How Do You Keep a Graham Cracker Crust Crisp?

A graham cracker crust stays crisp when it's baked, cooled completely, and filled close to serving. Baking drives off moisture and cooling lets the butter and sugar harden, so the crumbs hold up under a creamy filling.

How Many Graham Crackers Make a Cup of Crumbs?

12 full sheets of graham crackers make about 1-1/2 cups of crumbs, so roughly 8 sheets make a cup.

Can You Make a Graham Cracker Crust Without a Food Processor?

A graham cracker crust works fine without a food processor. Seal the sheets in a zip top bag and crush them with a rolling pin until fine, then stir in the sugars and butter in a medium bowl until the crumbs hold together.

Can You Use Salted Butter in a Graham Cracker Crust?

A graham cracker crust works with salted or unsalted butter. Unsalted gives you control over the seasoning, while salted adds a subtle edge that suits sweet fillings.

What gives graham crackers their flavor?

Graham crackers get their flavor from graham flour, a coarse whole wheat flour with a nutty, toasty sweetness, plus honey or molasses and sugar. Many recipes add cinnamon and vanilla, though brands differ, and Honey Maid's label lists graham flour, sugar, and honey. The crust inherits the same toasty, honeyed flavor.

How to Make a Graham Cracker Crust: Easy 10-Minute Bake

Graham Cracker Pie Shell Recipe

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A graham cracker crust is a buttery, lightly sweet pie shell made from 12 full sheets of graham crackers, two kinds of sugar, and melted butter. A food processor grinds the crackers to fine crumbs and coats them in one bowl, and a 10-minute bake at 350°F sets the crust. It comes out crisp at the edges and firm enough to slice cleanly, ready for chiffon, cream, or cheesecake fillings once it cools.

Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 1 shell 1x

Ingredients

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12 full sheets graham crackers (about 1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs)
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
6 tablespoons butter, melted

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Instructions

Heat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and set out a 9-inch pie plate.
Make the crumbs: In a food processor, pulse the graham crackers, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until fine crumbs form.
Add the butter: Pour in the melted butter and pulse until the crumbs look like wet sand and stick together when pinched.
Press it in: Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the pie plate, using the bottom of a measuring cup or glass to pack it evenly.
Bake and cool: Bake until just set, about 10 minutes. Cool completely before filling.

Author: Melissa Sullivan
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American