What is the name of the classic American sandwich made with peanut butter and jelly?

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What is the name of the classic American sandwich made with peanut butter and jelly? It is the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, commonly shortened to PB&J.

A PB&J consists of peanut butter and fruit jelly or jam spread between slices of bread. In the United States, the familiar version often uses white bread and Concord grape jelly, although strawberry jam and other nut butters are also popular.

The earliest published mention appeared in 1901, when Julia Davis Chandler suggested a tea sandwich made with peanut paste and currant or crab-apple jelly. The combination became far more accessible after industrial production, sliced bread, and packaged spreads expanded in the early 20th century.

During the Great Depression, the sandwich was valued as an inexpensive, filling food. It also became common in American military meals during World War II because its ingredients were portable and had relatively long shelf lives. Modern variants include the fluffernutter, which combines peanut butter with marshmallow creme, and Smucker's sealed Uncrustables.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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