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Fun Animal-Shaped PB&J Bento Box Recipe with 5 Rainbow Fruit Skewers

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A playful and easy lunchbox idea featuring animal-shaped peanut butter and jelly sandwiches paired with colorful rainbow fruit skewers. Perfect for busy mornings and picky eaters.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 slices of soft white or whole wheat sandwich bread
  • 1 cup (250 g) creamy peanut butter
  • ½ cup (120 ml) grape, strawberry, or raspberry jelly
  • Strawberries, hulled and halved (red)
  • Cantaloupe or mandarin segments (orange)
  • Pineapple chunks (yellow)
  • Kiwi slices (green)
  • Red or black grapes, halved (purple)
  • 5 small bamboo skewers (about 6 inches / 15 cm long)
  • Animal-shaped cookie cutters (3-4 inches / 7-10 cm diameter)

Instructions

  1. Lay out 8 slices of bread on a clean surface. Using animal-shaped cookie cutters, press firmly to cut out shapes. Gently wiggle and lift the cutter to keep the shape intact. Save leftover bread for breadcrumbs or snacks.
  2. Using a butter knife, spread about 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of peanut butter evenly on one side of half the animal-shaped bread pieces. Aim for a thin, even layer to avoid tearing the bread.
  3. On the remaining half of the animal bread shapes, spread about 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of jelly. Try not to overload it, so the sandwich seals nicely.
  4. Carefully place the peanut butter-covered bread on top of the jelly-covered pieces, matching the shapes. Press gently to seal without squishing.
  5. Thread the prepared fruit onto each skewer in rainbow order: strawberry, cantaloupe, pineapple, kiwi, and grape. Leave about 1 inch (2.5 cm) on each end of the skewer for easy handling. Repeat for all 5 skewers.
  6. Arrange the animal-shaped PB&J sandwiches and fruit skewers neatly in a lunchbox or bento container. Add a small napkin or reusable ice pack if desired.

Notes

Use slightly stale bread for better shape retention. Spread peanut butter first to prevent sogginess. Dip cookie cutters in warm water if bread sticks. Cut grapes in half for easier skewering and safety. Prepare fruit the night before to save time. Substitute fruits seasonally or by preference. Nut-free and gluten-free alternatives are possible.

Nutrition

Keywords: peanut butter and jelly, PB&J, animal-shaped sandwich, bento box, kids lunch, fruit skewers, rainbow fruit, easy lunch, school lunch, picnic

Find it online: https://ovenmila.com/fun-animal-shaped-pb-and-j-bento-box-recipe-with-5-rainbow-fruit-skewers/