What Are Graham cracker crumbs and How Can I Use Them?

Wondering what to do with graham cracker crumbs? This guide covers how to pick them, cook them, store them, and swap them, plus 377 recipes to put them to work.

What are graham cracker crumbs?

Graham cracker crumbs are exactly what they sound like: graham crackers ground to a sandy texture. They carry the cracker's gentle sweetness and toasty, honey-wheat warmth, which is why they are the default base for no-bake and baked dessert crusts.

You can buy them boxed, ready to use, or make them by pulsing whole crackers in a food processor. Homemade tastes fresher and costs less.

The crumbs themselves do almost nothing until you bind them.

On their own they are just sweet sand. Mixed with melted butter and pressed into a pan, they set into a crisp, sliceable crust.

How to Use Them

The crust is the headline use. The reliable formula is about 1½ cups of crumbs to ⅓ cup of melted butter and 2 to 3 tablespoons of sugar, which lines a standard 9-inch pie plate or springform pan.

Press the mixture firmly and evenly up the sides and across the bottom; the back of a measuring cup does this better than your fingers. A loose press crumbles when you slice.

For a no-bake filling, chill the crust at least an hour so the butter firms and holds. For a baked one, set it first at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes so it does not turn soggy under a wet filling, the move behind a sturdy Deco's Raspberry Cheesecake.

Crumbs also work stirred into batters and layered through icebox desserts, where they soften into an almost cakey layer. They give Graham Cracker Cake its structure in place of most of the flour.

Cooking and Pairing

That toasty honey-wheat flavor leans dessert. It pairs naturally with cream cheese, chocolate, caramel and bright fruit, which is why graham crusts anchor so many cheesecakes and pies, from a Cheesecake with Rhubarb & Strawberry Glaze to a Best Cherries Jubilee Ice Cream Pie.

The most common failure is a crust that falls apart. Too little butter and the crumbs will not cohere; too coarse a grind and they will not knit. Aim for the texture of damp sand that clumps when you squeeze it.

The opposite problem is a greasy, hard crust from too much butter. If the mix looks wet and shiny rather than just damp, add a spoonful more crumbs to balance it.

Substitutes

Almost any dry, sweet cookie or cracker grinds into a working crust.

Digestive biscuits are the closest match in flavor and the standard swap outside North America.

Vanilla wafers and gingersnaps both crush well and bring their own character, gingersnaps adding spice that suits pumpkin and apple fillings.

For a chocolate crust, use crushed chocolate wafers and the same butter ratio. In a savory or gluten-free pinch, crushed pretzels or gluten-free cookies stand in, though you may need to adjust the sugar.

Buying and Storing It

Boxed crumbs sit in the baking aisle near the pie fillings; whole crackers are cheaper per cup if you have a food processor. One sleeve of crackers, roughly 9 full sheets, yields about 1 cup of crumbs.

Store crumbs airtight in a cool, dry cupboard, where they keep for several months. Their enemy is humidity, which makes them clump and go stale-soft, so seal the bag well.

Freeze them for longer storage, up to a year in an airtight bag, and use straight from frozen since they thaw almost instantly. A made crust freezes well too, ready to fill whenever you need it.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find graham cracker crumbs: Graham cracker crumbs are usually found in the baking supplies section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Graham cracker crumbs are a member of the Baked Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

全麦饼干屑

British (UK) term

Graham cracker crumbs

en français

chapelure de biscuits Graham

en español

migas de galleta

How much do graham cracker crumbs weigh?

Related

Baked Products

Recipes using graham cracker crumbs

There are 377 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Graham Wafer Crust

This easy graham cracker pie crust recipe creates a sweet, buttery, and crisp base perfect for cream pies, cheesecakes, or no-bake desserts. With a blend of crushed graham crackers, sugar, butter, cinnamon, and a touch of flour, it bakes to golden perfection in just 20 minutes.

Holley's Cheesecake

Holley's classic cheesecake with a graham crust, dense sour cream filling, tangy sour cream topping, and a Grand Marnier-spiked hot fudge sauce. The crowd-pleasing dessert that tastes like a celebration.

Pumpkin Light Pie

Light pumpkin pie with a fluffy chiffon-style filling on a graham cracker crust, sweetened with sugar substitute and lifted with whipped egg whites. The lower-sugar pumpkin pie for the holiday table.

Wake - Up - Smell Coffee Cheesecake

Love this lower-fat cheesecake. It well satisfied my cheesecake cravings but without giving me too much guilt afterwards. LOL.

