Entertainment
Jeff Daniels' Favorite Sandwich Is Insane And Very Delicious, I Tried It And Improved It
By Robert Scucci
| Published
Back in February, Jeff Daniels (best known for Dumb and Dumber and The Newsroom) revealed what he believes to be the best sandwich during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. During the infamous “Colbert Questionert,” Daniels laid it all out to a shocked audience after letting out a long sigh and starting with, “I’m going to go with a personal favorite.”
He then went into great detail describing the sandwich, which consists of pita bread, creamy peanut butter, cheddar sour cream Ruffles, and “your favorite barbecue sauce.” Daniels said his favorite is “Sweet Baby James,” but no such brand exists, so it’s safe to assume he meant Sweet Baby Ray’s and misspoke in the heat of the moment.
He was exacting in his instructions, explaining how only half of the pita bread gets covered with a quarter inch of creamy peanut butter, which is then topped with crushed chips. The next step is to slather the whole thing with sauce, fold it over, and go to work. Every food blogger I follow has tried the “viral sandwich,” and I usually avoid these trends because I have better things to do with my time.
Something about this mix of sweet and savory got my attention, though, so I had to make one myself and see what all the fuss was about. I also took a page from the Sandwiches of History playbook, hosted by the legendary Barry Enderwick, who reviews recipes as written but also likes to “plus them up” with extra ingredients to see if they can be improved.
So without further ado, here’s my review of the Jeff Daniels Sandwich, along with some late-night, cabinet-raiding culinary insanity.
The Jeff Daniels Sandwich
My first thought about the Jeff Daniels Sandwich is that he picked very distinct flavor profiles that could go one of two ways. Either it works perfectly, or it falls apart completely. Following his instructions, I grabbed pita bread, Ruffles, Sweet Baby Ray’s, and used the 64-ounce jar of creamy peanut butter already in my house because my kids are goblins and go through alarming amounts of it. I prefer chunky, but that’s beside the point.
While I’m not exactly a fitness guru, I do track my activity with a FitBit and try to hit around 20,000 steps and 5,000 calories burned a day. I also eat once a day because it makes tracking macros easier. Intermittent fasting keeps things simple, especially when I get reckless with late-night snacking, something I do often.
This works out nicely, because a six-inch pita, roughly three tablespoons of peanut butter, 11 cheddar and sour cream Ruffles (what they consider to be a single serving size), and two tablespoons of Sweet Baby Ray’s comes out to about 650 calories. I didn’t use a food scale, so your results may vary. For context, the Jeff Daniels Sandwich I made has roughly the same caloric content as 2.7 glazed doughnuts from Dunkin’.
It also clocks in at about 18.5 grams of protein, 73.5 grams of carbs, and five grams of dietary fiber.
As for the taste, I don’t know any other way to say it. Jeff Daniels knows what he’s doing. I have no insight into his personal life, but I imagine this sandwich came together under very specific circumstances. He name-drops Ruffles and specifies cheddar and sour cream. He calls out creamy peanut butter and Sweet Baby Ray’s as favorites. Given how messy this thing is, pita bread feels less like a preference and more like the only logical thing holding it together.
That said, this doesn’t feel like a desperation snack. Jeff Daniels is a successful actor. His pantry is probably well-stocked. The enthusiasm he shows when describing it tells me the first time he made this, he was either half asleep or operating under the influence of some late-night cravings that can only be achieved under a specific set of extra-curricular activities. I’m not saying anything definitive, but it takes one to know one.
Jeff Daniels Sandwich SCORE
The flavors are sharp, distinct, and constantly competing. My tastebuds were in shock at first. The crunch of the chips against the creamy peanut butter makes your jaw work. Then the cheddar and sour cream hits. Then the barbecue sauce takes over. Then you’re back to peanut butter. As you keep going, everything starts to come together, and suddenly it clicks. It’s an elite combination of sweet, savory, and texture. It checks every box.
I Had To “Plus It Up”
As a fan of Sandwiches of History (I trust Barry Enderwick with my life), I had to plus up the Jeff Daniels Sandwich, and I put some real thought into it. The original is built on bold, accessible flavors, so I stuck to ingredients you’d realistically have on hand. I added mini pepperonis, chopped green onions, dill pickle, and hot honey, because that’s what I had lying around.
I also buttered and grilled the pita before assembling everything to give it a crispy, warm exterior.
