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You are here: Home / Recipe Index / Easy Graham Cracker Pie Crust Recipe

Easy Graham Cracker Pie Crust Recipe

May 6, 2020 By Jere Cassidy 26 Comments

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Make your own Graham Cracker Pie Crust for your next cheesecake or cream pie. Made with four simple ingredients you can make a tasty and buttery made from scratch pie crust in minutes. No need to get a store-bought crust anymore.

graham cracker crust

 

This page may contain affiliate links, please see my full disclosure for policy details.

With just four ingredients you can make a buttery homemade graham cracker pie crust just to your liking. Making your own crust just tastes fresher than a store-bought crust and you can adjust the sugar content and flavoring.

I firmly believe in making life simple and of course tasty so making a homemade crust is always my first option, but I am here to tell you, store-bought will work just the same for your cream pies.

You can even use different flavors of graham cracker crusts to go with the flavor of your pie.  Chocolate graham crackers with a chocolate cream pie or honey graham crackers with a vanilla cheesecake; both sound delicious.

Four simple ingredients

  • Graham crackers
  • Butter
  • Brown Sugar
  • White Sugar

pie crust ingredients

There are so many uses for a graham cracker crust and you can have either a baked crust or an unbaked crust. Once mixed, the cracker crumbs can be pressed into a pie plate, a springform pan, a sheet pan, or any baking pan for cream pies, cheesecakes, and other dreamy and creamy desserts.  Make sure to save extra crumbs to sprinkle on top.

There is nothing easier than making a graham cracker crust

Step 1. If using the graham cracker sheets, break up 10 of the sheets and in place in a food processor and pulse until you have super fine crumbs. You can also place the sheets in a zip-lock bag and crush them with a rolling pin.  Either way, you need 1 1/2 cups.  You may have to add some extra graham sheets for the right amount.

grinding crackers

crushing crackers with a rolling pin

Step 2. Pour the crumbs into a bowl and add the melted butter and the sugars.  Mix well with a fork until the crumbs are coated with butter and the mixture looks sandy and crumbly.

adding sugar and butter to cracker crumbs

Step 3. Pour the graham mixture into a 9″ – 10″ pie plate and using your hands or the bottom of a cup press the crumbs on the bottom and sides of the pie plate. For a baking dish or springform pan just press the crumbs in the bottom.

crushed graham cracker crumbs

Take your time pressing down the crumbs. Try using a measuring cup for the bottom and I like using a spoon to go around the sides of the pie pan and pushing down the top to form a nice edge at the top of the pie crust.

pressing graham cracker crumbs into pie plate

Step 4. For an unbaked pie crust, place the pie pan in the refrigerator for 1 hour to set the butter.

For a baked pie crust, baked in a 325 degree F. oven for 8 minutes.

Fill the pie crust as directed for your pie recipe

Add some spices to your crust

Everybody likes different flavors

  • Cinnamon – for a Banana Cream Pie
  • Vanilla beans – perfect for any cream pie or cheesecake
  • Nutmeg – with an Eggnog Cheesecake
  • Cardamom – I love this flavor with a citrus cream pie
  • Red pepper – for a bold flavor in a Mexican Chocolate Cream Pie
  • so many variations

Graham cracker pie crust questions & tips

Why is my crust crumbling

Your crust might crumble if there isn’t enough butter in crumbs, or it wasn’t pressed down enough

The crust is rock hard and I can’t cut it, this is common and maybe because of

Overbaking the crust

Compacting the crumbs too much, they need to be pressed hard but don’t go crazy

Adding too much butter which will harden for both the baked and unbaked crusts.

Before serving your pie, wet a dish towel in hot water and wring it dry then set the pie plate on the hot, wet towel.  This will soften the butter in the crust and help it release easily.

Do I have to bake the crust

This is up to you. Baking the crust adds a depth of flavor from the melted sugar in the graham cracker crumbs, and the melted sugar is what will hold the crumbs together.  I prefer the baked crusts because they don’t crumble as much and have a nice toasty flavor.

For the unbaked crust, the butter in the crumbs will harden when placed in the refrigerator.

Make sure the crumbs are chopped or crushed very fine

Having finely chopped crumbs help the crust hold together better.  If large chunks of graham crackers are in the crust it doesn’t look as pretty and will also be harder to cut a clean slice.

