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Hello! Iโ€™m Anjali. Iโ€™m a board certified health coach, author, wife, mom and food lover from the SF Bay area (now living in Seattle, WA!); with a passion for delicious food and a desire to make healthy eating easy, tasty and fun! Learn more about me here and stay for a while!

Anjali Shah

Gourmet Banana Peanut Butter Sandwich

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Itโ€™s time that the humble peanut butter sandwich got a facelift โ€“ and a healthy one at that! These grilled banana peanut butter sandwiches are an elevated, gourmet version of a classic, with walnuts and spices for a tasty and nutritious bite. Super kid-friendly, ready in 15 minutes!

a banana peanut butter sandwich served on a white plate

Who said that PB sandwiches had to be 1) boring 2) just for kids and 3) the same every time? Iโ€™m a huge fan of PB&J, probably because I had it almost every day when I was a kid: so it has some element of nostalgia for me. And even though I can be a creature of habit a lot of the time, the same ingredients (bread, nut butter, some sort of fruit spread), can get a tiny bit monotonous.

My kids could also eat banana peanut butter sandwiches every single day, but even they want to change things up once in a while. So I decided to reinvent the classic peanut butter sandwich to give it a more gourmet, delicious upgrade!

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๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿฝโ€๐Ÿณ Why This Recipe Works

  • One of those easy recipes you can make again and again
  • Healthier than a classic pb&j, but tastes just as good (or even better!)
  • Kid-friendly
  • Gluten free option
  • Vegan option
  • Best peanut butter sandwich ever!

๐Ÿฅ˜ Ingredients

This popular sandwich can be easily made with simple ingredients found in your pantry at most grocery stores! See the recipe card below for detailed ingredients and instructions.

  • Gooey Peanut Butter: Either crunchy peanut butter or creamy peanut butter will work for this recipe, just make sure to get all natural peanut butter that has just two ingredients: peanuts and salt.
  • Almond Butter: Combine with the peanut butter filling for a more complex flavor!
  • Bananas: A sliced medium banana adds sweetness without added sugar.
  • Sprouted Wheat Bread: We used sprouted wheat bread because itโ€™s a healthy carb, and itโ€™s even healthier than whole wheat bread (it has more protein and fiber). You can also use gluten free bread, or even my simple buckwheat bread recipe.
  • Cinnamon: For some warm spice! You can also use any other sweet warm spices you like (see variations below for suggestions)
  • Walnuts: For added texture and healthy fats!
  • Honey or Maple Syrup: Use maple syrup for a vegan option, or omit this for a sugar free pb&j sandwich.

๐Ÿ“– Variations

Kids and adults alike are going to love this sandwich, and theyโ€™ll never guess that itโ€™s actually good for them! If you want to mix things up even more, here are some other variations to try with this banana peanut butter sandwich:

  • Use different fresh fruit: diced strawberries, apples, pear, blueberries, sliced grapes, mangoes or peaches, all work well. Whole pomegranate seeds, or sliced figs are more adventurous options to try instead of the banana in this recipe.
  • Change up the spices! I used cinnamon in this recipe, but nutmeg, all spice, pumpkin pie spice, or even a pinch of cloves or cardamom would all work well. For a more โ€œadultโ€ flavor, try a pinch of cayenne or chili powder!
  • Make it more of a classic pb&j sandwich: Add your favorite jelly ideas to this sandwich instead of the honey / maple syrup! Try grape jelly, strawberry jam, strawberry preserve, blueberry jam, or even orange marmalade!
  • Make it into a quesadilla! Replace the sprouted wheat bread with whole wheat flour tortillas and grill it on a griddle.
  • Try a different spread: Replace the peanut butter mixture with sunbutter, cashew butter, hazelnut butter, or even cream cheese.
  • Make a gluten free peanut butter sandwich: Just use your favorite gluten free bread instead of the sprouted wheat bread!
  • Try different nuts: Try almonds, peanuts or cashews as whole crushed nuts instead of the walnuts. You could also whip up a custom blend of โ€œpeanut butterโ€ using a mix of nut butters, nuts, seeds, granola or even coconut flakes!
  • Make it into a treat: For a more decadent feel, try using french toast or these pancakes as the bread slices in this recipe! You can also add some marshmallow fluff, cookie butter, chocolate chips, crumbled cookies, chocolate syrup or caramel syrup into this sandwich for more of a dessert like feel.

