By Becky Hardin
Published Oct 29, 2018
This Homemade Graham Cracker Crust recipe adds such a fun flavor and texture to cheesecakes and pies. This graham cracker pie crust is so easy to make and doesn’t require any baking. It’s perfect for no-bake desserts and makes for a special holiday treat!
What’s in this Graham Cracker Crust Recipe?
This pie crust recipe doesn’t require any baking. Talk about easy! That makes it perfect for no-bake dessert recipes. Just make the crust mixture, mold it into a pan, and then cover and refrigerate it to set it in place.
- Graham Cracker Crumbs: You can buy the crumbs or make your own from whole graham cracker sheets.
- Sugar: A mixture of granulated and brown sugar sweetens the crust and enhances the overall flavor.
- Kosher Salt: Balances the sweetness of the crust.
- Unsalted Butter: Binds the crust together so it doesn’t crumble apart.
Pro Tip: If you are using this for a dessert recipe that does require baking, no problem! That works too, and no need to pre-bake it before filling it.
Variations on Graham Cracker Pie Crust
You can change up the flavor of this crust by using different flavored graham crackers, like honey, cinnamon, or chocolate. You could also crush up Biscoff cookies, pretzels, ginger snaps, Oreo cookies, or vanilla wafers.
To make a crust for a standard 9-inch pie plate or springform pan, you’ll need about 16 graham cracker sheets crushed into crumbs.
You can use any cookie you like. Some popular choices are Biscoff, Oreos, vanilla wafers, shortbread cookies , gingerbread cookies , or chocolate chip cookies .
This is specifically a no-bake recipe, so you do not need to bake the crust beforehand, even if you’re filling it with a filling that needs to be baked.
There is no need to use pie weights because we are not pre-baking this crust before filling it.
If your graham cracker crumbs aren’t fully moistened, they will crumble apart like sand and the crust will not set. So make sure you’re using enough butter!
If you add too much butter, your crust may turn out greasy at room temperature and extremely hard when chilled.
If your crust is hard, you may have added too much butter, or you may have pressed too firmly when shaping the crust.
Your crust may turn soggy if you refrigerate it before filling it due to condensation. It could also turn soggy from steam from a hot filling poured into the crust. I recommend ensuring your crust is at room temperature before filling and only filling it with cooled or room temperature ingredients.
How to Store
This homemade pie crust only needs a few hours to really set, but you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before using it to make your dessert.
How to Freeze
You can freeze this graham cracker crust if you don’t plan to use it right away. Just store it in a freezer-safe pie pan, and it will keep for up to 3 months. Then you’ve got a cheesecake or pie crust all ready to go when you need it!
Serving Suggestions
We made this homemade pie crust for cheesecake– specifically, a No Bake Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake ! Every part of the cheesecake is made from scratch, starting with this crust and topped off with Pumpkin Spice Whipped Cream . It’s soooo good and you guys should definitely check it out for your next fall dessert.
Even though we made this recipe for cheesecake, you can use this same no bake crust recipe for other desserts too. Make another kind of cheesecake , baked or unbaked . Or use it to make the most amazing pumpkin pie or key lime pie !
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1¾ cups graham cracker crumbs 249 grams (about 16 cracker sheets)
- ▢ 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 25 grams
- ▢ 2 tablespoons brown sugar 27 grams
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ½ cup unsalted butter 113 grams, melted (1 stick)
Video
Instructions
- Combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugars, and salt in a medium-sized bowl and mix well to blend. 1¾ cups graham cracker crumbs, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Drizzle the butter over the crumb mixture and mix until all crumbs have been coated with the butter. The mixture should look like wet sand. ½ cup unsalted butter
- Pour the crust mixture into a pie pan or springform pan and spread in an even layer. Use a flat-bottom measuring cup to press the crust firmly in the pan and partially up the sides of the pan.
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Pie Pan OR
- 9-inch Springform Pan
Becky’s Tips
- To make the graham cracker crumbs, you can just use a rolling pin to crush them while they’re still in their original packets (or another plastic bag). You can also put graham cracker pieces in your blender or food processor and crush them up by pulsing in short bursts.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Graham Cracker Recipes We Love
- S’mores Breakfast Parfait
- S’mores Ice Cream Sandwiches
- S’mores Cookies
- Peanut Butter Bars
- Chocolate Covered Pretzels
- No Bake Cheesecake Cups
Homemade Graham Cracker Crust Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Pie Pan OR
- 9-inch Springform Pan
Ingredients
- 1¾ cups graham cracker crumbs 249 grams (about 16 cracker sheets)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 25 grams
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar 27 grams
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter 113 grams, melted (1 stick)
Instructions
- Combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugars, and salt in a medium-sized bowl and mix well to blend. 1¾ cups graham cracker crumbs, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Drizzle the butter over the crumb mixture and mix until all crumbs have been coated with the butter. The mixture should look like wet sand. ½ cup unsalted butter
- Pour the crust mixture into a pie pan or springform pan and spread in an even layer. Use a flat-bottom measuring cup to press the crust firmly in the pan and partially up the sides of the pan.
Video
Notes
- To make the graham cracker crumbs, you can just use a rolling pin to crush them while they’re still in their original packets (or another plastic bag). You can also put graham cracker pieces in your blender or food processor and crush them up by pulsing in short bursts.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
