Graham Cracker Crust
Posted Oct 28, 2022, Updated Feb 15, 2024
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This homemade graham cracker crust recipe is easy to make with 4 ingredients. Pre-bake this graham cracker pie crust to use in your favorite no-bake pies, or use it to make cheesecake, key lime pie, etc.
This homemade graham cracker crust recipe is my go-to for so many desserts – cheesecake, no-bake pies like this no bake peanut butter pie, key lime pie, lemon pie etc.
This graham cracker pie crust is easy to make with only 4 ingredients. You can use store-bought graham cracker crumbs or grind up whole graham crackers in a food processor or high-powered blender. The secret ingredient (cinnamon) makes it extra-special!
In this post you’ll learn how to make graham cracker crust and will never go back to using store-bought versions again. Also, try this Oreo crust!
Graham Cracker Crust: Ingredients and substitutions
- Graham crackers. Choose your favorite graham cracker variety to make this recipe: honey grahams, cinnamon grahams, even chocolate graham crackers all work well. Use a gluten-free graham crackers to make this recipe gluten-free. Alternatively, use store-bought graham cracker crumbs to make the recipe even easier and skip the step of blending/processing the grahams.
- Granulated sugar. organic cane sugar, white sugar, and even coconut sugar all work well in this recipe.
- Ground cinnamon. technically this is optional, but I never make it without cinnamon!
- Salted butter. Unsalted butter works well too.
How to make Graham Cracker Crust
Let’s walk through how to make this graham cracker pie crust recipe step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video!
If using full graham crackers, the first step in this recipe is to turn them into graham cracker crumbs. This can be done by either blending them in a high powered blender or processing them in a food processor fitted with the “S” blade.
Breaking the crackers into smaller pieces as you put them into the container will help make blending/processing easier.
Process/blend until a flour-like powder forms. Make sure to check for un-processed pieces of graham cracker. You may need to pause, release some pieces from the blades, and continue blending/processing.
Next, transfer the graham cracker crumbs to a large bowl.
Then, add the sugar and cinnamon to the graham cracker crumbs in the large bowl and stir to combine.
Next, add the melted butter and stir until the mixture is uniform throughout.
Pour the crust mixture into the prepared pie dish.
Then, press it down into the bottom of the dish and halfway up the sides. I usually used greased hands to do this step. You can also use a greased silicone spatula.
Bake
At this point, check the recipe for which you’ll be using this graham cracker crust. Many recipes, like this key lime pie, lemon pie, and the best cheesecake, call for pre-baking the crust for different amounts of time.
If using this homemade graham cracker crust for a no-bake pie, you will need to bake it in the preheated oven for 8 minutes.
Then, remove the crust from the oven and let it cool completely before filling it with your favorite no-bake pie filing – like this chocolate pudding pie, peanut butter pie, vegan chocolate pie, French silk pie, etc.
Serve
Use this graham cracker pie crust in your favorite no-bake pie recipe, baked pie recipe, cheesecake recipe, etc., topped with homemade whipped cream, of course. Here’s some suggestions:
- The best cheesecake recipe.
- Fill it with this chocolate pudding pie filling (which is made from scratch).
- It’s the perfect crust for no bake peanut butter pie!
- This key lime pie and lemon pie etc
- Use it to make this vegan chocolate pie
- French silk pie would taste amazing with this crust.
Graham Cracker Crust Recipe FAQs
Does graham cracker crust need to be baked?
I prefer to bake the crust so the butter/sugar melt, then firm up while cooling and hold everything together. Technically you can use it in a no-bake recipe and it would be just fine!
To keep the edges of the crust from burning, cover them with a pie crust shield or foil. To keep the entire crust from burning – follow the recipe and do not over bake.
Yes, if you’re making two pies you can double the recipe. Or if you’re making a no-bake dessert that goes in a 9×13″ pan, I’d suggest doubling the recipe.
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Homemade Graham Cracker Crust Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (12 full-sheets of graham crackers)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 Tablespoons salted butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9” round pie dish.
Make graham cracker crumbs.
- Gently break full graham cracker sheets into smaller pieces as you put them into the container of a food processor fitted with the “S” blade or the container of a high-powered blender.
- Process/blend until a flour-like powder forms. Make sure to check for un-processed pieces of graham cracker. You may need to pause, release some pieces from the blades, and continue blending/processing.
- Transfer the graham cracker crumbs to a large bowl.
Make the Graham Cracker crust
- Add the sugar and cinnamon to the graham cracker crumbs in the large bowl and stir to combine.
- Then, add the melted butter and stir until the mixture is uniform throughout.
- Pour the crust mixture into the prepared pie dish, pressing it down into the bottom of the dish and halfway up the sides.
Bake
- At this point, check the recipe for which you’ll be using this graham cracker crust. Many recipes, like this key lime pie and the best cheesecake, call for pre-baking the crust for different amounts of time.
- If using this graham cracker crust for a no-bake pie, you will need to bake it in the preheated oven for 8 minutes.
- Then, remove the crust from the oven and let it cool completely before filling it with your favorite no-bake pie filing – like this vegan chocolate pie, French silk pie, etc.
Video
Notes
- Graham crackers. You can choose your favorite graham cracker variety to make this recipe: honey grahams, cinnamon grahams, even chocolate graham crackers all work well. You can choose gluten-free graham crackers to make this recipe gluten-free. You can also use graham cracker crumbs to make the recipe even easier and skip the step of blending/processing the grahams.
- Granulated sugar. organic cane sugar, white sugar, and even coconut sugar all work well in this recipe.
- Ground cinnamon. technically this is optional, but I never make a graham cracker crust without cinnamon!
- Salted butter. Unsalted butter works well too.
- The best cheesecake recipe.
- Fill it with this chocolate pudding pie filling (which is made from scratch).
- It’s the perfect crust for no bake peanut butter pie.
- This key lime pie and lemon pie.
- French silk pie would taste amazing with this crust.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