๐Ÿ”ช Instructions

Step 1: Spread the peanut & almond butter mixture on both slices of bread, and top one half with sliced bananas

Peanut butter spread on bread and banana slices laid on top

Step 2: Chop 3-4 walnuts, and add on top of the banana slices along with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of honey

Chopped walnuts placed on top of the banana slices

Step 3: Top with the other slice of bread (that already has peanut/almond butter spread on it), and place sandwiches in the panini press (or grill sandwiches on a grill pan over medium heat if you donโ€™t have a panini press)

An uncooked banana peanut butter sandwich

At this time, the nut butters, banana and honey are getting all melty and gooeyโ€ฆ

A grilled banana peanut butter sandwich

Step 4: Once the top has browned and sides of the sandwiches are slightly crispy, remove from the sandwich press and let cool for 1-2 min. Cut your gourmet banana peanut butter sandwich in half diagonally and serve warm or at room temperature.

Two halves of a banana peanut butter sandwich stacked on top of each other

I love the natural sweetness you get in this sandwich from the bananas, and the tiny drizzle of honey just enhances this. The grilling really helps to release the flavors, as well a making it really gooey!

โ“Recipe FAQs

Is a peanut butter sandwich healthy?

The typical peanut butter and jelly sandwich isnโ€™t very healthy for you. The classic recipe consists of a couple of slices of white bread, a big scoop of peanut butter, and two or three spoonfuls of jelly. Itโ€™s mostly just sugar (thanks to the refined white carbs and jelly), and can run you upwards of 20 grams of sugar for that meal (as much as a Snickers bar!)

But this recipe is just as tasty as the traditional version, and is healthy for you too! We make this sandwich healthy by making a few swaps:
1) Replacing the white bread with sprouted wheat bread โ€” which has a healthy dose of fiber, protein and whole grains.
2) Adding banana, which is a rich source of potassium and fiber.
3) Adding walnuts, which provide omega 3s and antioxidants.
4) Combining peanut and almond butter, which adds healthy fat
5) No jelly โ€“ this recipe has much less sugar because we removed the jelly. You donโ€™t need it with the banana, spices, and honey / maple syrup!
Each serving has a robust 9 grams of fiber, 17 grams of protein, and only 3 grams added sugar: a healthy and filling sandwich!

Does eating banana peanut butter sandwiches make you gain weight?

One peanut butter sandwich a day (or a couple days a week) along with a balanced diet likely wonโ€™t make you gain weight. As with everything, moderation is important so donโ€™t go overboard!

If you eat this version of a peanut butter sandwich (paired with some fresh veggies on the side), itโ€™ll likely keep you full and satisfied until your next meal and youโ€™ll be less likely to snack on unhealthy items in between meals.

Studies have shown that snacking on controlled amounts of peanut butter or peanuts is a good way to control hunger without weight gain (source), since 2 tablespoons of peanut butter has 190 calories, 17 grams of fat, and 7 grams of protein.

What goes well with peanut butter sandwiches?

I like serving this banana peanut butter sandwich recipe with fresh veggies on the side to round out the meal: celery sticks and carrot sticks go great with this, as does a simple side salad! Baked potato chips are more of a classic side, as is some fresh fruit!

Can you store this sandwich?

I donโ€™t recommend storing this sandwich in an airtight container and eating it later. While it will be perfectly safe to eat, the peanut butter will absorb into the bread so it wonโ€™t be as gooey, and the bread will likely get a little soggy and soft, even when stored in

๐Ÿ’ญ Expert Tips

  • Use ripe bananas for this gourmet peanut butter sandwich โ€“ they will be much sweeter, and choose an organic peanut butter with no added sugar.
  • To make this gluten free, just use your favorite gluten-free bread, or try this homemade gluten free bread recipe!
  • If you donโ€™t have a panini press, you can grill these in a pan on the stove top.
  • For best results, enjoy this sandwich fresh off the panini press, while itโ€™s still hot!
  • To make this even more fun for kids, use cookie cutters to create tiny sandwiches in fun shapes: hearts, stars, dinosaurs have all been a big hit with my kids. Or you could do a seasonal theme: pumpkins for Halloween, Christmas trees for Christmas, snowmen for winter!
Close up of sliced bananas on the sandwich

๐Ÿฅช More Healthy Sandwich Recipes!

LOVE THIS RECIPE?ย Please leave aย 5-star ratingย ๐ŸŒŸย in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page!

You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious, healthy, family-friendly food, and if you have any questions, Iโ€™m here to help!