Cut with a warm knife

If your crust is very hard, try this technique, hold you knife under hot water to heat up the blade, dry it off then cut your pie or dessert.

Other One Hot Oven Pie Crust Recipes

How to Make A Short Crust Tart Dough

How to Make A Flaky Pie Crust

How to Blind Bake A Pie Crust

Don’t forget to Pin to your favorite board Pinterest pin for crust

graham cracker crust
Print Pin
4.71 from 17 votes

Easy Graham Cracker Pie Crust

Make this simple Graham Cracker Pie Crust for your next cream pie or cheesecake. You will love the fresh flavor of graham crackers with a hint of brown sugar. So much better than store-bought.
Course Pie
Cuisine American
Keyword how to make a graham cracker pie crust
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 18 minutes
Servings 1 9" pie crust
Calories 163kcal
Author Jere Cassidy

Equipment

  • Cream pie plate 9"
  • Food chopper
  • Measuring cups

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups graham crackers Use approximately 10 sheets or use boxed graham cracker crumbs. You can also use digestive biscuits.
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 5 tbsp butter, melted

Instructions

  • If using graham cracker sheets, break them up and grind in a small food processor. You can also place the graham cracker sheets in a ziplock back and crush with a rolling pin.
  • Transfer the crumbs to a mixing bowl and add the melted butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Mix all together with a fork until the mixture is coated in the butter and looks crumbly.
  • Pour the graham cracker crumbs into a 9" or 10" pie plate. and using the bottom of a measuring cup start pressing down on the crumbs to
  • With your fingers or the bottom of a cup press the crumbs evenly all around the pie plate; bottom and sides. You can use a spoon to press in the sides of the crust. You want the crumbs to be compact so the crust does not crumble when cut.

No-Bake Graham Cracker Crust

  • Make the crust a directed and place in the refrigerator for one hour before filling.

For a Baked Graham Cracker Crust

  • Preheat the oven to 325° F. Bake the crust for 8 minutes.

Notes

Tips
  • For the sugar in the recipe - instead of using half brown sugar and half white sugar, you can make the recipe using just one type of sugar.
  • Digestive biscuits can be used instead of graham cracker crumbs.
  • When pressing down on the cracker crumbs in the pie plate, you want them compressed enough to be firm, but if they are too compressed you won't be able to cut the crust once it is baked.
 
Variations
  • You can use different flavors of graham crackers such as honey or chocolate
  •  Add spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, apple pie spice, cardamom
Prepare ahead and chill or freeze
You can make the pie crust in the pan and freeze a baked and unbaked crust. Cover the pan with foil and place in the freezer.  To use just set out on the counter and let the crust thaw.
You can also place the covered pie plate in the refrigerator for 3 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 20.8g | Fat: 8.7g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 192mg

Thank you for stopping by the One Hot Oven blog.  Please leave a comment to say Hello or just let me know what you are baking these days.

About Jere’

From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California,  my passion for food is never-ending.  Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven sharing both sweet and savory recipes with all my baking friends.

Have any questions or just want to chat about the recipe? Contact me here, and I’ll be happy to help!

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Filed Under: Pies and Tarts, Recipe Index, Tips and Tricks

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kushigalu

    November 30, 2020 at 9:04 pm

    Love this four ingredient crust recipe. Looks so perfect. Can’t wait to try this out with cheesecake. Thanks for sharing

    Reply
    • Jere Cassidy

      December 3, 2020 at 9:01 am

      Yes, you gotta have a good graham cracker crust for cheesecake.

      Reply
  2. Chef Dennis

    November 30, 2020 at 5:10 pm

    5 stars
    I love a good graham cracker crust! thanks for sharing your easy to make foolproof recipe

    Reply
  3. Gail Montero

    November 30, 2020 at 12:56 pm

    5 stars
    I love making pie crust from scratch so this recipe is right up my alley. Love the recommended spices you suggested – I usually just add a bit of cinnamon and now I know I can experiment with more! YUM!

    Reply
  4. Jacqueline Debono

    November 30, 2020 at 2:41 am

    5 stars
    I’ve never had Graham crackers. I’m not sure I can find them here in Italy. I did read some Graham cracker history which is interesting. Apparently they are made from Graham flour and have been sold commercially in the States since the end of the 19th century! I do use digestives (originally Scottish) for cheesecake crusts. I think they’re similar but not identical. This post has me craving cheesecake now!

