Peanut Butter and Jelly Hand Pies are the perfect way to ease back into the chaos of the school year. Make a big batch in advance so lunch packing is a breeze!
These Peanut Butter and Jelly Hand Pies are so fun, but still easy to make and a great shortcut for quick mornings. Make a big batch to stash in the fridge or freezer and you’ll thank yourself later! These hand pies along with our make ahead breakfast sandwiches will make going back to school a cinch – or at least maybe they’ll let you sleep in a few more minutes.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Hand Pie Ingredients
- Peanut butter – We used Jif Creamy Peanut Butter, a total classic that you can’t go wrong with! Crunchy would work in this recipe as well. We grabbed ours at Walmart.
- Jelly – Strawberry Jam is my jam! Smuckers Strawberry Jam, also found at Walmart, brings that sweet flavor we all know and love.
- Crescent dough – Instead of bread we’re using crescent dough! Make your own or grab a tube from the refrigerated section at your market. I suggest using the sheet rather than the type that is perforated into triangles.
- Egg – This part is optional, but I love the way an egg wash adds that classic shiny brown top to your hand pies!
Peanut Butter and Jelly Hand Pies for Back to School
Peanut butter and jelly is a total classic combination. When I’m feeling nostalgic sometimes, I’ll make myself a PB&J and pour a cold glass of milk. Brings me right back! There’s something really special about that sweet and salty combo with the soft bread.
These Peanut Butter and Jelly hand pies are made with creamy Jif® Peanut Butter and Smucker’s® Strawberry Jam and have the same taste and feel you remember, but made so much easier. Creamy peanut butter, sweet jelly, wrapped up in soft crescent dough.
Mmmmm. Perfection. And convenience. Because now that we’re adults, that’s important.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Hand Pie Crust Alternatives
My kids really like these hand pies made with crescent dough because it’s soft and very similar to bread, but they can actually be made with all kinds of dough. Some examples are below!
- Pie crust – Pie dough or pie crust will give these hand pies a more classic pie flavor
- Puff pastry – If you want them buttery and flaky, puff pastry dough is a great option. You’ll want to roll the dough out thinner before you start though, like we did in this chocolate pastry braid recipe.
- Pizza dough – Make them more like little calzones by using this pizza dough recipe.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Hand Pie Variations
Peanut butter and jelly is a truly classic combination, but you could make so many fun variations of these hand pies!
- Peanut butter + banana
- Peanut butter + chocolate chips
- Peanut butter + apples
- Jelly + cream cheese
- Jelly + white chocolate
- Jelly + marshmallow fluff
What is a Hand Pie?
A hand pie is a pie that fits in your hand! They can be anything from a traditionally apple filling in a pie crust dough to something more modern (and fun!) like our Peanut Butter and Jelly Hand Pies!
Hand pies are great for eating on the go and for packing in school lunches.
How Do You Make the Top of Your Hand Pie Browned and Shiny?
The trick to making dough look browned and shiny when its baked is to use what’s called an egg wash. Some folks will use just the egg white, but I find you get a beautiful golden brownish yellow color when utilizing the whole egg.
To egg wash a hand pie, just scramble a raw egg in a small bowl, then use a basting brush to paint a thin layer of the egg wash over the pie before baking.
More Recipes to Make With Peanut Butter
- Peanut butter cookies
- Peanut butter chicken
- Peanut butter granola ‘candied’ apples
- Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies
- Peanut butter and chocolate granola
- Peanut sauce
More recipes with jelly and jam
- Strawberry ice cream – no churn!
- Salted caramel and strawberry parfaits
- Classic banana split sundaes
- Cheesecake mousse with strawberry sauce
- Raspberry and cream cheese filled sugar cookies
- Peanut butter and jelly thumbprint cookies
Tools we love
- Silicone baking mats – Nothing sticks to these! Whaaaa?! Perfect for baking sugary cookies, or cheesy croissants. You know why? Because nothing sticks to these!!!
- Baker’s half sheet – It’s cool, we only have about six of these bakers’ half sheets because they’re good for absolutely everything. Cookies? Yes! Steak? Yes! Cake? Oh yeah! Roasted veggies? Uhhhh huh!
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How to Make Peanut Butter and Jelly Hand Pies
Peanut Butter and Jelly Hand Pies
Ingredients
- Peanut butter we used Jif Creamy Peanut Butter
- Jam or Jelly we used Smucker’s Strawberry Jam
- 1 Batch or tube of crescent dough
- 1 Egg optional
Instructions
- Spread crescent dough onto a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Gently slice it into eight rectangles (I used a pizza cutter).
- Place a dollop of peanut butter, and a dollop of jam in the center of each rectangle, then fold each rectangle in half making sure all of the peanut butter and jelly stays in the center.
- Using a fork, firmly push the edges of the pie together. Make sure to push hard as you don’t want the filling to ooze out.
- Whisk the egg in a small bowl, until well scrambled. Using a basting brush, lightly paint each hand pie with egg.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes or until starting to turn golden brown.
- Enjoy hot or cold!
Nutrition
Peanut Butter and Jelly Hand Pies
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Jennifer Fishkind says
I have NEVER made these! What is wrong with me!! My kids would LOVE them!
Bonnie Arvay says
Hi, in your opening you spoke of stashing a batch in the fridge or freezer. What are your storage times and thawing method?
April says
You can thaw in the fridge overnight, or on the countertop for a couple hours. You can also toss them frozen in your kiddos lunch box, and they should be thawed by lunch time. If you like them warm, the microwave or toaster oven works well. 🙂
As for storage times, they will keep in the freezer for a couple months.
Amanda Formaro says
Yummy 🙂
Beth K. says
Such a fun way to have pb&j!
Emily says
These look like such a fun treat! I need to make soon! thanks for the great ideas.
Cindy Hopper says
I love something you can freeze and thaw for kids lunches. Great ideas.
Rachael Yerkes says
I love how easy these were to make. And I was worried they would be a little soggy, but they turned out perfect! Thanks!
jill nunn says
these look amazing! i can’t wait to try them this weekend!
Barbara says
I am 71 years old and my Mom made these with leftover pie dough…we loved them.
Had forgotten all about them…thanks for the memories.