You’ll never believe these Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich Cookies are grain-free and gluten-free. Or that they are ready in 30 minutes! The best of childhood flavors in one tasty dessert.
We have been spring breaking for the past week. Taking a spontaneous road trip through the more rural areas of Colorado and New Mexico for a break from the grind of the past few months. Between a new job for my husband, college acceptance and planning for my daughter (in addition to everything leading up to both kids graduating from their current schools this year) it’s been stressful, no two ways about it. Stepping away for some rest and fun out of the norm has been just what the doctor ordered.
Have you ever eaten a particular food at a restaurant or when traveling, and wished you could make it when you were at home? It happens to me on every trip. A favorite recipe that is fast and fun was inspired by a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico over Spring Break a few years ago.
After a dense session of museum going, we plopped down at the Museum Hill Café for some brunch. Though stuffed to the gills, when the server offered dessert options a specific gluten-free treat flagged my attention like a crazy person late for an airplane flight hailing a cab in New York City: Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Cookies. Say, what?????
It was a serendipitous moment of genius realized. Why on earth had I never seen one of these in my explorations as a food blogger? It’s such an obvious combination of perfection. My love affair with peanut butter is a long and torrid one, starting as a child with me sneaking a handful when my parents were asleep and taking it back to my bed to eat underneath the covers. What a laundry delight that must have been. I’ve loved anything that includes peanut butter since.
As with most adults, I gave up peanut butter and jelly sandwiches somewhere along the road to adulthood. The mere mention of this dessert cookie catapulted me backward to childhood with lazy, carefree summer days, picnic lunches, running through tall grass and the rest of the romantic images of our youth we’ve long forgotten.
The peanut butter and jelly sandwich cookies arrived at our table and they were huge. ‘Too big for one person’, I declared. ‘Nonsense’, proclaimed my daughter, ‘no such thing’. We did split it four ways and that rich few bites satisfied my craving. Until I got back to my own kitchen in Boulder.
My goal for my adaptation of the cookie was a ‘no share’ size that was just right for one. I chose grape jelly as that seems a classic and something I ate only in my youth. I experimented with a thin layer of jelly and one that wasn’t too much but bulged a bit when eating the sandwich treat, teasing as though it would fall out but not enough to quite do so.
That version was the delight of my eager taste testers! These are easy to make and quite fast too. It can all be done in around 30 minutes! It is naturally gluten-free with no flour used and perfect with a big, cold glass of milk. Natch.
It’s hard to believe cookies could be made without any type of flour but these Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Cookies recipe is a perfect example of how to dodge grains and still have a fantastic cookie in texture and flavor. The peanut butter flavor is rich and true, and pairs wonderfully with your favorite jam. They are not fussy cookies to make and we all love that, right?
30-Minute Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Cookie
Ingredients
- 1 cup smooth Peanut Butter; natural , peanuts only (no sugar or salt)
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 Egg , lightly beaten
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ¼ cup – ¼ cup + 2 Tablespoons of Grape Jelly (or preferred flavor fruit jelly, not jam)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper.
- Using a mixer, combine the peanut butter, sugar, vanilla, egg and salt. Mix at medium speed until it is fully combined.
- Scoop in tablespoon portions (a cookie scoop works great for this), forming a ball and place onto the prepared baking sheet. Gently flatten and mark with fork tines in a crisscross pattern on top of each cookie.
- Bake for 9-10 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for 10 minutes. Remove them onto a cooling rack to fully cool before making the sandwiches.
- Place 1 to 1 ½ teaspoon of jelly on the bottom (flat) side of one cookie and spread it evenly. Place the flat side of a second cookie on the jelly. Note: adding 1 ½ teaspoon of jelly will give a thicker layer that may squeeze out a bit when eating it; that was a preference of some of my taste testers!
This delicious recipe was originally published in April 2015 and has been updated in 2017.
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom says
These may just soon become my kid’s favorite new cookie. Pinned to make soon!
