Coffin sandwiches turn an ordinary peanut butter and jelly sandwich into a frightfully fun Halloween lunch in just a few minutes. These easy Coffin PB&J Sandwiches are made with soft bread, creamy peanut butter, grape jelly, and banana, then decorated with a spooky jelly “RIP” on top.
You can make the coffin shapes with a cookie cutter or cut them by hand—no special decorating skills required. They’re perfect for Halloween parties, after-school snacks, classroom celebrations, or a spooky Halloween lunch for kids.
And while PB&J is our favorite version, I’ve included plenty of savory coffin sandwich ideas below, too, so you can turn this simple Halloween food idea into an entire platter of creepy sandwiches.
Dead Delicious Coffin PB&J Sandwiches – An Easy Halloween Lunch or Party Snack
Why You’ll Love These Halloween Coffin Sandwiches
- Fast: They take only a few minutes to assemble.
- Kid-friendly: It’s familiar PB&J dressed up for Halloween.
- No cooking: Just cut, spread, assemble, and decorate.
- No special cutter required: I’ll show you how to cut a coffin shape by hand.
- Easy to customize: Make PB&J, ham and cheese, chicken salad, egg salad, or another favorite sandwich.
- Party and lunchbox friendly: Make full-size coffins for lunch or smaller versions for a Halloween party platter.
What Are Coffin Sandwiches?
Coffin sandwiches are simply sandwiches trimmed into the tapered shape of a coffin and decorated for Halloween. You can use virtually any sandwich filling you like.
My version starts with peanut butter and grape jelly because PB&J is easy, inexpensive, and usually a hit with kids. Banana slices make the filling a little more substantial, while grape jelly piped on top spells out “RIP” for the finishing touch.
For school lunches or classroom parties, always check the school’s allergy policy first. If peanuts aren’t allowed, a sunflower seed spread such as SunButter Original sunflower seed butter can be used instead.
Halloween Coffin Sandwich Ingredients
- 16 slices soft bread
- 8 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup grape jelly, divided
- 1 small banana, cut into 24 slices
Optional for serving: Crushed chocolate sandwich cookies, gummy worms, candy bones, parsley, or sprouts can transform the platter into a miniature Halloween graveyard.
Helpful Tools
You don’t need any fancy equipment to make coffin sandwiches, but a few inexpensive tools can make the process especially easy.
- Coffin-shaped cookie cutter — the quickest way to make evenly shaped sandwiches.
- Mini tipless piping bags — handy for piping neat jelly letters on top.
- A butter knife or sharp paring knife for hand-cutting the coffin shapes.
Watch How to Make Coffin PB&J Sandwiches
See how quickly these spooky Coffin PB&J Sandwiches come together. This short video shows you how to cut the coffin-shaped bread, add the peanut butter, grape jelly, and banana filling, pipe the jelly “RIP,” and arrange the finished sandwiches on a creepy Halloween graveyard platter.
How to Make Coffin PB&J Sandwiches
Step 1: Cut the Coffin-Shaped Bread
Place two slices of bread directly on top of each other so both halves of the sandwich will be the same size.
If you’re using a coffin-shaped cookie cutter, press it firmly through both slices of bread.
Repeat until you have 16 coffin-shaped pieces of bread.
How to Make Coffin Sandwiches Without a Cookie Cutter
No coffin cookie cutter? No problem. A knife works just fine.
- Stack two slices of bread evenly.
- Position the bread vertically with one short edge facing you.
- Trim the bottom edge straight across.
- Cut each lower side at a slight outward angle so the coffin becomes wider toward the top.
- Cut the two upper corners inward at an angle.
- Finish with a straight cut across the top.
You’re aiming for the recognizable coffin silhouette rather than perfect measurements. Once the first pair looks the way you want, use one piece as a simple template for the remaining sandwiches.
Step 2: Add the PB&J Filling
Separate each pair of coffin-shaped bread slices.
