Easy Graham Cracker Pie Crust Recipe
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This homemade graham cracker crust is so easy to make and so delicious! Once you try making your own graham cracker pie crust, you’ll never use the store-bought one ever again!
The crumb of this amazing crust is so tender, it just melts in your mouth! Try this graham cracker pie crust with the pumpkin cheesecake – it tastes so epic!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Graham Cracker Pie Crust Recipe
- Super easy to make: With just three ingredients and minimal prep time, this recipe is incredibly simple. No need for rolling dough—just press the crumb mixture into your pie pan, and you’re set!
- Versatile: Whether you’re making a baked pie or a no-bake dessert, this graham cracker crust works for both. It’s a great base for cheesecakes, key lime pies, and more.
- Better than store-bought: Homemade graham cracker crust tastes fresher and avoids the preservatives found in pre-packaged options. You’ll notice the difference with every bite!
- Minimal ingredients: You only need graham crackers, butter, and sugar—ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. This makes it a convenient go-to recipe when you’re in a pinch.
- Perfect texture: This crust bakes up with a delicious, tender crunch that holds together well, making every slice of pie picture-perfect.
Homemade graham cracker crust tastes so much fresher that store-bought, you won’t believe it! The store-bought pie crust sits in a box for months or years, and it’s loaded with preservatives and chemicals to keep it fresh. By making your own graham cracker pie crust, you are avoiding unnecessary chemicals and getting a much better tasting crust!
Ingredients For Easy Graham Cracker Pie Crust
- Graham crackers – The star ingredient that gives the crust its sweet, crumbly texture. You can use store-bought or homemade graham crackers.
- Sugar – Adds a touch of sweetness and helps bind the crust together.
- Butter – Melted butter binds the crumbs and adds a rich, buttery flavor.
For exact measurements of the ingredients, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this article.
Best of all, making graham cracker pie crust is very easy. The whole recipe is using just 3 ingredients and takes less than 20 minutes to make. In fact, graham cracker crust is the easiest crust to make, it’s much simpler than regular pie crust as there is no need to roll the dough!
Kitchen Tools You Need To Make Easy Graham Cracker Pie Crust
- Food processor – The quickest way to turn graham crackers into crumbs. If you don’t have one, a rolling pin works as well.
- Rolling pin – An alternative method for crushing graham crackers if you’re not using a food processor.
- 9-inch pie dish – The perfect size for your crust. Grease it lightly to prevent sticking.
- Measuring cups and spoons – Essential for getting the right proportions of crackers, sugar, and butter.
- Cooking spray – To lightly grease the pie dish and ensure the crust releases easily after baking.
How To Make Graham Cracker Crust
This yummy graham cracker crust is made using just 3 simple ingredients: graham crackers, butter and sugar. You need to crush the graham crackers into crumbs – you can do it with a food processor or by hand using a rolling pin.
If you own a food processor, that’s the easiest way to turn the crackers into crumbs – just put the graham crackers in a food processor bowl fitted with a steel blade, and pulse using the crackers are completely crumbled into crumbs. If you don’t own a food processor, you can still easily make the graham cracker crumbs – just put the graham crackers in a ziploc bag, close the bag and roll on top of the bag with the rolling pin until all the crackers are crushed.
Once you turned graham crackers into crumbs, just mix the crumbs with sugar and butter until well combined. Next, press the graham mixture with your hands into the bottom and the sides of the greased pie pan, so it looks like a pie crust. Finally, bake the graham cracker crust in the oven at 375F for 7 minutes. Baking the crust helps keep it together so it doesn’t fall apart. Let the crust cool completely before filling it with the filling.
This homemade graham cracker pie crust will work with both bake or no-bake pies. Yes, even though you already pre-baked the crust, you can bake it again once you add the filling! If it’s a no-bake pie, just fill with the filling and you are done. If it’s a bake pie, then fill with filling and bake again. This graham cracker crust is universal and works for all pies and tastes amazing!
Serving Suggestions
- Cheesecake: Fill this graham cracker crust with a rich, creamy cheesecake filling for an indulgent dessert.
- Key Lime Pie: Pair the sweet graham cracker crust with a tangy key lime pie filling for a refreshing treat.
- Pumpkin Pie: For a twist on the classic, use this crust as the base for a pumpkin pie.
- Ice Cream Pie: Spread your favorite ice cream into the cooled crust and freeze for a cool like matcha flavor or banana flavor, no-bake dessert.
- Chocolate Cream Pie: Layer chocolate pudding and whipped cream into this crust for a decadent, crowd-pleasing pie.
Tips For Success
- Crushing the crackers: If you don’t have a food processor, place the graham crackers in a sealed ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin until they are fine crumbs. Be sure there are no large pieces left, as they can affect the texture of the crust.
