Bruce Springsteen's Favorite 3 a.m. Snack Is So Relatable

Celebrity magazines, TV shows, and even Reddit threads often highlight the outlandish and occasionally over-the-top requests on celebrity concert “riders” (their list of requests for what should be available at the venue where they’re appearing) and at restaurants. 

But the more we dive into the behind-the-scenes dish about some celebs, including a handful of our favorite musicians, the more we realize that stars are just like us. 

Frank Sinatra, for one, always asked to have Tootsie Rolls backstage. Dolly Parton swears by a Soft Taco Supreme from Taco Bell. Sammy Davis Jr. craves comforting spaghetti and meatballs.

And Bruce Springsteen? Turns out that he’s a boss at making one certain sandwich himself, especially to refuel after a long day.

Bruce Springsteen's Favorite 3 a.m. Snack

You’re probably well aware that Springsteen is proficient at “Dancing in the Dark,” but he’s also well-versed at dining in the dark … or at least the dark of night, after a long concert, we assume. 

After filming three segments and performing a song on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in   November 2021, Springsteen stuck around to take part in the host and comedian’s “The Colbert Questionert.” This rapid-fire Q&A involves questions “that have been specifically designed to pierce the veil that we create between each other to protect ourselves from being known,” according to Colbert.

The duo kicked things off with what we happen to think was the best question of all, since it relates to food: “What is the best sandwich?”

Springsteen laughed, then quickly answered, “That’s easy. Three a.m. Peanut butter and jelly; big glass of milk.” To which Colbert replied, “That’s an American classic right there.”

If you take a peek around our recipe archives, you’ll see that we sing the same tune and think this kid-friendly classic is a top-tier sandwich. When we’re craving crunch, we’re partial to a Fried PB & J or TikTok Air-Fried PB & J. For dessert, we go nuts for Uncle Mac's Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies and PB & J Cake. And when we can’t wait until lunch to cure our craving, we whip up PB & J Stuffed French Toast and Overnight Light PB&J Oats.

But nothing can top the original. If we can be choosy, we’ll start with Trader Joe’s cracked wheat sourdough or Pepperidge Farm sandwich bread and slather it with Jif peanut butter and Bonne Maman jam. Just one bite, and we feel like The Boss.