Spread about 1 tablespoon of creamy peanut butter over one slice. Add approximately 1 teaspoon of grape jelly and top with three banana slices.
Place the matching coffin-shaped bread slice on top.
Repeat with the remaining bread and filling to make 8 sandwiches.
Step 3: Pipe the “RIP” Decoration
Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the remaining grape jelly into a small resealable bag or mini tipless piping bag.
Snip an extremely small opening from one corner.
Gently pipe the letters RIP across the top of each sandwich.
Don’t worry about making every letter perfect. Slightly crooked jelly lettering actually makes these look even more like little homemade Halloween tombstones.
Makes 8 coffin sandwiches.
Tips for Perfect Coffin Sandwiches
- Cut the bread before filling it. It’s cleaner, easier, and keeps peanut butter and jelly from squeezing out while you shape the sandwich.
- Use soft bread. Dry or stale bread tends to crack around the narrow corners.
- Stack two slices before cutting. This gives you matching top and bottom pieces.
- Don’t overfill. Too much filling will ooze from the tapered sides.
- Keep your piping opening tiny. You only need a thin stream of jelly to write “RIP.”
- Use the first coffin as a template. If you’re cutting the bread by hand, this makes the remaining sandwiches much faster.
Coffin Sandwich Filling Ideas
PB&J isn’t the only sandwich that works here. Once you have the coffin shape, you can fill it with almost anything your family likes.
Cheese Coffin Sandwiches
Layer sliced cheddar or American cheese with a thin spread of mayonnaise. Cut a small cross from an extra piece of cheese and place it on top.
Ham and Cheese
Add thinly sliced ham and cheese. Keep the filling fairly flat so the coffin maintains its shape.
Chicken Salad
Use a thin layer of chicken salad and garnish the top with crossed chive pieces.
Egg Salad
Egg salad also works well. Be careful not to overfill the sandwich, and keep it refrigerated until serving.
BLT Coffin Sandwiches
Layer bacon, lettuce, and thin tomato slices. A narrow piece of bacon can make a creepy little cross on top.
Nut-Free Coffin Sandwiches
Replace peanut butter with SunButter Original sunflower seed butter. Always verify individual classroom or school allergy rules before packing any shared food.
Bloody PB&J
Swap grape jelly for strawberry or raspberry jam for a bright red “bloody” Halloween version.
Chocolate Coffins
Replace the jelly with chocolate hazelnut spread and skip the banana, or add thinly sliced strawberries.
How to Make Coffin Sandwiches Ahead of Time
For the best texture, cut the coffin-shaped bread up to one day ahead and store it in an airtight container or resealable bag. Assemble the sandwiches the day you plan to serve them.
If you need to assemble the PB&J sandwiches the night before, spread peanut butter on both inside surfaces of the bread before adding jelly. This helps prevent sogginess.
I recommend leaving out the banana when making them overnight. Add banana shortly before serving if you want to include it.
Once assembled, cover the sandwiches well and refrigerate until serving.
How to Pack Coffin Sandwiches for a Halloween School Lunch
For a Halloween lunchbox, make one full-size coffin sandwich and pair it with simple spooky sides such as grapes, apple slices, pretzels, cheese, or Halloween-shaped fruit.
A divided lunch container such as the Bentgo Chill Kids lunch box can help keep the coffin sandwich separate from wetter sides.
If you’re packing PB&J for school, check the school’s peanut and tree-nut policy first. Use an approved alternative when necessary.
How to Serve Coffin Sandwiches at a Halloween Party
This is where these simple sandwiches can become the star of your Halloween table.
Arrange the coffins on a black serving tray and sprinkle crushed chocolate sandwich cookies around them to look like graveyard dirt.
Add gummy worms, candy bones, fresh parsley, or sprouts around the sandwiches for creepy graveyard details.
For a full Halloween spread, serve them with our Mummy Dogs and Easy Spooky Pretzels.
For dessert, add a wiggly Zombie Brain Jello to the table.
How Many Coffin Sandwiches Do I Need?
