Homemade Uncrustables Recipe (2024)

Why Make Your Own Uncrustables?

1. It's a huge money saver. The freezer aisle version isn't exactly cheap. A little time and effort means you can save a ton of money (and have the leftover crusts for croutons, homemade breadcrumbs, etc.).
2. Easy. Once you get the hang of the method, this is so easy you could do it in your sleep! Plus, you can make a large batch so you can go longer in between making them.
3. Your kids will LOVE you. I mean, they probably love you anyway, but if you give them crustless sandwiches? Well, that's just bonus points!
4. Simple. You can find a sandwich sealer on Amazon for cheap, but there are also ways to make them with a wide-mouth mason ring, a biscuit cutter, or a cookie cutter.

Ingredients

• Bread: I recommend using a thinly sliced sandwich-style loaf for the best results, but you could use whole wheat bread or any type of bread you like best (thinly sliced, of course).
• Peanut butter: For easy spreadability, I recommend sticking to regular peanut butter. There's a time for natural peanut butter, but this recipe really works best with the standard stuff.
• Jelly (or jam): While the most popular J in your average PB&J is grape jelly, I'm very fond of strawberry jam. Use whatever you like best!

Equipment

• Sandwich Sealer: These can be found on Amazon (this is the one I have), but I've also heard that Pampered Chef makes one too.
• Don't have a sandwich sealer? You can use a wide-mouth canning ring, a biscuit cutter, or a cookie cutter (see the section towards the bottom of the post).
• Baking sheet: This is for flash freezing the sandwiches before transferring them to bags.
• Freezer bags: Whether you use regular freezer bags, reusable silicone freezer bags, or the bread bag itself, you'll need somewhere to store the sandwiches once they are frozen.

How to Make Freezer-Friendly Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

These crustless sandwiches are so easy to make with just a few simple steps and a handy little tool. Once you get an assembly line going, you'll be churning these little frozen PB&J sandwiches out like clockwork!

See Also

A Healthier Pop Tart Recipe with a Whole Grain and Oatmeal CrustIt's Too Cold to Diet: Warm Recipes to Make You Happier (If Not Slimmer)10 Gluten Free Packed Lunch Recipes For Eating On-the-GoVegan Espagueti Verde Recipe

Freezing

Once all of the homemade Uncrustables sandwiches have been sealed, you're ready to get them ready for freezing. These frozen sandwiches are perfect for tossing into a lunch bag, bringing on road trips, or packing in the cooler for a Summer camping trip.

How to Freeze PB&J Sandwiches:

1. Place the sandwiches on a freezer-safe baking sheet.
2. Place the baking sheet into the freezer, keeping it flat if possible.
3. Once the sandwiches are frozen, remove them from the baking sheet and place them in a freezer bag, a reusable silicone freezer bag, or the leftover bread bag.
4. Freeze for up to 2 months.

Tip: For extra protection during freezing, wrap each sandwich individually in plastic wrap (or place them in individual baggies) before placing them in a freezer bag.

Expert Tips

• Use thinly sliced bread. I've tested this recipe with regular sliced bread, as well as thinly sliced bread, and the thinner slices work much better. Thicker slices are more prone to cracking once sealed, and they also have a tendency to resist sealing.
• Sandwich-style. Bread comes in many shapes, but for the best results you want to purchase sandwich-style bread. This type does not have a mounded top and instead is somewhat square in shape, meaning you have a margin for error when making DIY Uncrustables.
• Peanut butter on both sides. Adding a thin layer of peanut butter to both sides of the bread prevents the jelly from soaking into the bread, making it soggy. I've tested it with and without, and the results are significantly better when you add peanut butter to both sides of the sandwich.

Homemade Uncrustables Without a Sealer

Using a sandwich sealer (AKA sandwich cutter) will give you the best, and most consistent results. But no worries! You can still make your own homemade Uncrustables without the use of special tools.

• Use a wide-mouth canning ring. Use the ring to cut the bread to size, then flip it upside down to seal the two sides together.
• Biscuit cutter. Cut the sandwiches to size using a large biscuit cutter, then seal the edges of the bread by pressing them with the tines of a fork all the way around.
• Cookie cutter. If you have a large, round cookie cutter you can use that instead of a sandwich sealer. Just crimp the edges with the tines of a fork to seal them.

What About the Leftover Crusts?

If you have made a large batch of these for easy lunches, you may be wondering what you can do with all the leftover pieces of bread. The good news is you don't have to waste them!

Here are some ideas for repurposing the crusts:

• Croutons
• Breadcrumbs
• Strata
• Breakfast casserole
• French toast casserole
• Cube and freeze for later use in your favorite recipes