Bruce Springsteen's Favorite Late-Night Snack Is A Total Throwback

Some sandwich-lovers might have difficulty choosing one above all others but not Bruce Springsteen. When challenged, New Jersey's favorite son did not hesitate to name a nostalgic throwback that might nevertheless be the most quintessentially American sandwich in the nation's history, the humble PB&J.

Appearing on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" in 2021, the singer-songwriter was faced with the rapid-fire "Colbert Questionert" and asked to name the best sandwich. "That's easy," Springsteen immediately replied. "3 a.m. Peanut butter and jelly. Big glass of milk."

Colbert described Springsteen's choice as an "American classic," and he's not wrong. As noted by the sandwich historian Tal Lavin, the PB&J achieved national prominence during the Depression, when the New Deal saw the sandwich included as part of free lunches in 14,000 schools around the country. According to the National Peanut Board, peanut butter and jelly were included in U.S. military rations during World War II, and sales of both exploded across America following the conflict's end.

Springsteen is known for having strong opinions about food –- so much so that, when a scene in the 2025 biopic "Deliver Me From Nowhere" portrayed the Boss (as played by Jeremy Allen-White) talking about hot dogs and mentioning his fondness for mustard, fans were quick to point out that the Boss has publicly and vehemently declared his distaste for the condiment, stating during one concert: "I don't like any mustard. I don't like it on my hot dog; I don't like it on my sandwiches. No!"

Springsteen isn't the first rock legend to have a love of peanut butter. By his own admission, Springsteen has been a lifelong fan of Elvis Presley –- to such an extent that, in the 1970s, he once scaled the wall of Presley's Graceland estate in the hopes of meeting him. Presley also famously grew up with a love of fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Later in life, he would also become enamored with the legendary Fool's Gold, a sandwich created by the Denver restaurant the Colorado Mining Company, which comprised of a loaf of hollowed-out Italian bread, filled with an entire jar of peanut butter, a whole jar of jelly, and a solid pound of crispy bacon –- truly a PB&J fit for a King.

If the Fool's Gold sounds a little much for your tastes, but you would still like to upgrade your PB&J beyond the classic formula favored by Springsteen, there are countless other variations to try. To offer some textural contrast to the sandwich's overall gooeyness, you might consider adding fresh fruit, granola, potato chips, or crushed pretzels. Alternatively, if you desire true decadence, you could elevate the PB&J into dessert territory by adding a layer of chocolate spread such as Nutella. Or you could follow Springsteen's lead and stick with the original — it doesn't even need to be 3 a.m. to be enjoyed.