Give Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwiches An Instant Flavor Overhaul With One Breakfast Staple

Few foods are more synonymous with childhood than the sweet and gooey peanut butter and jelly sandwich, whether as quick breakfast or brown bag lunch. Now imagine how much more flavorful that sandwich can be when you slide a few strips of bacon right where the ampersand goes in "PB & J." With one addition, this childhood comfort food goes from a sweet, nutty snack to savory brunch. In fact, a PBJ and bacon is decadent enough that the King of Rock and Roll himself loved it.

Elvis Presley was a fan of food, and the fattier and richer, the better. His favorite sandwich was known as the Fool's Gold Loaf, made by a restaurant in Denver. It consisted of a loaf of bread slathered in peanut butter and jelly, and stuffed with a full pound of bacon. Presley loved it so much that he flew all the way to Denver just to eat the sandwich. But why does bacon pair so well with peanut butter and jelly? Bacon is fatty and salty, giving the peanut butter more presence than before as the salty part of the sandwich cuts through the jam's sweetness. Together, the sweet and salty tastes complement each other much like syrup over fried chicken when you order chicken and waffles. 

Speaking of syrup, you might want to avoid bacon that's already sweetened, candied bacon for example. Peanut butter and jelly are like two best friends who've known each other since first grade. Bacon can't force itself in between the two, it must be the right flavor fit. A thick-cut hickory-smoked bacon works well for a few reasons. First, the smokiness and salty notes balance the sweet jelly instead of just adding more sugar to it. Second, the thick cuts make the sandwich a substantial meal rather than a quick bite. Once cooked, the thick-cut bacon will be chewy but with a little crisp to give your PB&J some crunch. With the bacon crunchy and hot, it will soften the peanut butter almost into a sauce to up the richness of the sandwich.

Now let's talk about the longtime friends. Opt for a smooth and creamy peanut butter to ensure that it melts and runs a bit due to the heat from the bacon, plus the bacon will add some crunchy mouthfeel so whole peanuts are unnecessary. As for the jelly, you can never go wrong with the sweet, familiar, and comforting taste of strawberry jam. You can, however, play with some more acidic pairings like orange marmalade that can balance out the fatty meat. Giving the classic PB&J an adult flavor profile doesn't require a fancy deconstruction or a giant loaf of bread and a pound of bacon like Elvis Presley's sandwich. A few strips of sizzling bacon and the right pairings can be a creative way to upgrade your PB&J.