Basic Cheesecake

Basic cheesecake with a ricotta and cream cheese filling for a lighter, slightly tangy bite over a classic graham cracker crust. Bakes up tall, creamy, and clean enough to dress up with any fruit or sauce.

Party Pumpkin Pie

Lighter pumpkin pie with a gingersnap-graham crust, evaporated skim milk, and mostly egg whites for a lower-fat take. Molasses adds depth, cinnamon and nutmeg do the holiday work.

Creamy Cheesecake Pumpkin Pie

Cheesecake pumpkin pie layers a graham-pecan crust with a creamy pumpkin-cream cheese filling spiced with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Hybrid Thanksgiving showstopper.

Mound Bars

Sweet coconut-filled bars with a graham cracker crust topped with melted chocolate. So easy and so good.

Smores Cake

Smores cake layers fluffy graham cracker sponge with toasted miniature marshmallows and mini chocolate chips broiled until bubbly. Low-fat campfire-flavored cake without leaving the kitchen.

Cheese Crunchers

A crunchy crust with chocolate and butterscotch topped with a soft and fluffy cream cheese filling.

Cherry Cheesecake Squares

Cherry cheesecake bite-sized bars. Super easy and yummy! Always a hit at get-togethers. No leftovers.

Margarita Cheesecake with Lime Sour Cream Topping

Margarita cheesecake spiked with tequila, triple sec, and fresh lime on a graham crust, crowned with a tangy lime sour cream topping. The cocktail you love, in creamy sliceable form.

7-Up Lemon Cheesecake with Strawberry Glaze

7-Up Lemon Cheesecake with Strawberry Glaze recipe

Debbie's White Chocolate Cheesecake

White chocolate cheesecake with an almond-oatmeal-graham crust, folded with whipped egg whites for an airy, mousse-like texture. Slow-cooled in the oven for a crack-free finish.

Best Florida Key Lime Pie

With the fruity taste of lime, this delicious pie is perfect for your next family reunion. Best served with a whipped topping of your choice!

Kiwi-Lemon Pie

Kiwi lemon pie with a tangy lemon custard filling in a graham cracker crust, topped with fresh kiwi slices and a glossy marmalade glaze. Bright, tart, and gorgeous.

Almond Crunch Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin spice cheesecake with graham crust and broiled coconut-almond crunch topping. Impressive fall dessert that requires 4 hours of chilling before serving.

Best Key Lime Cheesecake

Key lime cheesecake with a buttery graham cracker crust and a tangy, silky filling made with fresh lime juice, sour cream, and three blocks of cream cheese. Two-stage baking gives it that signature crack-free top.

Mom's Easy Cherry Cheesecake

Easy cherry cheesecake with a graham cracker crust, vanilla cream cheese filling, and red cherry pie filling topping. A classic American baked cheesecake for any occasion.

Blueberry Cheesecake

Blueberry cheesecake bakes a velvety vanilla cream cheese filling on a buttery graham crust, crowned with sweet blueberry topping. A no-fuss potluck dessert that always disappears.

Pumpkin Cognac Cheesecake Supreme

Pumpkin, cognac, cream cheese, sour cream and spices make this cheesecake creamy, smooth, rich and delicious. The toasted almonds adds extra nuttiness, and it also gives the cheesecake a beautiful coating on the outer edge. This is the kind of cheesecake that everyone gives a big "WOW".

Black Forest Cherry Cheesecake

This cheesecake is amazingly chocolatey and delicious. It screams out the cherry flavour. Definitely worth the effort.

Washington Cheesecake

This cheesecake was relatively easy to make, especially I don't bake very often, and this cheesecake came out great! It had a very silky texture, and my boyfriend and I loved it.

7 Layer Bars

Scrumptious snacks made with chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut and walnuts.

Pumpkin Cognac Cheesecake

This recipe turned out excellent. Only lasted 24hrs in my fridge. Friends have already put in a request to have one for the holidays.

Kahlua Marbled Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin, kahlua and cheesecake, yes, you will find them all in this cheesecake. It's creamy, silky, has that nice coffee flavor from kahlua; and also super pumpkin-y. A decadent dessert that impresses everyone.

Mint Cheesecake

Mint cheesecake with chopped Junior Mints baked into a creamy vanilla filling on a buttery graham cracker crust. Cool, minty chocolate pockets in every rich, velvety slice.

Maple Nut Drops

Maple nut drops made with just five ingredients: maple syrup, sweetened condensed milk, graham cracker crumbs, vanilla, and chopped nuts. No flour, no eggs, no butter. Chewy and caramel-like.

