Jan 22 2010
Whole Wheat Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins.
I think I ate about a million peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in my younger years. And when I say younger, I mean much younger – like preschool age? I don’t really recall this. In fact, I may have dreamt it. But I can see myself gobbling up PB & J sandwiches with my stubby sausage fingers like it was nobody’s business. It is the only explanation for why I was sick of PB & J’s until I was about 16.
Then I fell back in love.
My hubby loves PB & J combinations, too. It is his go-to breakfast and mid-morning snack, but that may change once he begins to obsess over another 5-year old favorite food combination.
Speaking of hubbies, someone found my blog yesterday with a search of hungry + grouchy + husband. I quizzed my husband endlessly about his extra-marital activities because there can’t be anyone grouchier or hungrier than him.
Needless to say, we have endless supplies of peanut butter in our house.
And when I say endless supplies, I mean an endless supply until the morning that I have an unreasonable craving for peanut butter and realize that my husband took the last jar to work.
With everything we hoard in this house, you’d think I’d have an extra jar laying around in a shoebox or stuffed in between the 67 dye-cast Nascar cars that blind me each day.
This then sends me to the store, because it never fails that I also need cotija cheese or fennel or cilantro or something else that my hubby cannot pronounce or find anywhere in the store. And I always need those things right this minute because who goes one entire day without cotija cheese or fennel?
Maybe I should talk about these muffins?
They are fantastic. They bring me back to my childhood days. Well, not really because that would assume that my mother used whole wheat flour and natural peanut butter and in all honesty I don’t even think she knows those ingredients exist.
They taste like my younger years. They bring me back to 3rd grade when I got a perm and then overheard my mom tell someone I looked like Roseanne Barr. That was a confidence booster…
The jelly gets smooshed inside 2 spoonfuls of batter.
I used grape because my hubby likes grape, and strawberry because it’s my favorite. I hate grape. I was that kid that ate all the non-grape popsicles and then left a box full of grape popsicles for other excited kids. I always hated when I was on the receiving end of that gig.
I topped these babies with some more raw turbinado sugar because I am just loving it these days. I also love that crunch on top of muffins.
The jelly is playing peek-a-boo. That is my favorite part.
The peanut butter does get mixed in with the batter, but I added a few more spoonfuls while the muffin was still warm. Mmm mmm.
Whole Wheat Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins
adapted from myrecipes
Makes 12 muffins
1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups fat-free milk
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter (I used Smart Balance)
1/4 cup egg whites
2 tablespoons Earth Balance spread, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup reduced-sugar grape jelly
1/4 cup reduced-sugar strawberry jelly
Preheat oven to 400.
Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours, sugars, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl; stir with a whisk. Make a well in center of mixture. Combine milk and next 4 ingredients (through vanilla); add to flour mixture, stirring just until moist.
Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Fill each cup half full with batter. Spoon 1 teaspoon jam into each cup. Spoon remaining batter on top to cover jam. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in center. Let cool in pan 5 minutes. Remove from pan, and cool on a wire rack.
Make these today! They will remind you of those wonderful, awkward childhood years. Hopefully, the ones you want to remember. Not the ones you don’t. Like the time you peed your pants in Kindergarten while wearing tights. Could anything be more emotionally and physically uncomfortable?
It’s memories like those that make my world go ’round.
Those looks so good!
I honestly don’t know what I would eat for lunch at work without PBJ. Lunch meat grosses me out, as does the communal microwave at work. So it’s natural peanut butter and strawberry jam (I also hate grape! it doesn’t even taste remotely like grapes!) on homemade whole wheat for me! These muffins look great!
These look like something I would love to have around! I definitely want to give them a try as I’m always looking for muffin recipes.
I’m still loving your new site look.
Glad you came out of your shell, too! Your old layout had hardly any pictures. It’s always good to put a (beautiful) face with a blogger.
These look amazing! I LOVE me some pb&j sammies
lol– I think it’s so funny to see the different things people type in to get to my blog!
I’m not a grape jelly fan either. Blech! And PBJ is a wonderful combination. I ate it ALL the time when I was preggo. And those muffins actually look like something I could make.
I think we all should take a moment of silence out of respect for this recipe.
HOLY-YUM.
mmmm I love that these are a lighter version of the original but look tastier! J is a big PB&J fan as well (I just like the PB part
). Love your new picture. You are one gorgeous chica 
How do you come up with this stuff?
“The jelly gets smooshed” part is my fav part of this post. And the pics of course.
Oh that had to be embarrassing… Sorry to hear about your pee pee accident. I had a couple of those, and even worse, a period accident in eighth grade (you know, that awkward time in your life where you don’t know WHERE you fit in?!) Yeah, that really helped.
These muffins looks fabulous. It doesn’t get any better than this!
ah PB&J. beats the madeleine every day.
a bientot
The Paris Food Blague
Those muffins look amazing, and are the perfect excuse to have PBJ’s for breakfast!
