Graham Cracker Crust
Crumbly and buttery, this graham cracker crust is the perfect base for pies and bars, and takes less than 20 minutes to whip up.
*This post may contain affiliate links.
Graham cracker crust is such a handy recipe to have in your back pocket. I’ve used this recipe for all kinds of desserts like cheesecakes and dessert bars, or my favorite S’mores Bars recipe.
How do you crush graham crackers?
There are several ways to crush graham crackers. The one I consider the easiest to use a food processor.
If you don’t have a food processor, or if you would like larger chunks of graham cracker, place your graham crackers in a ziplock bag, squeeze the air out, and seal the bag. Grab a cup with a flat bottom (a glass cup will have the best weight for this), and press the cup down onto the ziplock bag repeatedly until the graham crackers are crushed into the desired size.
Can graham cracker crust be baked?
Yes! There are two ways to make graham cracker crust - you can either bake it or not bake it. Unbaked graham cracker crust requires time in the refrigerator to set and harden, whereas baked graham cracker crust is held together by using heat to fuse together the ingredients. This is a recipe for the baked version, so you are in luck!
Recipe Variations
Try making a sugar free version - follow the directions below except omit the sugar. I’ve made it this way a few times and it can be a bit more crumbly but it tastes just as good!
Mix it up and try using a different type of cracker/cookie such as nilla wafers or oreo cookies (without the cream center). Just substitute at a 1:1 ratio for the graham crackers in the recipe below.
How to Make Graham Cracker Crust
Ingredients
1 1/4 cup Graham Crackers, finely crushed (about 8 whole crackers, 16 half crackers)
1/4 cup sugar (optional)
1/2 cup butter, melted
Directions
If baking the crust (optional), preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Using a food processor, finely crush the graham crackers.
In a small bowl, slice the butter into 1” inch thick pieces and place the butter in the microwave for 30 seconds. If butter is not melted, stir and place in the microwave for another 15 seconds.
Add the sugar to the melted butter.
Pour the sugar-butter mixture into the food processor with the crushed graham crackers and mix using the food processor until butter mixture is well incorporated and crumbles are light and fluffy.
Pour the mixture into a glass baking dish* and spread it evenly over the bottom. Press it down firmly (I use my hands for this, but you can use a spatula as well).
*For bars, use an 8x8 glass baking dish, for pies use an 8” or 9” round glass pie dish.
For a baked crust, bake for 4-5 minutes in the oven. Allow crust to chill completely before adding a filling of choice.
For a chilled crust (not baked), place in the refrigerator for at least one hour before adding a filling of choice.
Graham Cracker Crust
Crumbly and buttery, this graham cracker crust is the perfect base for pies and bars, and only takes 20 minutes!
Ingredients
Directions
- If baking the crust (optional), preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Using a food processor, finely crush the graham crackers.
- In a small bowl, slice the butter into 1” inch thick pieces and place the butter in the microwave for 30 seconds. If butter is not melted, stir and place in the microwave for another 15 seconds.
- Add the sugar to the melted butter.
- Pour the sugar-butter mixture into the food processor with the crushed graham crackers and mix using the food processor until butter mixture is well incorporated and crumbles are light and fluffy.
- Pour the mixture into a glass baking dish* and spread it evenly over the bottom. Press it down firmly (I use my hands for this, but you can use a spatula as well).
- *For bars, use an 8x8 glass baking dish, for pies use an 8” or 9” round glass pie dish.
- For a baked crust, bake for 10 minutes in the oven. Allow crust to chill completely before adding a filling of choice.
- For a chilled crust (not baked), place in the refrigerator for at least one hour before adding a filling of choice.
*Nutrition is auto-calculated by recipes generator.
