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Master the art of creating a rich, buttery homemade Graham Cracker Crust with this simple recipe and my refined shaping techniques. With only 3 ingredients, the delectable taste is so divine that you’ll never look back at store-bought options. Plus, for those in regions where graham crackers are scarce, we offer a tried-and-true alternative using biscuit crumbs.
I’m sharing my perfect method for creating a delectably buttery, sweet graham cracker crust with the ideal balance of crispness and crumbliness. This versatile crust elevates pies, bar desserts, cheesecakes, and more, including No-Bake Pumpkin Pie, Strawberry Cheesecake Bars, and Cherry Cheesecake.
What I Love About This Recipe
- Flavor: Homemade crusts have a richer, buttery flavor that complements various fillings.
- Sturdier: Homemade graham cracker crusts are sturdier and less prone to falling apart compared to their store-bought counterparts. Each slice comes out perfectly like this S’mores Pie.
- Easy to make: Crafting a graham cracker crust is a straightforward process that requires minimal effort and only 3 ingredients.
Best Graham Crackers for Crust
For achieving the best results with this crumb crust, I recommend using Nabisco’s Honey Maid graham crackers. Unlike other brands, they offer the desired crispy texture and rich color. When using a store-brand crumb crust, you’ll find it has more moisture and feels slightly mushier when arranging the crust.
How to Make Graham Cracker Crust
- Grind the graham crackers. You have two options for this step: utilize a food processor or a blender. If you don’t have access to either, simply put the crackers in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin. The objective is to achieve finely ground crumbs.
- Combine the crumbs and sugar. In a large mixing bowl stir the crushed crumbs together with the sugar.
- Mix in the butter. Pour the butter into the mixture and mix it with the crumbs and sugar.
The mixture will have a thick, sandy, and coarse texture. Be sure to break down any larger chunks if present.
- Initially, the mixture will feel crumbly. Press the crumb mixture into the pie dish by hand, applying medium-firm pressure to ensure it sticks together without loose crumbs. Smooth the surface with a small flat-bottomed measuring cup (or spoon), but avoid packing it too tightly. The goal is to form a compact yet not overly dense crust. For pie-making, maintain a slightly rounded shape where the sides meet the bottom, preventing a sharp right angle for better slicing results.
- Shape the edge. I prefer using my thumb on one hand and the back of a spoon in the other to work around the top and sides.
- Bake. Heat the oven to 350º F and bake for 10 minutes or until the crust becomes golden brown. Let it cool before adding your pie ingredients.
FAQS
Yes, generally, graham cracker crust requires baking. The precise baking time varies based on your specific recipe and whether it involves a baked or no-bake filling. Refer to your recipe for detailed instructions on crust baking and cooling.
I usually pre-bake this graham cracker crust for a minimum of 10 minutes at 350°F (177°C) before introducing the filling. When preparing a no-bake pie or dessert, allow the crust to cool before adding the filling, unless the no-bake recipe you’re following specifies otherwise.
For this recipe, opt for an ungreased 8-inch, 9-inch, or 10-inch pie dish, cake pan, springform pan, or square pan. A 9×13-inch pan won’t work. If you’re preparing a dessert in a 9×13-inch pan, I suggest scaling the recipe up by 1.5 times.
Recipe Variations
- Graham Cracker Crust without Butter: To prepare a graham cracker crust without butter you will need 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs, 1/3 cup Maple Syrup, and 1/3 cup of oil. Combine the mixture and follow the directions for pressing the crust into place.
- Other crumb options: You can also create this crumb crust using shortbread cookies like in this Eggnog Pie, vanilla wafers, Ritz crackers, or Oreo cookies in place of graham crackers.
Graham Cracker Crust Recipe
Equipment
- Pie Dish
Ingredients
- 1½ cups Graham Cracker Crumbs or 12 full cracker sheets
- 1/4 cup Sugar
- 1/3 cup Butter melted
Instructions
- Grind the graham crackers. You have two options for this step: utilize a food processor or a blender. If you don't have access to either, simply put the crackers in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin. The objective is to achieve finely ground crumbs.
- Combine the crumbs and sugar. In a large mixing bowl stir the crushed crumbs together with the sugar.
- Mix in the butter. Pour the butter into the mixture and mix it with the crumbs and sugar. The mixture will have a thick, sandy, and coarse texture. Be sure to break down any larger chunks if present.
- Initially, the mixture will feel crumbly. Press the crumb mixture into the pie dish by hand, applying medium-firm pressure to ensure it sticks together without loose crumbs. Smooth the surface with a small flat-bottomed measuring cup (or spoon), but avoid packing it too tightly. The goal is to form a compact yet not overly dense crust. For pie-making, maintain a slightly rounded shape where the sides meet the bottom, preventing a sharp right angle for better slicing results.
- Shape the edge. I prefer using my thumb on one hand and the back of a spoon in the other to work around the top and sides.
- Bake. Heat the oven to 350º F and bake for 10 minutes or until the crust becomes golden brown. Let it cool before adding your pie ingredients.
Notes
- Make-Ahead and Freezing Instructions: You can freeze the assembled crust in your pan for up to 3 months. Prior to using it in your recipe, make sure to thaw it. For more immediate use, refrigerate the prepared crust for up to 3 days before incorporating it into your recipe.
- Graham Cracker Crust without Butter: To prepare a graham cracker crust without butter you will need 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs, 1/3 cup Maple Syrup, and 1/3 cup of oil. Combine the mixture and follow the directions for pressing the crust into place.
- Other crumb options: You can also create this crumb crust using shortbread cookies like in this Eggnog Pie, vanilla wafers, Ritz crackers, or Oreo cookies in place of graham crackers.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on November 18th, 2019, and updated in October 2023.