    Reply
    • Jere Cassidy

      December 3, 2020 at 9:02 am

      That’s interesting you don’t have graham crackers. We actually love digestives so I am going to use them next time for the crust.

      Reply
  5. Joyce

    November 28, 2020 at 11:00 am

    5 stars
    This looks so easy and tasty to make! Looks way better than the store bought ones! Adding this recipe to my list for the holidays! Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
    • Jere Cassidy

      November 29, 2020 at 6:27 pm

      Homemade graham crusts taste fresh and since this recipe uses brown sugar it has a lot more flavor.

      Reply
  6. Alex Ryder

    November 26, 2020 at 10:56 am

    You know I only just found out recently that graham crackers are what we called digestives here in the UK! And I always use them for my cheesecake base too! Great hack!

    Reply
    • Jere Cassidy

      November 29, 2020 at 6:29 pm

      My daughter loves to eat digestives with her tea, so we buy them frequently.

      Reply
  7. Marta

    November 26, 2020 at 8:07 am

    5 stars
    Store bought crust is such a waste. Especially, since you have no idea how old it is. This is so easy to make!

    Reply
    • Jere Cassidy

      November 26, 2020 at 9:37 am

      That is so true

      Reply
  8. Fred N

    November 25, 2020 at 2:20 pm

    5 stars
    I was so upset when I found out easy it was to make the Graham cracker crusts when I spent years buying the store brands. This recipe has me dreaming of cheescake. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Jere Cassidy

      November 26, 2020 at 9:39 am

      That’s why I love baking so much. So many foods are really easy to make.

      Reply
  9. Stine Mari

    November 25, 2020 at 10:24 am

    5 stars
    I love how easy this graham cracker pie crust recipe is and so delicious as well. Can’t beat real butter and sugar!

    Reply
  10. Leslie

    November 25, 2020 at 10:07 am

    5 stars
    Graham cracker pie crust is truly amazing! Everyone needs a good, graham cracker pie crust recipe to keep on hand! This is a winner!

    Reply
  11. Amy Liu Dong

    November 25, 2020 at 3:55 am

    5 stars
    I have all these ingredients available in my kitchen and I want to make a delicious strawberry pie using this. Thank you!

    Reply
  12. Marthana Sharp

    June 6, 2020 at 5:35 pm

    5 stars
    So glad you posted this recipe for the graham cracker crust. I thought I could just crush the crackers and make a crust. Well apparently you need some other ingredients and like you show. My pie turned out beautiful and so tasty with this crust recipe.

    Reply
  13. Andrea Metlika

    May 8, 2020 at 12:21 pm

    5 stars
    OH yeah, I’m definitely making this with my next Key lime pie. No more store bought.

    Reply
    • Jere Cassidy

      May 9, 2020 at 6:17 pm

      Yum, I love Key Lime Pie, and to be honest I have never made one.

      Reply
  14. SHANIKA

    May 8, 2020 at 11:51 am

    5 stars
    I love using Graham Crackers for my crusts, especially forCheesecakes! This looks so amazing!

    Reply
  15. Anita

    May 8, 2020 at 11:43 am

    5 stars
    With the flour and yeast shortage, I’ve been resorting to baking more pies, in May no less! But graham cracker pie crust is just perfect for all kind of pies. 🙂

    Reply
    • Jere Cassidy

      May 9, 2020 at 6:13 pm

      The stores around me in Sacramento still do not have yeast, luckily I am finding flour again.

      Reply
  16. Mary

    May 8, 2020 at 11:20 am

    5 stars
    I love how easy this is! No more store bought crusts for me!

    Reply
  17. Kelly Anthony

    May 8, 2020 at 10:54 am

    5 stars
    I will never need to buy a graham cracker crust at the store again. This is too easy not to make at home.

    Reply
    • Jere Cassidy

      May 9, 2020 at 6:12 pm

      We always have a box of grahams at home so this makes it so easy to make a crust

      Reply

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Welcome, I am Jerè

the baker at One Hot Oven. I love sharing recipes both sweet and savory that inspire you to bake at home. Food has a way of bringing us all together, from a simple batch of cookies to a three-tier cake. It is important to gather your family and friends around the table over delicious food, great conversation, joy, and laughter. Let’s bake something wonderful.

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