By the time you read this, Fluffernutter Day (Oct 8) will be past, but who says you can't indulge in this ridiculous treat anyway?

The fluffernutter, the gooey peanut butter and marshmallow cream sandwich that's celebrated annually on October 8, may be a childhood favorite all over the United States, but it's particularly beloved in Massachusetts, where Durkee Mower's Marshmallow Fluff (the original fluff) was developed almost 100 years ago. In fact, there's currently a bill on the docket that would designate the fluffernutter the official sandwich of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

And just a little more history: The town of Somerville, Massachusetts, where the marshmallow fluff was created, celebrates this event every year with the famous "What the Fluff" festival. I had no idea.

Before we go on, I have to ask, have any of you heard of, or had a fluffernutter? It's a darling name and the whole idea sounds divine (in an ooey gooey heart-stopping sort of way), so I can't believe I've never even heard of this. You?

Anyway, whether or not you're from the bay state, why not celebrate National Fluffernutter Day, any old day that you want, by trying out one of these over-the-top spins on the classic? I thank the food folks at the Today Show for rounding these ideas up from various food blogs:

Grilled banana fluffernutter: To create the melty delight pictured above, Courtney Rowland of the blog Neighbor Food adds banana and toasts the sandwich in lots of butter.

Apple-stuffed fluffernutter: Another food blogger, the Helpless Housewife [ME: I'd change that title pronto!], takes the fruit theme one step further. She adds apple to her grilled banana and places it all on sourdough bread.

Chocolate-dipped fluffernutter: The author of the food blog, Half-Baked Harvest, wants you to try a surprisingly elegant take on the fluffernutter. It's toasted and dipped in Cabernet-chocolate fondue. Today Show chefs suggest that for an easier chocolate fix, just add chocolate chips or a spread such as Nutella to your sandwich.

Bacon fluffernutter: Isn't everything better with bacon? The writer of the food blog, How Sweet It Is, thinks so and she created a fluffernutter that's fit for Elvis. To follow her lead just add crispy bacon to the mix (of anything-it won't matter what's on your fluffernutter).

Deep-fried fluffernutter: Then there are those that are part of the "everything's better fried" school, you'll love what the author of the food blog, Crazy for Crust, does to her fluffernutter. She created a crackling panko-crusted, deep-fried version of the treat.

And now I conclude with what could be the queen of over-the-topness: a Peeps Blond Brownie Fluffernutter. The clever cook and author of the food blog, Beantown Baker, created this commanding treat especially for Easter, but you know us sweets lovers…why wait when you can have it NOW? It's high time I got out of my shell and discovered the world of fluffernutters! You in?

    Alice Osborne
    Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2006
    Email the author! alice@dvo.com