for roughly ½ tablespoon (7.5 g) on each slice. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but too much jelly can result in a gluey, unpleasant texture. Scoop the jelly out of a jar with a spoon or butter knife and gently coat each slice with an even layer of jelly.^{[1]
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- Strawberry and raspberry jelly are usually the go-to. Many brands offer these other fresh flavors as well as a variety of low-sugar options.
- The goal is to find jelly that is rich and tasty enough so that a little goes a long way. Piling too much on each slice leaves your sandwich soggy and sickly sweet.^{[2]
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2
Press the two slices of bread together. Doing this gently prevents any overflow of jelly along the bread’s crust.
- White bread is also the most popular choice here, and for good reason. Its mildness allows the full flavor of the jelly to shine through. Try toasting your slices for a crunchy, yet smooth treat.^{[3]
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- If you’re in the mood for something a bit different, try freshly baked sourdough or rye bread. Whole wheat bread is high in fiber, which is heart-healthy and will leave you feeling fuller overall.^{[4]
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- You can also use a gluten-free option, which can be found at your local grocery store.
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3
Cut your sandwich. You have a couple of options here, and it’s all about preference. You can slice your sandwich on a diagonal, so you’re left with two triangular pieces, or straight across for perfectly rectangular sections.
- You can also remove the crust at this stage. That's completely optional. Just keep in mind that the crust contains extra antioxidants!^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Optional Ingredients

1
Add peanut butter. PB&Js are a widely beloved treat, but believe it or not, there are plenty of ways to make it uniquely your own. If you like a bit of crunch, use chunky peanut butter and evenly spread about ½ tablespoon (7.5 g) on one side of each slice, then spread ½ tablespoon (7.5 g) of jelly on a single slice. This ensures the ideal salty-to-sweet ratio.^{[6]
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- Substitute tahini or sunflower seed butter, if you’re nut-free. Both have earthy flavors, much like peanut butter, and will pair nicely with any jelly you choose. You can find either of these items online or at your local supermarket.^{[7]
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- Try grilling your PB&J! Cover one slice of bread with peanut butter and one slice with jelly, then grill the bottom of each slice in a skillet with butter over medium heat.^{[8]
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2
Add cheese. Don’t knock a grilled cheese and jelly sandwich until you try it! You can use any kind of cheese you’d like. Brie and Havarti add a nice kick to balance out the sweetness of an apricot or strawberry jelly.^{[9]
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- Butter one side of each of your slices of bread, then place one slice, buttered side down, in a pan over medium heat.
- Assemble your sandwich. Place 1-2 slices of cheese on the slice in the pan, then spread your jelly on the unbuttered side of the other slice.
- Put the two slices together. Gently place your jelly slice over the slice in the pan and press down. Leave it in the pan to brown for 3 minutes, then flip. Let the other side toast for another 3 minutes.
3
Incorporate crunch. Depending on what you’re craving, you can add things like pretzels, granola, or even potato chips to your jelly or PB&J. Put a handful, or roughly ⅓ cup (43 g) in a sandwich bag and crumble them really finely. Shake out the contents over either slice of bread, but make sure you’ve already spread your peanut butter and jelly so the crunchy pieces sit nicely over the top.^{[10]
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- You can also add bacon to your PB&J for some extra salty and smoky flavor.

Community Q&A

Question

Are you supposed to put butter on it?

Community Answer

It's optional.
Question

Can I vigorously put copious quantities onto the sandwich?

Community Answer

Sure, the bread might get soggy, but go ahead and put your copious quantities of jelly on your sandwich.
Question

Do I have to use a napkin in this recipe?

Qamar

Top Answerer

No, you don't. A napkin is mainly used to clean up and prevent spilling from the sandwich, since jelly easily spills out occasionally.