Mm yummy!! I love Grape! We’d be the perfect pair because I’ll eat all the grape popsicles that you don’t want!
My dad would LOVE these…he still eats a PB&J every night for dessert! I haven’t had one in way too long…
These look awesome! And I always hated grape things, too
I don’t like PB&J sandwiches (the jelly bread sogginess grosses me out) but these sound amazing! Maybe now I can finally enjoy the famous combo.
These look delicious! My boyfriend always takes the peanut butter jar with him to work and I hate it! I don’t eat it everyday, but it seems that the day I am looking for it, it’s not in the house. Grr. That grouchy hungry husband thing is too funny!
Seriously! How good do those look?! Wow, this is a keeper recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Hehe I sometimes make trips to the groceries store at 10pm because I NEED apples or something. I have no patience at all.
Those muffins look amazing!
We’re in a fight now. Just FYI. I think I’ve said that to you before…but seriously?! PB&J muffins? Now i have to go buy PB and J and make these this weekend in my new muffin tins!
These look incredible! My favorite combo by far!
Um wow. I WILL be making these this weekend since making some sort of muffin was on my list of things to do. I will let you know how it goes! And maybe, just maybe, the bf will eat them since he, too, is a big fan of the classic PB&J.
Those are beautiful. I usually avoid muffin recipes but I love the healthy tweaks you made!
Oh yummines. PB and Jam–a combination of the gods. This might bump out my current banana-chocolate chip muffin obsession. Or maybe I’ll just have to make both kinds…
These look great- and healthy too! Also the new layout looks fab, and your pictures keep getting better and better.
you had me at peanut butter…the jelly and muffin part is just a bonus!
Yum! I don’t have jelly in the house, but I do have apple butter… which might be awesome in these!
I actually said “Oh my God” out loud when I saw the pictures of these. Needless to say, I will be making them very soon. Like, maybe tonight.
my mouth is watering! and yes, i was that kid that didn’t eat grape anything, EXCEPT jelly. i have a thing when it comes to textures and i hate that the strawberry jelly has seeds, so grape was what i loved. another odd quirk? i ate PB&J’s open faced, as in i ate the peanut butter side first, then “washed it down” with the jelly side. the thought of putting them together made me gag. this was up until about 2 months ago when i suddenly had a craving to eat them TOGETHER. what is wrong with me? haha.
Ahhh!!! So yummy looking, Jessica!
Clearly I should not look at this site while at work where I have no kitchen and supplies to immediately make these! They look seriously amazing…
That is some creamy looking peanut butter – just the way I like it!!
You can never get enough peanut butter. Peanut butter binges though, can be quite scary.
I love the combo! They’re meant for eachother! What better way to eat them than in muffin form. hehe. Awesome idea
This sounds like the perfect recipe. I may have to make some adjustments if I try this since we don’t have earth balance spread, but I am sure I could figure something out. I have so many things I want to make and no printer ink (I swear I ordered it 2 months ago and not in yet…the BX sucks…and I bought one out in a local Portuguese store and it costed $$$), so I will need to remember to come back to your page and print this one out for sure.
Yum! I love the shot of the pb jar.
Love it!! Cannot wait to try these muffins. Just found your blog via Oh She Glows. Can’t wait to read more! I feel like I always have to go to the store to get stuff because my husband can never find what I need. Ugh, men!
These sound great!! And I’m totally with you grape jelly = YUCK!
I make these all the time..modified to be gluten-free…and we LOVE them!!!
Sweet Wounded Wuffles. Only sheer discipline keeps me from eating PBJs three times a day.
Yum! I want to make these for the kids at the camp I work with- They would love them!
Ohhhhh girl!! i love your new blog!!! Super cute
Ok, these have to be the best muffins I have ever seen! You need to sell these bad boys
Have a great day love
XXOO
This sounds so awesome. PB&J is one of my favorite combos ever! Love the recipe. Thanks so much! Have a fabulous day!
WOAH. i love love love PBJ and these muffins look fantastic! they are so moist and i am sure delicious. i have this one bookmarked
thanks, girl!
i feel like every recipe you put up gets better & better..these sounds awesomee
I ate a pb and J for lunch today.. quite possibly the best combo EVA.. lovely muffins.. I bet they taste sooo good with a cup of tea or coffee!
Wowwwww. Those muffins look amazing. I’d eat them all if I made them though.
Did you change your blog? I love it! Your pic is Amazing girl!
I’ve got a contest on my blog. My first one. Check it out.
xoxo Have a beautiful weekend all!
PB & Jelly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yummy!!
These muffins are so adorable and contain 2 of my fave ingredients evah! 
They look so healthy too, I must make them!! 
Hi Jessica!