For an after-school snack, one full-size sandwich per child is usually plenty.
For lunch, plan on one to two sandwiches per person depending on the age and appetite of your guests.
For a Halloween buffet with several other foods, make smaller coffin sandwiches or cut the finished sandwiches into portions so guests can sample several dishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Make Coffin Sandwiches Without a Coffin Cookie Cutter?
Absolutely. Stack two pieces of bread and trim the sides into a slightly tapered rectangle. Cut the upper corners inward and finish with straight cuts across the top and bottom. Once you’ve made one coffin shape you like, use it as a template for the rest.
What Kind of Bread Works Best?
Soft white bread is particularly easy to cut, but wheat, multigrain, marble rye, or another favorite sandwich bread can also be used. Choose slices large enough to give you room for the coffin shape.
How Do I Keep PB&J Sandwiches From Getting Soggy?
Spread peanut butter on both bread slices before adding the jelly. The peanut butter acts as a barrier and helps prevent the jelly from soaking into the bread.
Can Coffin Sandwiches Be Made the Day Before?
Yes, but for the best results I prefer cutting the bread the day before and assembling the sandwiches closer to serving time. If you assemble them overnight, omit the banana and spread peanut butter on both slices before adding jelly.
Can I Make Savory Coffin Sandwiches?
Definitely. Ham and cheese, cheese and mayonnaise, chicken salad, egg salad, and BLTs can all be turned into coffin sandwiches. Keep fillings relatively thin so the sandwich stays neat and easy to cut.
Can I Make Mini Coffin Sandwiches?
Yes. Use a smaller cutter or make a smaller hand-cut template. Mini coffin sandwiches are especially useful for Halloween parties where you’re serving several snacks.
More Spooky Halloween Recipes
Planning an entire Halloween spread? Keep the creepy menu going with a few of our reader favorites:
- Mummy Dogs Recipe — cheesy crescent-wrapped hot dogs ready for the Halloween table.
- Easy Spooky Pretzels — colorful dipped pretzels that are fun for kids to help decorate.
- Zombie Brain Jello — creepy, wiggly, and made for Halloween.
- Hot Chili Corn Dip in a Pumpernickel Coffin — another fun coffin-shaped Halloween food for your party table.
- Zombie Eyeball Punch — a spooky drink to serve alongside your Halloween snacks.
Final Thoughts: Halloween Lunch Is Officially Dead Delicious
These Coffin PB&J Sandwiches prove you don’t need an elaborate recipe to make Halloween food memorable. A familiar sandwich, a few quick cuts, and a little jelly lettering turn an everyday lunch into something your little ghosts and goblins will actually be excited to eat.
Use the classic peanut butter, jelly, and banana filling, make them nut-free, or fill your coffins with your family’s favorite savory sandwich ingredients. Whether they’re headed into a Halloween lunchbox or onto a graveyard party platter, these spooky sandwiches are almost too cute to bury.
If you make these Coffin Sandwiches, leave a rating on the recipe card and tell me which filling you used. Your review helps other readers decide what to make for their Halloween celebrations, too.
Coffin Sandwiches: Easy Halloween PB&J Sandwiches
These easy Coffin Sandwiches turn classic peanut butter and jelly into a spooky Halloween lunch or party snack. Soft bread is filled with creamy peanut butter, grape jelly, and banana, cut into coffin shapes, and finished with a creepy-cute jelly “RIP.”
Ingredients
- 16 slices soft bread
- 8 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup grape jelly
- 1 small banana, cut into 24 slices
Instructions
1. Stack two slices of bread evenly. Use a coffin-shaped cookie cutter to cut through both slices. If cutting the shape by hand, trim the bottom straight, taper the lower sides slightly outward, cut the upper corners inward, and finish with a straight cut across the top. Repeat until you have 16 coffin-shaped bread pieces.
2. Separate each pair of bread slices. Spread about 1 tablespoon of creamy peanut butter over each bottom slice.
3. Add about 1 teaspoon of grape jelly and 3 banana slices to each sandwich. Top with the matching coffin-shaped bread slice.