I’ve been a musician most of my life, but this might be the first time I’ve legitimately felt like an artist. The original Jeff Daniels Sandwich is solid. I had it after my daily run as a recovery meal, but 650 calories wasn’t going to cut it. My version came in closer to 900, so between the two, I was covered, and slightly ashamed of myself.
I’m not saying the Jeff Daniels Sandwich should be part of your daily routine. But the original version that blew up online is undeniably good. It’s filling, and it feels like you’ll need a nap when you finish it.
My variation of the Jeff Daniels Sandwich SCORE
My version, though, is one of the best sandwiches I’ve had in at least a year. Mixing hot honey with the Sweet Baby Ray’s adds a kick. The pepperoni and green onion sharpen the sweetness of the peanut butter. The pickle cuts through the blandness of the pita bread, and grilling the bread before assembly is a power move I’m still proud of.
I’ve got to hand it to you, Mr. Daniels. You created a monster, but I’ve seen the light. Thanks for sharing this and completely wrecking my diet for the next several days while I figure out what to do with the rest of this pita bread.
Entertainment
Tons of Fitbits are on sale ahead of Prime Day
Best early Prime Day Fitbit deals at a glance:
Amazon’s Prime Day sales event is right around the corner (I can’t believe it’s that time of year again!), and I’m genuinely shocked by the deals we’re seeing this early in the game.
Usually, Amazon doesn’t put Fitbits on sale until the very last minute, and then they’re gone. (And some years, they don’t go on sale at all.) But right now, we’re seeing all-time lows on select Fitbit models, including the Charge 6.
Here are the best early Prime Day Fitbit deals you can shop right now:
Best deal overall
$99.95
at Amazon
$159.95
Save $60.00
Why we like it
The Fitbit Charge 6 isn’t the newest Fitbit on the market, but it still has (almost) everything you’d need in a smart wearable. (I say almost because the Fitbit Charge 6 doesn’t have an altimeter, but if you’re not a trail runner, this probably isn’t a deal breaker.)
The Charge 6 tracks your calories, steps, sleep, heart rate, and more. It also has built-in GPS, 40+ exercise modes, a seven-day battery life, and includes a three-month Google Health Premium (formerly Fitbit Premium) membership. Once the three months are up, you’ll need to either cancel or renew for $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually.
Mashable Trend Report
Right now, you can get the Fitbit Charge 6 for $99.95 at Amazon. This is the lowest price we’ve tracked on this model since its release in 2023.
Best runner-up deal
Why we like it
If you’re willing to spend a little bit more, the Fitbit Versa 4 is on sale for $149.95. This isn’t the lowest price we’ve seen (it was $104.96 in April 2024), but it’s still a pretty good deal.
Unlike the Charge 6, the Versa 4 has an altimeter and Bluetooth wrist calling. So, if you’re looking for a wearable that acts more like a smartwatch, the Versa 4 might be the better buy. That said, it doesn’t have the more “serious” health sensor that the Charge 6 does (e.g., ECG and EDA).
The Versa 4 also comes with three months of Google Health Premium.
Best budget deal
$79.95
at Walmart
$89.95
Save $10
Why we like it
If you’re just looking for something that’s affordable and efficient, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is your best option at $79.95.
It’s a no-frills fitness tracker that’ll give you the basic features you need to stay on top of your health. It can track your heart rate, steps, and stress levels. (It also offers menstrual health tracking, which is nice.)
You’ll also get 10 full days of battery life and, like the other models mentioned above, three free months of Google Health Premium.
Entertainment
20+ book deals Im sending to the group chat before Prime Day even begins
Table of Contents
The best early Prime Day book deals at a glance:
It’s nearly Amazon Prime Day, which officially runs from June 23 through 26, but if you don’t feel like waiting, there’s already plenty of live deals to shop.
Besides offering three free months of both Kindle Unlimited and Audible to new subscribers, Amazon also has some pretty great discounts on books themselves. I’m not usually one to recommend purchasing physical books via Amazon (support local book stores!), but it’s pretty hard to pass up a 50% price drop on a book you’ve had on your TBR.
Amazon Editors just dropped the 20 best books of 2026 (so far) — find out what made the list
I’m tracking some of the best deals on physical books and e-books at Amazon ahead of the official Prime Day kick off, but remember to check back for more once things start ramping up.
Best early Prime Day hardcover book deal
$14.67
at Amazon
$30
Save $15.33
with on-page coupon
Why we like it
Named one of the best books of 2026 so far by Amazon Book Editors, Crux is an “exhilarating, tender novel about an unlikely friendship forged through a shared love of rock climbing,” according to Amazon Editor Abby Abell. Thanks to an on-page coupon at Amazon, you can add the hardcover version to your home library for less than half its usual cost.