Just wanted to come over and say a big hello. Just found your blog from a few of my long time favs. I love what you have here! Fabulous stuff and you are full of energy!
Looking forward to your writing. You do have a talent
Jenn
Shut up!~ My kids would LOVE these…not to mention me!
Blessings-
Amanda
freakin yummm!! anything with PB and J is fine by me!!
um..YUM. I would never ever ever think to put PBJ in a muffin. I love muffins and PBJ so this is a must try. I love the sugar on top too.
PB & Jelly Muffins. Nice. I actually just reposted a recipe of a GF, Vegan Banana Muffin I made in regard to using up old bananas. Your muffies with the jelly in them…oh, so good lookin’!
As for the retreat. Girl. Wish you could come. Someday we will connect!!!!!
As for your writing and your higher/other goals, lately Ive been noticing more of You, Jessica, coming out in your posts rather than Jessica, The Cook. And I have to say, it’s been fabulous! You’re a fab cook of course, but you’re a fabulous human, a very dry humored and witty one (me too!) and I just love the one liners you intermix in your food posts. Your writing is showing so much depth, it’s great to watch this unfold
love you honey!!!!!!!!!!!!
xoxoxo
How do you come up with this stuff! I wish I was a good baker, because I’d never leave the kitchen with all the recipes you’ve given me!
they look like tasty lil suckers jess.
FYI: My mum pooped herself in the car (I was there) on black friday once. It tops all of my scarring emotional moments.
You’re a genius, Jessica! Why not transform the classic PB & J into a muffin, indeed! And it’s soo healthy, too! Lovely!
i definitely need to make these asap. they look really good and based on the recipe ingredients, not all that bad for you either
First off your blog looks so pretty! Secondly, your not going to believe me when the only thing I talked about last weekend was that I wanted to try to make vegan peanut butter and jelly muffins. I swear you read my mind at least once a week! Have a great weekend!
Good thing I just bought a new big bag of whole wheat flour the other day
I’m going to have to try these STAT…
All I have to say about those muffins are YES PLEASE!!!!
Oh My…! Looks so good!!!
Oh my gosh, what a FANTASTIC idea…these look incredible.
Oh goodness these look delicious! Could you taste the peanut butter in them??
It’s funny I actually hated PB&J until I was about 18. I was always a turkey and cheese sandwich gal.
Now I cannot get enough of this combo! I love raspberry jam, no grape for me either. These muffins sound incredible!
Made these tonight, and they turned out awesome!! I used some blackberry jam that I found at TJ Maxx today (of all places). Delish!
Love your blog, I’ve made so many yummy things from it
Those sound divine! I love pb and j and whole grains. I just might have to make them ASAP
I actually hate grape flavored things too. And strawberry!
Oh wow! I would LOVE one of these for breakfast right now!
I will echo what everyone else has said…those muffins look amazing! There is no better combination than PB&J!
67 comments already?! I am so late to the party!! these look fabulous Jess! you continue to amaze me with your creative and delicious and HEALTHY recipes!!
those look amazing! i love pb & j anything, but the little jelly ’surprise’ makes them look extra-tantalizing. and i’m 100% with you on the grape-flavor aversion. it always tasted like medicine to me!
Oh YUM! I always love fun ways of doing comfort food differently! I do love grape and strawberry jellies, but my childhood favorite was always apple! YUM, that brings back memories! I too love the crunch turbinado gives muffins and breads. I think I put that stuff on just about everything I bake!
Gahhh, I totally peed in my pants in kindergarten. LOL.
But I still want to make these muffins!
Y.U.M. I love pb and j so much! In college, I ate one EVERY DAY for breakfast. Me thinks those muffins are in order
xoxo
[...] to those who sent me some great recipes, I had a lot of options. After much debate, I decided upon Whole Wheat Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins (thank you Kristine!). Sounds delicious, [...]
Another “why didn’t I think of that?” recipe! Nice job!
“And I always need those things right this minute because who goes one entire day without cotija cheese or fennel?”…that totally cracked me up!
PS Your photos are gorgeous!
Deb
These look YUMMY! I was just at Tully’s and they had PB&J muffins. I’m sure your recipe is healthier. I’ll have to make them.
Thanks for sharing.
I know what I am making this weekend!!! Incredible!
Oh my gosh, these looks absolutely fabulous! I have a thing for whole wheat, too–it makes anything seem healthier–so I can enjoy them guilt free
I JUST made these…they turned out awesome!!
I made a mistake and filled the cups too much BEFORE the jam layer..so they’re a bit…top heavy, but they taste good!
Perhaps I didn’t use enough sugar but they may be lacking something..perhaps more PB, or maple.
BUT ANYWAY, SO GOOODDD <3 thank you!
[...] the whole wheat peanut butter and jelly muffins? I adapted the recipe a bit to make healthier chocolate peanut butter [...]