4. Transfer the remaining grape jelly to a small resealable bag or piping bag. Snip a very small opening in one corner and pipe “RIP” onto the top of each coffin sandwich.
5. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
Equipment You’ll Need
No special equipment is required if you cut the coffin shapes by hand, but a coffin-shaped cookie cutter makes it faster and helps every sandwich come out the same size. A butter knife or small sharp knife also works well for hand-cutting the bread.
Decorating Supplies or Helpful Affiliate Supplies
For neat “RIP” lettering, spoon the jelly into one of these mini tipless piping bags and snip a tiny opening at the end. For a Halloween party, arrange the finished sandwiches on a black serving tray with crushed chocolate sandwich cookies scattered around them like graveyard dirt.
Expert Tips
Use soft, fresh bread for the cleanest coffin shapes. Stack two bread slices before cutting so the top and bottom pieces match. Press straight through the bread instead of using a heavy sawing motion, which can tear the edges.
Do not overfill the sandwiches. Too much peanut butter, jelly, or banana can squeeze from the tapered edges when the top slice is added.
If you're cutting the coffins by hand, make one shape you like first and use it as a template for the remaining bread.
If the sandwiches will sit for a while before serving, spread a thin layer of peanut butter on both inside surfaces of the bread before adding the jelly. The peanut butter creates a moisture barrier that helps prevent sogginess.
Make-Ahead and Storage
For the best texture, cut the coffin-shaped bread up to one day ahead and keep it tightly covered in an airtight container or resealable bag. Assemble the sandwiches the day you plan to serve them.
If you need to assemble them the night before, spread peanut butter on both pieces of bread before adding the jelly and omit the banana. Cover tightly and refrigerate. Banana is best added shortly before serving because it can brown during longer storage.
Variations
For a nut-free version, replace the peanut butter with SunButter Original sunflower seed butter. Always check your school or classroom allergy policy before sending food to share.
For a bloody-looking coffin sandwich, replace grape jelly with strawberry or raspberry jam. You can also make savory coffin sandwiches using ham and cheese, cheese and mayonnaise, chicken salad, egg salad, or BLT fillings. Keep the fillings relatively thin so the sandwiches hold their coffin shape.
Serving Suggestions
For a Halloween lunchbox, pair one coffin sandwich with fruit, pretzels, cheese, or another simple side. A divided Bentgo Chill Kids lunch box can help keep the sandwich separate from wetter foods.
For a Halloween party, turn these sandwiches into part of a spooky spread with Easy Halloween Mummy Dogs and Easy Spooky Pretzels. Finish the table with Zombie Brain Jello for a creepy Halloween dessert.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make coffin sandwiches without a cookie cutter? Yes. Stack two slices of bread, trim the bottom straight, taper the sides, cut the upper corners inward, and finish with a straight cut across the top. Use your first coffin as a template for the rest.
What kind of bread works best? Soft white bread is particularly easy to cut, but wheat, multigrain, marble rye, or another favorite sandwich bread can also be used.
How do I keep PB&J sandwiches from getting soggy? Spread peanut butter on both inside surfaces of the bread before adding the jelly. This creates a moisture barrier between the jelly and the bread.
Can I make these the day before? For the best texture, cut the bread ahead and assemble the sandwiches the day you serve them. If they must be assembled overnight, omit the banana and refrigerate the sandwiches tightly covered.
Can I make savory coffin sandwiches? Absolutely. Ham and cheese, chicken salad, egg salad, cheese and mayonnaise, and BLT fillings all work well. Keep the filling fairly thin so the coffin shape stays neat.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the bread, peanut butter, jelly, and other brands or substitutions used. For the most accurate results, calculate nutrition using the exact products and quantities used in your kitchen.
Recommended Products
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1 sandwichAmount Per Serving: Calories: 125Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 6gSodium: 87mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 4g
The Nutritional Information may not be accurate. This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.