KANSAS CITY — Nostalgia is trending as the peanut butter and jelly flavor is being used in a wide variety of formats, ranging from protein bars to coffee creamer.

McCormick Flavor Solutions found the classic childhood flavor pairing was a trending comfort flavor in recent innovations in its 2023 Trend Report Bite.

“Consumer longing for emotional connections to youthful memories and meals reignites the comeback of comforting meals,” according to the report. “The perfect combination includes a creative interpretation on classics with a mature spin and a dash of fun.”

Oat bar company Bobo’s added a new snack line to its portfolio: PB&J’s. The snack, which is the company’s take on the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, features a peanut butter oat crust with a grape or strawberry jam filling. The PB&J’s are gluten-free, soy-free and kosher and are formulated with 17 grams of whole grain oats.

“People love being reminded of their youth, and for many the peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a cherished childhood staple,” said Beryl Stafford, founder of Bobo’s. “We’ve reimagined the traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a shelf stable version without the prep or the mess and it’s easy to take anywhere. It’s a trip down memory lane that can keep up with today's busy lifestyles.”

Applications of the childhood classic don’t stop at shelf-stable formats. Over in the refrigerated section, Coffee mate introduced peanut butter and jelly as a limited-edition option for its Duo creamer line. The coffee creamer features a salty peanut butter flavor combined with strawberry jelly.

“We know our fans crave creative flavors and mashups that add something delicious and unexpected and this innovation delivers on that,” said Leonardo Aizpuru, vice president of brand marketing for the beverage division and business unit at Nestle.

Click to view the latest peanut butter and jelly-flavored products.