Homemade Gluten-Free + Allergy-Free Uncrustables (Vegan)

Name: Homemade Gluten-Free + Allergy-Free Uncrustables (Vegan)
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: Per Sandwich:; 2 Large Slices of Soft Gluten-Free Bread (of choice); Sunflower Seed Butter; Concord Grape Jelly; Sandwich Cutter

September 4, 2017 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 64 Comments

Just what the little picky eaters want! Homemade Gluten-Free + Allergy-Free Uncrustables! A school-friendly, top food allergy-friendly, vegan, and gluten-free version of the packaged “PBJ crustless pocket” sandwich! Make these ahead of time for a quick and easy lunch recipe or snack for the entire school week!

Guys! O my goodness, do you remember Uncrustables? I sure do! If you don’t, an uncrustable is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without the crust for picky “crust-hating” kiddos. Basically, a huge bread waster and not-so allergy-friendly. I never had the packaged Smuckers kind. My mom was not going to waste money no that! But, we did have one of these trusty “uncrustable” devices, which we still have now and I found in the depths of the “random gadget” shelf for this recipe.

I was not a picky eater growing up. I totally would eat the crust (along with my Brussels sprouts). I think I’ve told you about my mom’s amazing, perfect, so-missed, PBJ sandwiches. Perfectly soft WHOLE WHEAT bread with Skippy (or Jif) peanut butter and Welches sugar-filled grape jelly, cut diagonally, all wrapped perfect in BPA coated plastic wrap and placed in another pointless plastic baggie. (I would eat that every day if I could; no regrets!) And I ate it all. I loved the bottom and side crusts of the bread but hated the top crust. The bottom and side crusts tasted delicious and formed well with the soft inner bread, but that top part? It was hard, tasted weird, and was…crusty (haha!). I still ate it, but with disdain.

As for uncrustables, my mom hated them. Well, she hated using the device. It was a pain to get out, use, waste half the bread, and then try to clean (we didn’t have a dishwasher so, I’ll give her that). My brother and I were only ever lucky enough to have them a few times, but they were enjoyed. There is something so fun and care-free about a little soft pillow filled with PBJ. Obviously the “inside” part of any sandwich is the best and with an uncrustable, that’s ALL you get. Any child would be happy to find a fluffy round pocket of love in their lunchbox, regardless of if they love or hate bread crust. But what happens if that poor child is gluten-free, nut-free or peanut-free? Half the schools are banning peanuts anyway!

Don’t worry, I solved that one! You know I couldn’t leave out PBJ sandwiches from the “back-to-school” classic remakes series, did you? Uncrustables aren’t just PBJ though. They’re a sealed, mess-free, on-the-go version that now is gluten-free, vegan, and top allergen-free too! These allergy-free uncrustables came with some unexpected challenges. Gluten-free bread options that are vegan and allergy-free too are pretty lack-luster (hello, tiny bread!). I found that “stretching” the soft slices out a bit did the trick! I even made a video for your viewing pleasure.

Roll the bread out a bit, slather on some sunflower seed butter, grape jelly (must be grape!!! None of this strawberry jam nonsense). And with, what is “properly” called a “cut ‘n seal” device, make that crustless pocket! They even have fancy cutters now. Shapes and squares with seem to waste less bread, but a classic circle is a must for THESE babies!