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    You are here: Home / Personal / Secret Family Recipe: REVEALED!

    Secret Family Recipe: REVEALED!

    April 1, 2021 By Sam 46 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    collage of peanut butter and jelly, single image with header tag at top

    Hold on to your hats! Today I’m sharing my family’s prized secret recipe. 🤫 This recipe has been passed down for generations, and while it’s admittedly a bit complicated, I’ve included a detailed video so that yours turns out perfectly every time!

    Lunchtime Bliss

    I might get in trouble for this one. While I’ve shared family recipes before, this one has always been kept under lock and key, passed down from generation to generation only under a vow of secrecy.

    But today I’m breaking the rules and sharing it with you. I think that you’ll find I’ve never shared a recipe as sophisticated, complex, and yet purely wholesome (potentially organic!) as this one.

    This is my son’s favorite lunch (he has mature taste!), and despite the fact that it’s time-consuming to make, I think it’s important as a mom that I take the time to make him homemade lunches. Yes, it’s involved, but at the end of the day he can taste the love baked into it and that’s what matters.

    What You Need

    bread, peanut butter, and jelly on a marble board

    Only the finest ingredients will do:

    • Bread. Only the fluffiest brioche or homemade bread, please.
    • Peanut Puree. For best results, grow the nuts yourself and cream them with a mortar and pestle, as I do. Please note that the peanuts will take approximately 15 weeks to grow and then they will need to dry for an additional 3-4 weeks before they can be used, so you must plan ahead.
    • Fresh Fruit Reduction. Use only hand-harvested summer berries that have been reduced on the stovetop until you can taste the sunshine. Heavenly.

    This is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!

    How to Make This Incredible Recipe

    This recipe is one of the more complicated ones on my site, but follow my instructions carefully and you should be fine!

    1. Slice your fresh homemade brioche into two pieces. They should be precisely the same width (use a ruler) or the recipe may not work.
    2. Delicately layer berry puree on one side of the brioche.
    3. Aggressively top the berry puree with a thick layer of peanut puree. Make sure it is entirely covered (careful, it’s slippery). It would be nice if there were a simpler way to do this but despite many attempts I have concluded this is simply how it must be done.
    4. Top with remaining brioche slice. Squish together firmly. For best result, cut into a star shape and DO NOT MICROWAVE.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make this with crunchy peanut puree?

    Absolutely not. Please do not even think about this.

    Can I freeze this?

    Since this dish is particularly complex to assemble, I always like to make mine in advance and in bulk.
    I recommend making 40-50 sandwiches, cutting into stars (not optional), wrapping tightly in 10-12 layers of plastic wrap and then freezing. When ready to serve, thaw overnight (only during a full moon, otherwise your results may vary) before enjoying.

    Enjoy, and Happy April!

    More Recipes You Might Like

    • How to Make Ice
    • How to Make Toast

    This recipe is complex! I recommend taking a look at the how-to VIDEO below before attempting it at home!

    close up of peanut buter and jelly sandwiches cut in half

    Secret Family Recipe

    My family's secret recipe for the BEST lunch ever. I might get in trouble for sharing this one…
    Be sure to check out the how-to VIDEO for flawless results!
    4.78 from 22 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: lunch
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 1 serving
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • 2 slices Freshly baked brioche bread
    • 1 ¼ Tablespoon Freshest hand-picked berries that have been reduced on the stovetop to a sweet jam by an Italian grandmother May substitute French grandmother
    • 2 Tablespoons Finest quality peanut puree for nut-free options please reconsider
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Gently squeeze brioche to test freshness. Do not use if not fresh.
    • Spread reduced berry jam over one side of one slice of fresh brioche.
    • Aggressively cover jam spread with a thick layer of peanut puree. For best results make it look tidy.
    • Top with remaining slice of brioche.
    • Squish well, cut into star-shape (please do not argue with me on this) and enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving
    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!
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    toddler eating peanut butter and jelly
    Previous Post: « Banana Cupcakes
    Next Post: Hot Cross Buns »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Julie

      April 01, 2021 at 8:01 pm

      5 stars
      Lol! I love your purist attitude towards creamy peanut butter and star shaped sandwiches! Too funny!

      Reply
      • Mechelle Collins

        April 02, 2021 at 7:23 am

        Haha, you are so cute. Thanks for sharing !! Your son is going to have such a fun mom and the best meals ever. love your recipes Sam!!!

        Reply
    2. BETH

      April 01, 2021 at 7:42 pm

      5 stars
      This was awesome! You had me going at first!

      Reply
    3. Darrius T.

      April 01, 2021 at 6:47 pm

      I was sitting here waiting for you to say April fool’s but it never came.