Julia says
You’re taking the PB&J sando to a whole new level and I love it! These flourless lumps of joy would disappear in 5 seconds flat in my house!
Toni Dash says
Mine too. I allocated one per family member and stashed the rest in the freezer!
Anne-Marie @ This Mama Cooks! On a Diet says
PB&J is my favorite indulgence, probably because my French mother thought peanut butter was a weird American thing and we didn’t have it in the house much.
NancyB says
What is there about peanut butter?! I aso have a life long love affair with it, in all forms, although if the extra chunky is available, that’s my pick. I don’t recall taking it to bed, but did sneak the jar and a spoon underneath the kitchen table when I was very small. My grandmother rescued me when I put so much in my mouth I couldn’t breathe…which in no way kept me from continuing to crave the stuff! I shall try these yummy looking treats soon!
Lauren Gaskill says
These cookie sandwiches look heavenly. I cannot believe there are only six ingredients in this! So wholesome!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
There is something magical about peanut butter and jelly. It doesn’t matter what you make with it, it’s always good. Thanks for sharing another way for me to enjoy the best flavor combo ever.
Toni Dash says
Completely agree STacie!
Jess C says
Yummy! Especially wonderful as I’m trying to give up gluten, and struggling to find yummy substitutes!
Pam Wattenbarger says
Um, yum! These sound absolutely amazing. Peanut butter cookies are my favorite and this sounds like a great twist on plain ones.
Liz Mays says
Ooh, what a treat! I think I’d like to make these on a relaxed weekend. Great job coming up with these!
Rachel Ferrucci says
Ha I love this. I would have this for lunch…it is PB & J right! I’m trying these and know everyone will love them
Dawn McAlexander says
Peanut Butter has recently become a good friend of mine. I would love to try these cookies. I bet that I would love them.
Veronica Solomon says
This is different, but I love it! I would love to try it
Marcie W. says
A peanut butter and jelly sandwich never goes out of style and what a cool twist on such a classic! I plan to bookmark these and make them with the kids over spring break.
Kelly says
Ohmy goodness, I have to try this! I am a huge fan of PB&J and I am sure these will become my new addiction.
Theresa says
I’m an adult and still haven’t given up the pbj sandwich. It’ll always be a favorite 🙂 These cookies look like they’d quickly become a family favorite as well. I’d have to hide a big chunk of the stash for myself first!
Mitch says
Yummy! And just enough time to prevent me rom running to the store to buy cookies! These look delicious and so easy to make!
Amanda Love says
How awesome is this idea! We’re all huge fans of peanut butter at home and I’m sure my kids will go crazy over these cookie sandwiches! Thanks for the recipe, I really appreciate it.
Jeanine says
Yum what a really good idea. I’m not the biggest jelly fan but it would be really fun to try these out. They look DELICIOUS.
Melissa says
Those cookies look amazing and not so hard to make. My son eats peanut butter and jelly every night so this would be a perfect treat for him.
Louise Bishop says
I am a sucker for peanut butter and jelly. These cookies look like the perfect cookie for me.
Kelly Hutchinson says
One of my favorite cookies are peanut butter. I know my kids would love these cookies. So smart!
Cassie Tucker says
These peanut butter and jelly cookies look so scrumptious. I think I’m going to have my husband try this recipe late this weekend.
Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly says
I could use some of these peanut butter and jelly sandwich cookies right now 🙂
Our Family World says
Wow. I would make these cookies this weekend. I love peanut butter cookies and to make it this way is a fantastic idea. My family will love this too, so I have to make sure I make a big batch.
Annemarie LeBlanc says
These treats in 30 minutes? Wow. I’m totally sold on this recipe. As much as we love PB&J in our house, I am sure these PB&J sandwich cookies will be a hit too. I am sitting here already thinking of picnics or afternoon tea parties and these yummy cookies with me!
Mary France says
What a fun idea, I never though of putting the two together quite like that but I love the idea!