More hardcover book deals
Best early Prime Day paperback book deal
$7.50
at Amazon
$19.95
Save $12.45
Why we like it
A classic trope of two abducted girls, only one returns and one doesn’t, The Girl Who Was Taken is a psychological thriller by Charlie Donlea where nothing is as it seems. Typically around $20, you can pick up the paperback version for only $7.50 at Amazon ahead of Prime Day. That’s just a few cents away from its lowest price ever.
Mashable Deals
More paperback book deals
Best early Prime Day Kindle book deal
$2.99
at Amazon
$18.99
Save $16.00
Why we like it
I highly recommend grabbing this twisty psychological thriller from internationally best-selling author Steve Cavanagh while the Kindle version is only $2.99. Kill For Me Kill For You follows two women seeking revenge against the men who killed their daughters. Over drinks one night, they decide to swap murders, but things don’t go exactly as planned.
More Kindle book deals
Entertainment
Red Drink for Juneteenth
Amber Mayfield Hewett loves a good party. Not “good” in the sense that there were enough chairs and everyone liked the dip (though a killer dip and a place to sit definitely don’t hurt). To Amber, a good party is one where everyone in the room feels like they belong — no one feels like a plus-one or wonders if they should’ve stayed home. “In my early twenties, I was living in Harlem and working as an assistant at a TV network,” she explains in her new book, Your Turn to Host. “I loved going out, exploring the restaurant scene and private clubs… But something always felt missing. Even though I was surrounded by people all the time, I felt lonely.”
So, Amber started her own supper club, hosting dinners as a way to create community. “The first dinner was 24 people — roommates, co-workers, people I’d met out in the city,” she says. “Everyone walked in as strangers, but as the night went on, they were laughing and swapping stories like old friends.” Her supper club has since grown into a full-time career, and as of this week, a book — a guide to hosting meaningful gatherings of all kinds: Friendsgiving potlucks, Sunday suppers, and of course, cookouts.
“At the core, cookouts are a way for your village to come together,” Amber explains. “I keep an open-door policy for kids and friends of friends. And to me, cookouts are synonymous with freedom because of the holidays typically celebrated with them, including Juneteenth.” In her book, Amber offers a full guide for a Juneteenth cookout — everything from grilling tips to lawn games, as well as her own recipe for traditional Red Drink. “On Juneteenth, it’s customary to serve red foods and beverages,” she says. “Red is a symbol of the profound sacrifice and resilience of African American people.” Amber’s recipe starts with a classic sorrel-syrup base (“You can use the same technique to make other syrups, like lavender or elderflower”) and is spiked with a cup of rum. “You can easily omit the booze if you prefer a non-alcoholic version,” she adds. “The drink is delicious and refreshing on its own.” Here’s how to make it…
Red Drink
Serves 15
From Your Turn to Host by Amber Mayfield Hewett
Sorrel Syrup:
4 cups (1 L) water
1 1/2 cups (300 g) sugar
1 cup (1 1/2 oz/40 g) cut and sifted dried hibiscus flowers
2 cinnamon sticks
Punch:
2 (2 L) bottles club soda
1 cup (240 ml) dark rum
Juice of 2 large lemons
Ice cubes
4 lemons, sliced into wheels and seeded, for garnish
Make the syrup: In a medium pot, combine the water and sugar. Bring to a boil over a medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Add the hibiscus flowers and cinnamon sticks, and stir until the flowers start to soften. Reduce the heat to medium to maintain a gentle boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the syrup is deep red in color and infused with a floral flavor (about 20 minutes). Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes.
Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on the solids to extract all the liquid; discard the solids. Let the syrup cool completely before using or storing (about 30 minutes). The sorrel syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Make the punch: In a large punch bowl, stir together the club soda, 1 cup (240 ml) of the sorrel syrup, rum, and lemon juice to combine. (Amber notes: “If you’re skipping the rum, and want a little more flavor, you can add a splash of lemonade or a berry-flavored sparkling water.”) Serve with ice and garnish with lemon wheels.
Big thanks to Amber for sharing this recipe with us! You can find TONS of party recipes and hosting tips in her book and newsletter.
P.S. Five easy party foods, and a monochromatic fruit salad.
(Top photo by Xiana Gutierrez. Excerpted from Your Turn to Host by Amber Mayfield Hewett, published by Artisan Books. Copyright © 2026.)
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