      Reply
    4. Jazzy Joce

      April 01, 2021 at 5:10 pm

      5 stars
      HAHAHAHAHA April Fools….you totally got me…I wondered if you had gotten hacked for a few minutes there…

      Reply
    5. Dave

      April 01, 2021 at 4:26 pm

      1 star
      Really, a recipe on making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Plus thats not even a star shape, cut it in half and he’ll eat it of he’s hungry. I be a shame to post this recipe. Like people need guidelines on making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Hint….if you put jelly on one slice of bread and peanut butter on the other slice it will taste the same.

      Reply
      • Sam

        April 01, 2021 at 9:30 pm

        This hurt my feelings, Dave. This is a treasured family recipe and is very complex. I am risking many relationships by sharing it.
        While you might think it’s easy, I’m sure this recipe is very helpful to others who are not as advanced as you. I worked very hard on it. I also don’t think that it’s fair to say that there’s only one way a star can look.
        FYI I did try the peanut puree and berry puree on opposing slices but when I did the entire sandwich combusted, so that is a poor suggestion and I don’t advise that any other readers attempt this. Please think of the children.
        Regardless I hope you are enjoying this special day.

        Reply
    6. Marlene Harkcom

      April 01, 2021 at 4:26 pm

      5 stars
      I had a lot of problems with the peanuts. I didn’t have freshly grown peanuts so I use store-bought peanut paste. I didn’t have fresh fruit so I bought some pre macerated store-bought fruit. I didn’t have any fresh baked brioche bread so I used store-bought non brioche bread. I also didn’t have a star cutter but I did cut the crusts off! great recipe you really had me going at first I was even reading the part about the peanuts to my son before I realized what was going on!

      Reply
    7. Terry

      April 01, 2021 at 4:09 pm

      I LOL when I read this top – secret recipe – and I really needed it today as is anniversary of my mom’s death. Worst April Fool’s joke EVER!
      Just sayin’.

      Do have to admit to making 1 or 2 teensy changes. I spread the fruit puree on the opposite side of the bread/brioche from the peanut butter because if I don’t the whole damn mess ends up smeared on the counter.
      It’s just NOT dignified for a grown ass woman to hold her hair back while licking the counter. The dog can’t reach that high & the cat doesn’t like peanut butter.
      And I have to purchase the peanuts because it’s too cold too long to grow them here.

      Reply
      • Terry

        April 01, 2021 at 4:12 pm

        Darn. I forgot to tell you what a great picture this is of Luke eating his sammie.
        Thanks!

        Reply
    8. Mary

      April 01, 2021 at 2:56 pm

      5 stars
      So funny! When I used to babysit your Zach and a bunch of other children, they would often tell me, “Miss Mary, you make the best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!”. Maybe they were uncommonly great or maybe the kids were just so very hungry come lunchtime..who knows. 🤣😂

      Reply
    9. CHRISTINE

      April 01, 2021 at 2:49 pm

      5 stars
      THANK YOU, SAM! I needed a really good laugh!

      Reply
    10. Amanda Villarreal

      April 01, 2021 at 2:48 pm

      5 stars
      Best recipe ever!!! Your son is adorable. ♡♡♡

      Reply
    11. Michelle

      April 01, 2021 at 2:23 pm

      Haha.. well since you let the cat outta the bag on that one, i have a crazy old highly secret recipe for a concoction that defies laws of nature and actually changes the temperature of fluids!!! I can magically make hot liquids go from hot to cold with these special devices!! I would let you know the recipe, but it’s very high tech and involves H2O as well as a rare device that contains magic inside and transforms H2O into a solid cube…..Happy day!!!

      Reply
      • Sam

        April 01, 2021 at 2:38 pm

        Haha! This sounds like a recipe I shared two years ago actually 😂

        Reply
        • Lynne Ham

          April 01, 2021 at 3:28 pm

          Happy April 1st! That was so cute. And your photo of Luke eating the sandwich is beautiful.

      • SarahK

        April 01, 2021 at 4:01 pm

        LOL!! And a happy April Fool’s Day to you too 😉

        Reply
    12. Judith DeSouza

      April 01, 2021 at 1:21 pm

      Lol 😋😂

      Reply
    13. SJ

      April 01, 2021 at 12:17 pm

      5 stars
      This is great but I don’t know. I think I like your toast recipe better.

      Reply
      • Jackie

        April 01, 2021 at 2:42 pm

        Hahahaha!

        Reply
    14. Lisa

      April 01, 2021 at 12:07 pm

      Hilarious! You had me going when I saw this in the email at first. Then I realized what day it was. I had to read your “recipe” out loud to my husband! Well done Sam!

      Reply
    15. Diane

      April 01, 2021 at 12:04 pm

      Sam, you are just to funny…😂…
      I know your recipes are tried and true!!…. so l figured this was no different….😂😂😂 This is our families bestest sandwich… some days l must admit l put fluff in mine…
      Love your recipes… especially your chocolate cake!!! To die for…
      Thanks for the fun🌻

      Reply
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