DIY Uncrustables Sandwiches – 4 Flavors

Now you can enjoy your favorite crustless sandwiches with ingredients that you choose by making your own DIY uncrustables at home! Perfect for meal prep and packed lunches, delicious eaten fresh or you can freeze them for later. I’ll show you how to make uncrustables sandwiches with a sandwich sealer, and without a sealer for those who don’t have one.

Of course, I’ll be sharing the classic PBJ uncrustables like the Smucker’s sandwiches we know and love. But, I’ve also got 3 additional homemade uncrustables flavors to share: banana & nutella uncrustables, jam & cream cheese uncrustables, and a sunflower seed butter uncrustable for a nut-free option. Just spread, slice, and seal, and a crustless lunch is served!

For other fun lunch ideas, try my Homemade Pizza Lunchables or my Easy Egg Salad Wrap!

Why are uncrustables “bad” for you?

In truth, uncrustables aren’t “bad” or “good” for us. (Really, no foods are inherently “bad” nor “good” for us!) Smucker’s Uncrustables do still offer fuel and nutrients. The main reason the store-bought variety is demonized is because it’s a more highly processed food. This means they likely contain more ingredients and additives than DIY uncrustables might. And, those ingredients tend to be more processed, so they’re further from their original whole-food state.

In some cases, more processing can result in foods offering less fuel and fewer nutrients. Yet, some level processing can also make many foods more accessible to us—like the convenience of chopped vegetables, or having frozen uncrustables on-hand in your freezer. Rather than demonizing certain foods and adding to our stress, it’s more helpful to consider the fuel that foods provide to our bodies, as well as our own personal preferences and needs.

Can I make my own uncrustables instead?

Yes, homemade uncrustables are so easy to make. The benefit of making your own is that you choose the type of bread and the sandwich fillings. If you or someone in your household needs a peanut-free or nut-free option, or needs a whole wheat or gluten-free bread, those are easy accommodations to make! And, in the long run, prepping DIY uncrustables will likely save you some money relative to buying them in the store.

Of course, the advantage of the store-bought uncrustables is the convenience. They’re already made and frozen for you, ready to thaw and eat! Maybe in some busy weeks you opt for the pre-made Smucker’s Uncrustables, while other weeks you rely on homemade uncrustables or other homemade lunches. Ultimately, the right balance is what works for your needs and lifestyle.

How to Make Uncrustables at Home

Making DIY uncrustables is just as simple as prepping any sandwich, with a few tweaks:

• Assess the size of your bread. If it’s large enough for the size of homemade uncrustables you plan to make, great! But, if your bread is a bit too small, roll it out slightly with a rolling pin to get desired size.
• Spread or layer sandwich fillings onto the center of one slice of bread. No need to spread the fillings all the way to the edges since you’ll be cutting off the crusts!
• I recommend adding both fillings onto the same piece of bread. (I.e., add peanut butter, then spread jelly on top of it.)
• Add 2^nd piece of bread on top. Then use a sandwich cutter to press the bread together, cut off the crusts, and seal the edges! (Or, see my method for homemade uncrustables without a sandwich press below.)
• Keep those excess bread crusts for homemade breadcrumbs, croutons, or simply enjoy them as a snack while you prep.

My favorite homemade uncrustables sealer

Personally, my preferred way to make uncrustables at home now is with these sandwich sealers that I ordered online. They come in a variety of different shapes and sizes so I can make different sandwiches, and they’re really easy to use! Each sandwich cutter has two parts: a basic shape outline used to cut the sandwich to size, and a ridged press to perfectly seal the edges.

How do you seal the edges of a sandwich without a sealer?

If you don’t have a sandwich sealer or press, no problem! You can make DIY uncrustables using a cooking cutter and a fork instead. Initially, I first made homemade uncrustables using a round 3-inch cookie cutter to cut off the crusts, and then I crimped all around the edges of the bread with a fork to seal. (See my sunbutter banana uncrustables recipe below for the full procedure!)

Can I freeze homemade uncrustables sandwiches?

Yes, you can absolutely prep and freeze your homemade uncrustables so they’re ready when you want them!

• Place prepped uncrustables sandwiches onto a flat baking sheet and freeze for 2-3 hours.
• Once frozen, place each individual sandwich into a freezer-safe bag or container. Store for up to 2 months in the freezer.
• Thaw desired sandwich(es) in the fridge for ~24 hours before serving.
• For more freezer sandwich ideas, check out my post about How to Freeze Sandwiches for Lunch.

Hungry for more easy meal prep and make-ahead ideas? Enroll in my Mind Over Meal Prep course to learn how to meal prep efficiently, effectively, and without stress!

To see how these DIY uncrustables recipes are made, check out my Uncrustables Bento Box Lunches video!

PB&J Uncrustables on Wheat Bread

First up, a classic: peanut butter and jelly uncrustables, but this time served on whole wheat bread! The benefit of most wheat breads is that they’re large enough to prepare homemade uncrustables without having to roll out and flatten the bread. (Also, the whole grains, if you’re into that sort of thing.) Feel free to prep this with a different nut butter, or sunflower seed butter for a nut-free option!

Sunflower Seed Butter & Banana DIY Uncrustables

If you’re hungry for nut-free sandwich ideas, this sunbutter banana uncrustable is worth giving a whirl! Plus, in this recipe I walk you through how to make uncrustables without a sandwich sealer, using a cookie/biscuit cutter and a fork to crimp the edges. Super easy, deliciously salty-sweet, and also totally freeze-able.

Banana & Nutella Uncrustables on White Bread

This was my favorite kind of sandwich to trade for at lunch in elementary school: a NUTELLA sandwich, especially if it was on white bread! Of course, feel free to make this with any type of bread that you prefer, or swap out the nutella for a nut or seed butter. But, I’ve gotta say, this nutella uncrustable is a true treat served on some white Wonder Bread.

Jam & Cream Cheese Uncrustables on GF Bread

A little unconventional for some, but a whole lot of deliciousness! This jam and cream cheese uncrustable sandwich is sweet yet tangy, fruity and creamy, and such a delightful way to switch things up at lunch time. And, to show that it can be done, I made these DIY uncrustables on gluten free bread, which is notoriously small and not-so-easy to work with. Personally, I love the Canyon Bakehouse gluten free white bread—it holds together well, and it’s easy to roll out into whatever size you want for your uncrustables.