Caramel-Topped Apple Pie

Crustless apple pie with a buttery graham cracker and pecan streusel, finished with a melted caramel sauce poured right over the top. Spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg for a warm, gooey fall dessert.

No-Bake Peanut Brownies

No-bake peanut brownies with graham cracker crumbs, peanut butter, chopped peanuts, and a melted chocolate chip frosting. A fudgy, crunchy treat that sets in the fridge in just 1 hour.

Creamy Coffee Pie

A lush coffee custard filling folded with whipped cream in a chocolate-graham cracker crust, garnished with chocolate-covered espresso beans. The dessert every coffee lover needs.

Baked Graham-Cracker Crumb Crust (8")

A buttery 3-ingredient baked graham cracker crust for 8-inch pies. Just crumbs, butter, and sugar pressed into the pan and baked in 8 minutes. The foundation for cheesecakes, cream pies, and more.

Chocolate Turtle Cheese Cake--Microwave

Microwave chocolate turtle cheesecake layered with gooey caramel, pecans, cream cheese filling, and a chocolate chip topping. Ready in 40 minutes with no oven required.

Frozen Double Chocolate Mousse

Frozen double chocolate mousse layers dark chocolate-Frangelico mousse over white chocolate mousse on a chocolate wafer crust. A two-tone make-ahead dessert with hazelnut depth.

Very Berry Cheesecake

A creamy water-bath cheesecake with a walnut graham cracker crust, lemony cream cheese and cottage cheese filling, topped with fresh berries and double strawberry sauce.

Cheesy Potato & Egg Casserole

Cheesy potato and egg casserole layers sliced potatoes, hard-boiled eggs and tomato in a sharp cheddar and sour cream sauce, topped with crumbs and baked golden. A comforting vegetarian side or brunch bake.

Peanut Butter Pie with Buttery Graham Cracker Crust

Peanut Butter Pie with Buttery Graham Cracker Crust recipe

Creme De Menthe Squares

No-bake creme de menthe squares with a chocolate graham cracker base, minty buttercream middle, and glossy chocolate top. A classic holiday treat, chilled and sliced.

Spectacular Cheesecake

Like the name says, this is a spectacularly delicious and rich cheesecake that everyone will give you rave reviews.

Milk Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

Milk chocolate chip cheesecake built on nonfat cream cheese and egg whites, studded with milk chocolate chips throughout. A lighter cheesecake recipe that delivers the chocolate-and-cream flavor without the heavy fat content.

Strawberry-Rhubarb Betty

Tart rhubarb and sweet strawberries layered with cinnamon-spiced graham cracker and bread crumb topping, baked until bubbly and golden. A cozy, old-fashioned fruit betty.

Candy Malt Shoppe Pie

A frozen no-bake pie with crushed malted milk balls folded into vanilla yogurt and whipped cream on a graham cracker crust. Nostalgic malt shop vibes in every creamy, crunchy slice.

Nainamo Bars

Mint Nanaimo bars layer a chocolate-graham crumb base, a peppermint vanilla pudding cream center, and a glossy chocolate top. The Canadian no-bake classic with a cool mint twist.

Mango-Coconut Pie with Mango Coulis

Mango-coconut pie layers a graham cracker and toasted coconut crust with a vanilla bean coconut custard, diced fresh mango, and whipped cream. A bright mango coulis poured over each slice doubles down on the fruit.

Chez' Freddy's Fried Eskimo Balls

Deep-fried ice cream balls coated in almond paste and graham cracker crumbs, served in a peach half with homemade vanilla sauce and chopped walnuts. A restaurant-style showstopper dessert.

Auntie Babe's Cheese Cake

Classic family cheesecake with a cinnamon graham cracker crust, rich cream cheese filling, and a whipped sour cream topping baked on in the final minutes. Chill 24 hours for the best texture.

Lemony Cheesecake with Fresh Fruit

Light lemony cheesecake made with nonfat cream cheese and condensed milk on a graham cracker base. A lower-fat cheesecake topped with fresh fruit that still feels indulgent.

My Light Cheesecake

A lighter cheesecake made with blended cottage cheese instead of cream cheese, finished with a tangy yogurt topping. Higher in protein, lower in fat, and easy to make sugar-free.

Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce - Lite

Lite cheesecake with raspberry sauce uses nonfat cream cheese and 2% cottage cheese for a silky, tangy slice without the guilt. Topped with bright homemade raspberry sauce.

Cheese N'Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin cheesecake pie made entirely in the microwave with a graham cracker crust, cream cheese filling, and pecan topping. Lemon and orange zest brighten the rich pumpkin custard.

All 377 recipes