Here’s how I make healthier Uncrustables! Yes, it’s a little time-consuming, but I like being able to control the ingredients. You can also freeze normal PB&J sandwiches, but where’s the fun in that?
1. Buy a sandwich sealer from Amazon. Pick the ring size that fits your bread.
– Note: you can find various sandwich sealer shapes, but the ring shape make sturdier sandwiches because the pressure is evenly distributed around the edges when you crimp the bread together.
2. Stack 2 slices of bread and cut them into circles using the cutting ring. Remove the crusts.
3. Spread 1 tsp. of nut butter on each circle.
4. Not pictured; drop 3/4 tsp. jam in the center of one circle. Place it inside your cutting ring and top with the other bread circle.
5. Gently press down on the center to distribute the jam. This helps prevent it from bursting through the top when you seal the sandwich, but still keeps it relatively centered.
6. Steadily press the sealing ring into the cutting ring to seal the filling inside the bread.
7. Place sandwiches on a tray and freeze until the bread is firm, then transfer to a freezer bag for storage.
Voila!
These sandwiches are made with low calorie bread (Healthy Life Whole Wheat) almond butter (Big Spoon Roasters) and reduced sugar preserves (Trader Joe’s). Net weight is 32 grams and 100 calories per sandwich compared to an Uncrustable at 58g and 210 calories. So yes, a lot of the calorie reduction comes from their smaller size, but they still make a satisfying snack.
Pro tips:
– Use a soft bread with a fine texture for best results. You can use coarse breads (like the kind with seeds or multiple grains), but the filling is more likely to break through the top when you seal it.
– Smooth-textured jams and jellies also work better for the same reason. Avoid preserves with large chunks of fruit since these sandwiches only accommodate a small portion of jam.
by Merlin2oo2