๐Ÿ“‹ Recipe Card

๐ŸŽฅ Watch How to Make It

Print Recipe
5 from 11 votes

Gourmet Banana Peanut Butter Sandwich

Who said that the peanut butter sandwich had to be 1) boring 2) just for kids and 3) the same every time? Sometimes reinventing a classic is just what you need to get out of a rut.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 1 serving
Calories: 419.4kcal
Author: Anjali Shah

Ingredients

Shop Ingredients on Jupiter

Equipment

Instructions

  • Spread the peanut & almond butter mixture on both slices of bread, and top one half with sliced bananas
  • Add chopped walnuts on top of the banana slices along with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of honey.
  • Top with the other slice of bread (that already has peanut/almond butter spread on it), and put into the panini press (or grill in a griddle pan if you don't have a panini press)
  • Once the top has browned and is slightly crispy, remove from panini press and let cool for 1-2 min.
  • Cut sandwich in half and enjoy!

Notes

Note: This recipe has only 3g added sugar, the rest of the sugar is natural (from the bananas and bread!)
Top tips for making this gourmet peanut butter sandwich
  • Use ripe bananas โ€“ they will be much sweeter, and choose an organic peanut butter with no added sugar.
  • If you donโ€™t have a panini press, you can grill these in a pan on the stove top.
  • For best results, enjoy this sandwich fresh off the panini press, while itโ€™s still hot!
  • To make this gluten free, just use your favorite gluten-free bread!
  • To make this even more fun for kids, use cookie cutters to cut a peanut butter sandwich into tiny sandwiches in fun shapes: hearts, stars, dinosaurs have all been a big hit with my kids. Or you could do a seasonal theme: pumpkins for Halloween, Christmas trees for Christmas, snowmen for winter!
For variations on this peanut butter sandwich:
  • Use different fresh fruit: diced strawberries, apples, pear, mangoes or peaches, all work well. Whole pomegranate seeds, or sliced figs are more adventurous options to try instead of the banana in this recipe
  • Change up the spices! I used cinnamon in this recipe, but nutmeg, all spice, pumpkin pie spice, or even a pinch of cloves or cardamom would all work well. For a more โ€œadultโ€ flavor, try a pinch of cayenne or chili powder!
  • Make it into a quesadilla! Replace the sprouted wheat bread with whole wheat tortillas and grill it on a griddle.
  • Replace the peanut/almond butter with sunbutter!
  • Try almonds, peanuts or cashews as whole crushed nuts instead of the walnuts. You could also whip up a custom blend of โ€œpeanut butterโ€ using a mix of nut butters, seeds, granola or even coconut flakes!
  • For a more decadent feel, try using these pancakes as the โ€œbreadโ€ in this recipe!

Nutrition

Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 419.4kcal | Carbohydrates: 51.1g | Protein: 16.9g | Fat: 18.9g | Saturated Fat: 3.6g | Sodium: 307.9mg | Potassium: 561.2mg | Fiber: 9.4g | Sugar: 14.5g
The Peanut Butter Sandwich: Reinvented - easy healthy recipes, tasty healthy recipes, delicious healthy recipes, vegetarian healthy recipes, quick and easy recipes for picky eaters #healthyfood #food

65 responses to “Gourmet Banana Peanut Butter Sandwich”

  1. It looks grilled, and makes me think of a panini. I wish more people knew about peanut butter and banana–it’s SO good! Yummy. Can’t wait to try this, thanks for the inspiration. All of the ingredients look good by themselves!

  2. I grew up on grilled peanut butter and bacon sandwiches. SO GOOD! Now, I make sure my bacon is organic and humanely raised, and it’s even better. Will be trying this soon. Thanks. ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Can someone make a PB sandwich that tastes amazing WITHOUT bananas? I hate bananas… please, thank you. ๐Ÿ™‚

    • haha! Try substituting any dried fruit for bananas (raisins and apricots would both taste great). You can also try substituting apple slices or pear slices – I think both would be amazing! Hope that helps ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Wow that is one great looking pb and banana sandwich! I never make any but this one really looks delicious ๐Ÿ˜€

  5. I love this! The banana and walnut additions make this look tasty and a little healthier than the traditional PB&J!

  6. Grilling is SO the way to go! I love PG&J especially when it has bananas in it! This looks great! I could just reach into the screen and take a half! ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. Grilling PB & J is the way to go! We just make regular ol’ PB and Jelly grilled just like you would a grilled cheese (lots of butter on the outside) and it’s amazing (a big glass of cold milk is mandatory!) I’ll have to try these other additions and thanks for the link to the Portland shop, I’ll add it to my list next time we go.

    • That sounds great!! I agree – traditional PBJ grilled is awesome too ๐Ÿ™‚ The husband would totally agree with you on the milk!

    • Thanks for retweeting! I really liked your site & book outline btw – very interesting! And btw – the Trader Joe’s peanut butter is one of my favs too ๐Ÿ™‚

5 from 11 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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