Peanut Butter & Jelly Ice Cream
Peanut butter and jelly… this has always been my comfort food. For some people, it’s macaroni and cheese or pasta, or pizza, or any number of dishes, but for me, probably since preschool, it’s been peanut butter and jelly. I ate it constantly as a kid, and I still eat it constantly as an adult. When I was in preschool, I got a sleeping bag that had peanut butter and jelly on it, for heaven’s sake. Apparently, my parents enabled my pb&j habit.
I’ve made all sorts of peanut butter ice cream variations, but somehow peanut butter and jelly never occurred to me. I have no clue why, because it’s pretty much the most genius ice cream combination in the world. It tastes like a freakin’ peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I rest my case.
This is another ice cream recipe that foregoes the traditional egg yolk custard method and instead uses cornstarch to thicken the base. I’m seriously loving this! It’s easier and the base cools down much faster, which enables me to make ice cream, start to finish, in less than a day. Score! I will say that the finished product is a little firmer than the ice cream made with egg yolks, but after letting it sit for a few minutes to soften up, it tastes just as creamy and delicious.
Peanut butter is stirred right into the ice cream base, and once the ice cream is churned, it is layered into a container with your favorite flavor of jam. I’ve always been a grape jelly gal, so I went with grape, but if you love strawberry or any other flavor, use that!
I’m pretty sure that I’ll be 90 years old and still relishing my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches… now I have an ice cream to add to my arsenal!
One year ago: Fresh Peach Ice Cream
Two years ago: Banana Split Ice Cream Cake
Three years ago: Lego Batman Birthday Cake
Four years ago: Snickerdoodle Blondies
Five years ago: Chocolate Ice Cream
Six years ago: Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread
Seven years ago: Bacon, Cheddar and Green Onion Scones
Peanut Butter & Jelly Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1½ cups (366 ml) whole milk, divided
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ cup (129 g) creamy peanut butter
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) salt
- 1¾ cups (416.5 ml) heavy cream
- ⅔ cup (133.33 g) granulated sugar
- 1½ cup (510 g) grape jam, or strawberry jam
Instructions
- Fill a large bowl with ice water; set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of the milk with the cornstarch; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the peanut butter and salt; set aside.
- Combine the remaining milk with the heavy cream and sugar in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat & gradually whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Return to medium-high heat and bring to a boil; cook until the mixture is slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Gradually pour into the bowl with the peanut butter and whisk until smooth. Set the bowl in the ice water bath until cool, about 20 minutes, whisking occasionally. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Pour the ice cream base into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturers directions. Spoon a small layer of jam into a freezer-safe container & lightly spoon a layer of ice cream on top. Continue to alternate layers of jam and ice cream until container is full. Freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
it suckked bad
Thank you for this! I never used an ice cream maker before or had any experience in this area. Our local place stopped making this flavor (which my finance’ was craving the week before her birthday) and I was able to use this recipe to successfully make an amazing PBJ ice cream for her birthday! Thank you!
Third year… Still making this ice cream for her birthday!
Made this yesterday Michelle! It is divine! Used half creamy and half crunchy peanut butter. Thanks for this recipe! I posted and tagged you on my IG!
Thanks for the slow-cooker mac and cheese recipe. I was on that page and saw the “next page” was PB & J ice cream, and was like, “oh yeah, I’m down, let’s do this!” I am so going to make this! If you want to kick the down-home-goodness of pb&j up a notch, try a grilled pb&j. Don’t over do it, nice thin even layers are best, so it doesn’t leak or explode. I use light vegetable oil or coconut oil spray on the pan and a scant amount of butter on the bread. Grill it just like a grilled cheese, medium heat, covered if you can with a lid of a tiny pot to get the inside gooey, but don’t press it. An ice cold glass of milk is a perfect pair, or a smooth malty beer.
About to try this out hope it comes out good. Post back soon
I think I will puree some white bread (without crusts) in my vitamix into the heavy cream..wondering if it will give it that white bread flavor to go with the pb&j? Hmm…
I love anything PBJ too and this ice cream looks insanely good!
Made the PB&J ice cream yesterday. It was delicious! Perfect for our long, hot summer days in Florida!
Hi Michelle,
I LOVE peanut butter as well, but I usually buy the fresh-ground peanut butter because I’m trying to keep my sugar intake in check. However, I keep a jar of regular peanut butter on hand for recipes because it usually works better for baking. Which peanut butter should I use for this recipe?
Thanks,
Liz
Hi Liz, Definitely use the “regular” peanut butter for this recipe. Enjoy!
Honestly, this sounds a little odd, but your recipes are always good so I think I’ll give it a try. My favorite pb&j is with raspberry jam so I think I’ll try it with raspberry, although strawberry sounds great, too. Thanks for the recipe – I’m sure I’ll love it.
All this recipe needs is some crumbled peanut butter cookies & peanuts stirred in before putting into the freezer. Peanuty goodness!
Bless you! PB is the food of the gods. I wonder what would happen if I swapped out the jelly for honey…must try!
This is my kind of ice cream – so awesome!
This is genius! PB&J is my fave, in fact I had it for lunch today :) Love that you made it in ice cream form!
Ok, so I’ve been eating peanut butter & jelly sandwiches like it’s my job these past couple of weeks! I’m thinking a bowl of this ice cream would be the perfect complement to my pb&j sandwiches. :)
Hi Michelle
Can I make this without an ice cream maker.
Hi Heather, Yes! Here is a tutorial with a couple of different methods for doing so: https://www.browneyedbaker.com/2010/06/21/how-to-make-homemade-ice-cream-without-an-ice-cream-maker/
PB&J sandwiches are one of my favorite foods so I just know I will love this ice cream!
Excited to try this with Chunky Peanut Butter…because creamy peanut butter is a crime against humanity 😂😂
PB&J is totally my comfort food too! What a great way to enjoy it.
Making this ASAP!
That’s too funny about the sleeping bag!!
I would love a scoop of this on some toasted up bread! Mmmm! PBJ sundae!
It’s hard to beat the classic flavors of PB&J. Considering ice cream is my favorite food in the world, I’d adore this.
Michelle, you are the best person ever. I hadn’t even gotten past the picture before I got ridiculously excited. I too am a huge PB&J fan. If I had to eat only one thing for the rest of my life that is always my answer. So anyway, THANK YOU!!! This will be the first recipe I make with my new ice cream machine (it’s just waiting for when we actually have freezer space).
I love this combination! When I was a young graduate student, I worked in an ice cream shop. After hours we would “experiment” with new flavors for a monthly specialty shake. My favorite was a rich concoction of vanilla bean ice cream, organic peanut butter, and strawberry jam. This would end up getting served with homemade shortbread cookies. Talk about a walk down memory lane! Thanks so much!
Awesome! Now I just have to find out how to make this without an ice-cream maker.
You had a PB and J sleeping bag? That is the coolest thing I’ve ever heard!
And this ice cream is so awesome. I need to try this, stat!
Sounds Divine, YUM YUM, pity we are in Winter now aswell :)
Freezing here in South Africa x
What an awesome idea! I think this could be my new favorite ice cream. Pinned!
Who doesn’t love a PB&J sandwich? I’m going to be fighting my two girls over this one. I’ve never made ice cream before but I’m going to finally break out. Thanks
I love PB! And with jelly, of course, the ultimate comfort food flavor pairing! What gorgeous ice cream – pinned :)
That combination yum yum people think I am strange I love my peanut butter jelly sandwiches, not many people eat them in australia we are in winter but will do the ice cream at our summer love your recipes
To this day, I still eat PB&J sandwiches. So, this ice cream sounds so good right now!!