- Pressing the crust: When pressing the graham cracker mixture into the pie dish, use your hands or the back of a measuring cup to get an even layer. Make sure to press it firmly against the sides and bottom of the dish to ensure the crust holds together when sliced.
- Don’t skip the baking: Even if you’re making a no-bake pie, pre-baking the crust for 7 minutes helps it set and keeps it from crumbling too easily. It also enhances the flavor, giving the crust a slightly toasted taste.
- Cool completely: After baking, let the crust cool fully before adding any filling, especially if you’re making a no-bake pie. Adding the filling too soon may cause the crust to become soggy.
- Making ahead: You can make this graham cracker crust ahead of time. Once baked, let it cool completely, then cover and store it at room temperature for up to 2 days, or freeze it for longer storage.
Variations And Substitutions
- Cinnamon Graham Cracker Crust: Add a pinch of ground cinnamon to the graham cracker crumbs for a warm, spiced flavor. This variation works wonderfully with fall pies like pumpkin or apple pie.
- Chocolate Graham Cracker Crust: Use chocolate graham crackers instead of the regular ones for a rich, cocoa-flavored crust. This is perfect for pies like chocolate cream or s’mores pies.
- Gluten-Free Option: Swap regular graham crackers for gluten-free graham crackers to make this crust suitable for gluten-free diets. The rest of the recipe remains the same.
- Sugar Substitutions: For a healthier twist, you can substitute the white sugar with coconut sugar or a sugar-free sweetener like stevia. Adjust the sweetness to your liking.
- Butter Alternatives: You can replace the butter with coconut oil or vegan butter for a dairy-free or vegan option. The texture will remain the same, and the flavor will have a slight hint of coconut if you use coconut oil.
- Nutty Variation: For added texture and flavor, mix finely chopped nuts like pecans or almonds into the graham cracker crumbs before pressing them into the pie dish.
Storage and Reheating
- Storing the crust: If you’re not filling the pie right away, you can store the baked graham cracker crust at room temperature. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store for up to 2 days. You can also freeze the baked crust by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: There’s no need to reheat the crust once it’s baked, especially if you’re using it for a no-bake pie. If the crust has been stored in the freezer, let it thaw at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before filling it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this graham cracker crust for both baked and no-bake pies?
Yes, this graham cracker crust works perfectly for both types of pies. For no-bake pies, simply pre-bake the crust for 7 minutes, let it cool, and then add your filling. For baked pies, you can bake the crust with the filling for an additional baking time according to your recipe.
What can I use if I don’t have a food processor to crush the graham crackers?
If you don’t have a food processor, you can easily crush the graham crackers by placing them in a ziplock bag and rolling over them with a rolling pin. Keep rolling until you achieve fine crumbs without large chunks.
Can I make the graham cracker crust ahead of time?
Yes, you can make this crust ahead of time. After baking, let it cool completely, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you want to store it longer, freeze it for up to 3 months.
How do I prevent my graham cracker crust from crumbling when I slice the pie?
Make sure to press the graham cracker mixture firmly into the pie dish when forming the crust. Also, don’t skip pre-baking the crust, as it helps set the structure. Allow the crust to cool completely before slicing, which will help it hold its shape better.
Can I use different types of crackers for this recipe?
Yes! While graham crackers are the classic choice, you can use other types of crackers or cookies, like digestive biscuits or vanilla wafers, for a different flavor. Just make sure to adjust the amount of sugar if the crackers you choose are already sweetened.
Here are some amazing pie recipes to try out with your homemade graham cracker crust:
Best Ever Pumpkin Cheesecake – cheesecakes are amazing with the graham cracker crust!
Lemon Meringue Pie – sweet and sour and so refreshing, this lemon meringue pie is amazing!
Easy Pumpkin Pie – truly foolproof pumpkin pie recipe, super easy!
Best Ever Apple Pie Recipe – yes, apple pie can also be made with graham cracker crust, it’s so yummy!
If you are also looking for traditional rolled dough pie crust recipe, check out my food processor pie crust – it’s the ultimate pie crust shortcut!
Easy Graham Cracker Crust Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 graham crackers makes 1 1/4 cup crumbs
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 6 tbsp butter melted
Recommended Kitchen Tools (click the links below to see the items used to make this recipe)
- Food Processor or rolling pin if making crumbs by hand
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F. Spray a non-stick 9-inch round pie dish with a cooking spray.
- Put graham crackers in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until the crackers turn into crumbs.
- Add the sugar and butter to the food processor bowl and process until the mixture is combined.
- Press the graham cracker mixture into the bottom and sides of the pan, making a crust.
- Put the graham cracker crust in the oven and bake for 7 minutes.
- Let the graham cracker crust cool completely before filling it.
More Dessert Recipes
- Air Fryer Crescent Roll Cream Cheese Danish
- Pineapple Casserole with Brown Sugar
- Chewy Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies
I was amazed at how fresh and wholesome it tasted.
It made our holiday dessert table look and taste fantastic!