Homemade Uncrustables
Ingredients
- Bread (Soft white or whole wheat works well, but choose your favorite)
- Peanut butter (Or any nut butter like almond butter or sunflower seed butter)
- Jelly or jam (Pick your favorite—strawberry, grape, raspberry, etc.)
- Zip-top freezer bags (for storage)
- Optional: Honey, Nutella, or other fillings
Instructions
- Choose your bread carefully
Softer, sandwich-style bread works best for Uncrustables since it seals easily without cracking. Regular white or whole wheat is great, but you can also use any soft bread like potato bread or multigrain. - Spread the peanut butter (or other filling)
- Take two slices of bread per sandwich.
- Spread peanut butter onto both slices of bread—be sure to cover the entire slice, all the way to the edges. This ensures the jelly won’t soak through the bread and keeps the sandwich from getting soggy.
- TIP: For a more even spread, microwave the peanut butter for 10-15 seconds to soften it slightly.
- Add the jelly or jam
- Spoon about 1 to 1½ teaspoons of jelly onto the center of one of the slices.
- Important: Don’t spread the jelly to the edges—keep it in the middle. This will help you seal the sandwich properly.
- You can also try mixing flavors, such as half jelly and half honey, or adding a small dollop of Nutella or even marshmallow fluff!
- Seal the sandwich
- Place the second slice of bread (with peanut butter) on top of the jelly-covered slice.
- Use a sandwich sealer (or an empty jar, biscuit cutter, or the rim of a glass) to press down and cut out the circular shape. Press firmly around the edges to ensure a tight seal.
- TIP: If you’re using a regular glass or cutter, you can press down with a fork around the edges to create that classic crimped seal.
- Remove the crusts
- If you’re using a sandwich sealer, the crusts will already be cut off. If not, simply use a knife to trim off the excess crust.
- Don’t toss the crusts! You can save them to make breadcrumbs, croutons, or feed them to the birds.
- Freeze for later
- Place your finished Uncrustables on a baking sheet or plate, making sure they don’t touch, and freeze them for about 30 minutes to an hour until they’re firm. This keeps them from sticking together in storage.
- Once frozen, transfer the sandwiches into zip-top freezer bags and store them in the freezer.
- TIP: Write the date on the bag so you can keep track of how long they’ve been frozen. They’ll stay fresh for up to 1-2 months.
- Defrost and enjoy!
- When ready to eat, just take one out of the freezer and pack it in your lunchbox. By lunchtime, it will be thawed and ready to enjoy!
- For a quick snack at home, you can also microwave the sandwich for about 15-20 seconds to soften it.
Variations
- Nut-Free: If you’re packing for a nut-free environment (like schools), use sunflower seed butter or another alternative.
- Savory Uncrustables: Try using deli meats and cheeses, like turkey and cheese, for a savory version.
- Breakfast Uncrustables: Spread cream cheese and add a little fruit jam for a tasty morning treat.
With these detailed steps, you’ll have perfectly sealed, budget-friendly homemade Uncrustables ready to go in no time!