A homemade graham cracker pie crust is simple, buttery magic. It only takes a few minutes to make, but it adds way more flavor and texture than store-bought. All you need are graham crackers, sugar, and butter.
If you're going to make one of my most popular recipes, Nellie & Joe's Famous Key Lime Pie Recipe Just 3 Ingredients, I highly recommend a homemade graham cracker crust to cradle that tart lime filling.
Graham cracker pie crusts made from scratch are also perfect for cheesecakes, especially Easy White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake.
If you like graham crackers, you should try my Best Ever Starbucks Copycat S'mores Bars or Delish Smores Cookie Recipe.
Jump to:
- Ingredients
- How to Make a Graham Cracker Crust
- How to Make an 8-inch Crust
- How to Make a 10-inch Graham Cracker Pie Crust
- Recipe Notes
- Substitutions
- Variations
- Equipment
- Storage
- How to Make Graham Cracker Crust That Doesn't Fall Apart?
- How many Graham cracker crumbs for a pie?
- Pin To Save For Later
- Recipe
- Comments
Ingredients
- graham crackers
- butter
- white sugar or granulated sugar, or brown sugar
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make a Graham Cracker Crust
Break 9 to 11 whole graham crackers in half and put in the bowl of a food processor, if using, or in a resealable bag, if crushing by hand.
Add sugar and pulse the food processor to combine for a few seconds.
Melt butter and add to the crumbs.
Give one final pulse or two to get everything combined.
Dump the graham cracker crumb mixture into a nine-inch pie plate.
Spread the crumbs evenly over the pie plate and up the edges of the plate using your clean hands.
Put the pie crust in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes, which will help keep the crust from falling apart.
Bake crust at 350F° for 15 minutes.
Oven times and temperatures vary, so your homemade crust may need to be done sooner or may need a few minutes longer.
The crust will turn slightly golden when done baking.
How to Make an 8-inch Crust
Combine 1-¼ cups crumbs (20 squares), 5 tablespoons of sugar, and ¼ cup melted butter. Follow the instructions above. See step-by-step instructions for a graham crust for a square 8x8 pan.
How to Make a 10-inch Graham Cracker Pie Crust
Combine 1-¾ cups graham cracker crumbs (about 28 graham cracker squares), ¼ cup sugar, and 6 tablespoons melted butter. Follow the instructions above.
Recipe Notes
Use either a food processor or a resealable bag and a meat mallet or a rolling pin to crush your graham crackers.
It will take less than 30 seconds if you're using a food processor.
If doing this by hand, be sure to really get aggressive; you want a pretty fine crumb.
Small, uncrushed pieces of graham cracker will prevent your crust from holding together.
Fill with whatever filling you're making, such as Nellie & Joe's Famous Key Lime Pie Recipe (Just 3 Ingredients) or Easy White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake, and bake according to your recipe instructions.
They are also great for icebox pies like Easy Lemon Icebox Pie or for simple Lemon Bars with Graham Cracker Crust.
Substitutions
- Graham Crackers - if you're out of graham crackers, you can use a cookie like a vanilla wafer or my favorite, gingersnaps, in place of graham.
- Granulated Sugar - Use brown sugar instead.
- Butter - substitute margarine.
Variations
- Graham Crackers - I used cinnamon because that's my favorite, but use whatever you have, plain or chocolate, depending on the flavor pie you're making. If you don't want to crush your own graham crackers, you can buy a box of ready-made graham cracker crumbs.
Equipment
- food processor
- pie plate
- measuring cup
- measuring spoons
Storage
This crust is best made and used while fresh, but you can make it a couple of days ahead and store it, covered with plastic wrap, in the refrigerator.
How to Make Graham Cracker Crust That Doesn't Fall Apart?
The secret is to freeze the crust for 20 to 30 minutes before baking it.
How many Graham cracker crumbs for a pie?
Use 1-½ cups of crumbs for a nine-inch pie crust
Pin To Save For Later
Master the perfect graham cracker pie crust with this foolproof recipe! Just 3 simple ingredients create a buttery, crisp crust that's ideal for cheesecakes, cream pies, and no-bake desserts. Learn the secret to getting it perfectly pressed and preventing cracks. Way easier than traditional pastry and tastes amazing with any filling!
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Recipe
Graham Cracker Pie Crust
A Graham Cracker Pie Crust made from scratch is much better than store-bought, it will instantly elevate whatever dessert you've made.
Ingredients
- 11 whole graham crackers OR 1-½ cups store-bought graham cracker crumbs from Keebler or other brand you like.
- 3 Tablespoons sugar, granulated or brown
- 5 Tablespoons butter, melted
Instructions
- Crush graham crackers in the bowl of a food processor or in a resealable plastic bag using a meat mallet or rolling pin, or a heavy pot.
- You need 1-½ cups of graham cracker crumbs for a 9-inch pie.
- Add sugar and pulse again or shake the bag thoroughly.
- Melt butter and add to the crumb mixture in a food processor or a bag. Pulse or shake and mix until well combined.
- Press crumbs into a pie plate. Use the bottom of a measuring cup or a glass to press firmly into the plate.
- Chill pie in a freezer or refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes or before the crust browns.
- Let rest at room temperature. As the crust cools, it will firm up.
- Store for later use or fill with a pie filling, such as Key Lime Pie or a custard pie.
Notes
Be sure to process the graham crackers to a fine crumb to help them stick together.
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information
Yield 6 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 348Total Fat 15gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 7gCholesterol 25mgSodium 331mgCarbohydrates 49gFiber 2gSugar 20gProtein 4g
Susan Chandler says
What is the measurement for crumbs if you buy the boxed graham cracker crumbs?