This simple graham cracker crust recipe comes together fast with only 3 ingredients! Thick, buttery, and lightly sweet, it’s perfect for your no-bake desserts.
As much as I love all the different flavors and combinations of pie filling (like the cinnamony goodness of Pumpkin Pie or all the different combinations of berries you can use for Berry Pie), I think the crust might be my favorite part.
After all, if there’s a particular piece of pie with a lot of flaky, buttery crust, I claim that for myself!
I’m a huge fan of my Homemade Pie Crust recipe, but some pies are just better with a graham cracker crust, don’t you agree?
After a few trials, I’ve figured out how to make a graham cracker crust that’s easy, healthy, and delicious!
HOMEMADE GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST RECIPE
Whether you care that this particular homemade graham cracker crust recipe is healthy or not, I can promise you that it is:
- Delicious
- Thick
- Buttery
- Super easy
- Not CRAZY sweet, but just sweet enough
- Just THREE staple ingredients
- Easily adaptable for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets
Plus, it tastes WAY better than the store-bought graham cracker Keebler kind!
EASY GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST RECIPE INGREDIENTS
You only need 3 ingredients for this graham crust recipe:
- Graham Crackers
- Brown Sugar (OR make your own with granulated sugar + molasses)
- Melted Butter (salted or unsalted butter)
See? Totally basic and probably already in your kitchen. You can do this!
GRAHAM CRUST RECIPE VARIATIONS
This recipe is PERFECT for gluten-free folks too!
Choose your favorite gluten-free graham crackers and get to baking! I’ve tested Pamela’s brand and Annie’s brand – both are available at Amazon and Thrive Market. Click here to see the Exclusive Thrive Market Offer for Crumbs readers!
If you can’t find gluten-free graham crackers, try looking for cookies. Any cinnamon or honey-flavored cookie will work as well!
You could even try chocolate graham crackers for a REALLY fun dessert!
HOW TO MAKE A GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST
If you’ve ever wondered how to make a graham cracker crust, I promise it’s super easy! Follow these simple instructions:
Step 1: Crush the graham crackers into crumbs using a blender or food processor (I recommend a food processor for this one). You want a small crumb texture for the best crust.
Step 2: Add the sugar and melted butter and stir until the graham cracker crumbs are well coated, and the crumb mixture sticks together when pressed between your fingers. Mix in a large bowl if your blender or food processor jars are hard to stir in.
Step 3: Press the graham cracker crust into your pie pan!
TIPS FOR THIS RECIPE FOR GRAHAM CRACKER PIE CRUST
- If you don’t have a blender or food processor, you can place your graham crackers in a resealable bag and crush them by hand or by beating them with a rolling pin or meat mallet.
- As you press the graham cracker crust into the pie dish, use the back of a measuring cup or a small spatula to make sure it is firmly pressed into place, and that it is not too thick where the sides meet the bottom of the pan.
- Check your graham cracker labels! One reason I started making my own graham cracker crust is that the store-bought kind had so many ingredients we try to avoid. (Plus, I’ve always thought store-bought graham cracker crusts tasted a little bit stale). Aim for a simple ingredients list without high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated oils.
- This graham cracker crust recipe fits in one 8 or 9-inch pie plate or springform pan. If you’re making a dessert in a larger dish (like a 9×13 baking dish), you’ll want to make 1 ½ times the recipe so that you have enough.
- When making a no-bake dessert with this graham crust recipe, pop the finished crust into the fridge to chill for 10 minutes before adding the filling. This helps “set” the crust so that no filling leaks through the bottom.
- Make your pie crust ahead of time. This graham cracker crust works best when the crust is chilled before filling. Make it a day or so ahead and wrap it in plastic wrap to store in the refrigerator.
RECIPES WITH GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST
The most obvious choice for recipes with graham cracker crusts are pies and cheesecakes, including these yummy treats:
- Key Lime Pie
- Coconut Blueberry Pie
- No-Bake Cheesecake
- Strawberry Key Lime Cheesecake
- Healthy Chocolate Pie
You can also use the graham cracker crust as a crumbly layer in a Parfait.
PERFECT GRAHAM CRACKER PIE CRUST RECIPE FAQS
Do you have to prebake this recipe for graham cracker pie crust?
No! This crust doesn’t require baking, making it perfect for no-bake desserts like No-Bake Cheesecake or Healthy Chocolate Pie or Coconut Blueberry Pie.
How do you make a graham cracker pie crust recipe that doesn’t fall apart?
The key to preventing the graham crust recipe from falling apart is butter. You want to start with melted butter and make sure it coats all the graham cracker crumbs thoroughly. If it’s not mixed well BEFORE you make the crust, it will crumble as you make your pie.
Can I make a pumpkin pie with this homemade graham cracker crust?
Go right ahead! Follow my recipe for a Healthy Pumpkin Pie but use this crust recipe instead. Bake as directed!
MORE EASY DESSERT RECIPES
- Apple Slab Pie
- No-Bake Brownie Bites
- Healthy No-Bake Cookies
- Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Homemade Chocolate Pudding
Crush Inflation Challenge!
Sign up for my FREE Crush Inflation Challenge and learn simple strategies to save money, even with rising food costs!Graham Cracker Crust
This simple graham cracker crust recipe comes together fast with only 3 ingredients! Thick, buttery, and lightly sweet, it’s perfect for your no-bake desserts.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 Servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (14 sheets of graham crackers)
- ⅓ cup brown sugar (OR any granulated sugar with ½ tsp molasses)
- ½ cup butter, melted (8 Tbsp)
Instructions
- Break the graham crackers into a food processor (or blender) and process until they resemble fine crumbs.
- Add the brown sugar (or granulated sugar + molasses) and melted butter and process until the crumbs are thoroughly mixed and coated with butter, about 2-4 minutes.
- Pour the crumbs into your favorite pie dish (I like using my 8” springform pan) and press FIRMLY into the bottom and sides of the dish.
- There’s no need to bake – continue with your favorite no bake pie recipe and enjoy!
Notes
- If you don’t have a blender or food processor, you can place your graham crackers in a resealable bag and crush them by hand or by beating them with a rolling pin or meat mallet.
- As you press the graham cracker crust into the pie dish, use the back of a measuring cup or a small spatula to make sure it is firmly pressed into place, and that it is not too thick where the sides meet the bottom of the pan.
- Check your graham cracker labels! One reason I started making my own graham cracker crust is that the store-bought kind had so many ingredients we try to avoid. (Plus, I’ve always thought store-bought graham cracker crusts tasted a little bit stale). Aim for a simple ingredients list without high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated oils.
- This graham cracker crust recipe fits in one 8 or 9-inch pie plate or springform pan. If you’re making a dessert in a larger dish (like a 9×13 baking dish), you’ll want to make 1 ½ times the recipe so that you have enough.
Nutrition
- Calories: 1254
Leave a Comment