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Original Article:
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE UNCRUSTABLES (THAT YOU CAN FREEZE!)
*This post contains affiliate links*I am continuing to make clean eating changes for both myself and my family. I’ve already tackled my coffee creamer issue (which was kind of a fail, but whatever) and my kids mac & cheese. Today I am taking on my son’s pre-made frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. He brings one of these to school for lunch every single day. He never gets sick of them. So I decided it was time for me to attempt to make them myself.I looked online for the perfect sandwich press, and according to reviewers on Amazon, this version from The Pampered Chef is a must-have item. Also, since it was the same shape, I was hoping Hudson wouldn’t notice the difference.So off I went to get the ingredients… and I was all ready to pump out dozens of home-made, organic PB&J sandwiches. Let’s just say it didn’t quite go as planned. The bread broke in half, peanut butter and jelly was oozing out, and I couldn’t get the circle mold separated from the bread. So I googled some tips and tricks about the sandwich press… and there was a lot of them. Use less filling, put a dent in the top of the bread with your finger then press the sandwich out, wet the top of the bread with a little bit of water… I tried it all. My sandwiches still sucked.
My husband suggested I may need to buy different bread, since the kind I bought was thicker. (it was the ONLY plain white bread I could find at Whole Foods) So we went to the store and found the ‘cleanest’ version of white bread that we could find (without high fructose corn syrup and no ‘yoga mat’ chemical)Well it turns out hubby was right… with the thin, softer bread there was no breaks or holes! It wasn’t perfect every time, but it was a lot better. I still couldn’t get a perfect cut, no matter how hard I pressed, so I eventually just got a pair of scissors and I would cut around the edges.I stuck them on parchment paper and popped them in our deep freezer for a bit. Then I transferred them into baggies and put them back in the freezer.Hudson loves his new PB & J’s, especially since I can switch up the ingredients. He can have grape mixed with strawberry jelly, or a nutella and jelly sandwich (say what!). He even said he wants to pick out some ‘crazy’ jelly like raspberry or blueberry the next time we go the store.
I made another batch this weekend, and the entire process went smoothly. I made a tray of sandwiches in no time, and they all turned out perfect. (I still cut them out w/ scissors)
I’m glad I didn’t give up, and I will definitely continue making these for my little man! (but who knew PB& J sandwiches could be so infuriating!!??)
Okay, I loved the first post and am loving this one even more. I'm really challenged by PB and J sandwiches. I saw this cutter at my grocery store and will be picking one up this weekend. Love the idea of putting peanut butter on both sides…genius!
Jenny, you will love it! And even if you don't want to make & freeze ahead, these are great just to make cute sandwiches! Thank you for taking the time to comment!! 🙂
My oldest daughter whom turned 11 yesterday and I buy cookie cutters from the dollar stores mostly for all holidays and seal them easily. Cost cost isn’t a factor and her school mates and teachers live seeing her lunches and snacks to see theme. We’ve been doing this all year and I also write a handmade note in her lunch bag as well
is it bad to say my children get their sandwiches with crust, like it or not? but with that said, that's a pretty cool contraption!
It's funny since he doesn't mind the crust, we started buying those uncrustables cause they were easy to just throw in a bag, since they were already pre-wrapped and frozen. So I figured I could save money by making them myself, freezing them and then popping each one into a ziplock bag. So lunch is done & done!
How fun! Right now mine still "take the crust," but I recall being a non-crust eater when I was a youngin.'
Its a cute little gadget, that's for sure! I just got sick of spending so much on those little boxes of 5 frozen sandwiches! It was crazy!
Just an idea for your crust, freeze the crust for a whole week than on a weekend make french toast sticks using the crust. I did this for my kids and it was a big hit
Excited to try this! How do you go about thawing them for eating right then?
We will just pull them from the freezer and pop them in the toaster if we want them right then. If not, like an uncrustable you can put them in a lunchbox frozen and by lunch it will be thawed
What do you wrap them in to freeze?
My son is a super picky eater, unfortunately (even though I thought I was doing everything right when he started eating solids). One thing he loves…peanut butter. Guess what is not allowed in his preschool class room… peanut products. Store bought uncrustables are not an option. We found a few other butters be likes though. I’ve been making sandwiches each morning, but with a 2 month old to take care of in the morning, making these ahead of time to grab and go will be so great! Thanks for the tip!
Try sunbutter. My son goes to nut free school but sunbutter (since it’s made from sunflower seeds, not nuts) is allowed. He and several of the other peanut butter loving kids enjoy it and you use it just as you do peanut butter.
Wow butter can be used as a replacement and if still not allowed at school try honey butter and jam
My son is allergic to peanut butter and we have found sun butter to be a great alternative ! Maybe he would like this! It is a seed butter (unlike like almond or cashew butter). Thanks for keeping our allergy babies safe!!!
Why not mix the peanut butter & jelly together and then spread on the bread?
I have found it is best to put the jelly in middle so the bread doesnt get soggy when it thaws 🙂
Love how this homemade. Big fan of homemade and I have everything already in the pantry.
We are a childfree household (well she is in college) but honestly, I would enjoy having this. Sometimes the crust makes me crazy.
I hate crust, so this is great! PBJ is always the best.
such a cute little gadget! who doesn’t love peanut butter jelly? <3
When you use nutella and strawberries does the sandwich go soggy? Any tips? Have you frozen sandwiches made with marshmallow spread with success? Thank you for any tips of the process yiu can share.
No it doesnt get soggy as long as you put the nutella or peanut butter on both pieces of bread, and then put the jelly in the middle. 🙂 I have never tried Marshmallow fluff, but that sounds AMAZING!
What do you freeze them in? Zip Locks?
Yes, I just use ziplock bags and they work great 🙂
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Ooo I should get one of those! My daughter(2) use to really love PBJs then she started getting her canine teeth and stoped eating all kinds of protons even eggs and peanut butter! She’s doing fine now but sometimes doesn’t want to eat her meat. Well the other day we were at a pizza place and I didn’t want to risk her not eating so I walked over to the Burger King and they had uncristables! And she ate that thing up like she had never had a PBJ in her life and it was the best thing ever! I’m gonna have to get one of those cutters to see if the crust is what she doesn’t like. Or if it’s because it was still slightly frozen. My husband might think it’s cool too. I wonder if I could make breakfast sandwiches with it …. 🤷♀️
You can make breakfast sandwiches and even mini pies with it! You can contact me to order the cut n seal! Charlene Becker charlenescooking@gmail.com
How do you seal the bread around the edges?
Can you share what bread it is that you are using? Thanks!