This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This easy homemade graham cracker crust recipe is the perfect base for any of your favorite pies or desserts! A delicious graham cracker pie crust only takes a few simple ingredients and a few minutes and you will never buy store-bought crust again.

This recipe is so easy you will wonder why you have been buying those pre-made graham cracker crusts from the store all along. It is the perfect base for pudding pies, cheesecakes, ice cream pies, cream pies, or really any homemade pie you love. Just add your favorite pie filling!

And who doesn’t love a scrumptious pie? This is the perfect crust for a key lime pie, lemon icebox pie, or a peanut butter cup pie! It goes perfectly in a no-bake jar pie like my key lime mason jar pie. Don’t forget a creamy classic cheesecake too!

A no bake homemade graham cracker crust in a white pie plate cooling on a wooden board with scattered crumbs, crackers and a tea towel.

Now I get the convenience of those pre-made pie crusts and I have been known to pick them up from time to time. But with this recipe, you can whip up your own graham cracker crust in no time.

Better flavor and easy to make ahead of time too! Here’s all you will need to get started.

Ingredient Notes

  • Graham Cracker Sheets: Any graham crackers you like can be used. I love the Honey Maid brand. They have a wonderful consistency and flavor. You can also purchase already crushed graham crackers in the baking aisle of the grocery store.
  • Sugar: White granulated sugar is most commonly used and what I use for this recipe. Sugar acts as a binding agent along with butter to hold the crumbs together.
  • Butter: Salted or unsalted butter will work. If I am not using salted butter I add a pinch of kosher salt to the mixture.
  • Salt (optional): Just pinch for flavor. If you are using salted butter you will omit it. You can also leave this off altogether if you prefer not to add salt.
Picture of graham crackers in a food processor, along with sugar, salt, and pats of butter on a wooden board.

How to Make a Homemade Graham Cracker Crust

Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!

Step 1 | Crush Graham Crackers

First, finely crush the graham crackers. You can do this by using a food processor or blender to grind them up. If you don’t have a food processor (or don’t want to pull it out) you can also crush them by placing them in a zip-top plastic bag and crushing them with a rolling pin, mallet, or even a heavy can will do the trick.

You will need about 10-12 cracker sheets (Different brands have different sized sheets), which will make 1 ½ cups of graham cracker crumbs.

Then add the fine crumbs to a mixing bowl.

Crushed graham cracker crumbs in a bowl on a wooden board with sugar, salt, and melted butter.

Step 2 | Add in sugar and melted butter

Next, pour the sugar (and pinch of salt – if not using salted butter) into the bowl with the crushed graham crackers.

For an even deeper flavor try using brown sugar in place of granulated sugar.

Two image collage showing sugar being poured into crush graham crackers and then a bowl with the sugar and graham crackers on a board with melted butter and salt to the side of the bowl.

Then melt the butter in a small microwave-safe bowl or in a small pot over medium-low heat.

Pour the melted butter over the graham crackers and sugar.

The butter acts as the glue that will hold the crust together! And butter makes everything taste better anyway – right!

A bowl of crushed graham crackers, sugar, and melted butter.

Step 3 | Make Graham Cracker Crumb Mixture

Use a fork to toss and mix everything. I prefer a fork rather than a spatula or a spoon as it breaks everything up and really incorporates it together well.

Just mix until everything it is well combined and it is the texture of wet sand.

A bowl of graham crackers, sugar, butter and a pinch of salt mixed with a fork together on a wooden board with graham crackers scattered.

Step 4 | Press into Pie Plate

Now you are ready to transfer the mixture to the pie pan.

Press the mixture firmly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate. It helps to use something flat, like the bottom of a measuring cup or a glass to help press it in evenly.

Then make sure your sides are nice and pressed into the sides of the pie pan. You may need to use your fingers to firmly press them all around the pie pan.

The hand of a person pressing a tin measuring cup into crumbs forming a homemade graham cracker crust in a white pie plate.
  • For an even deeper flavor try using brown sugar in place of granulated sugar. You can also use powdered sugar in place of granulated sugar for a smoother texture.
  • If your mixture isn’t the right consistency: If it isn’t wet or binding together enough – you may not have enough butter. Just add a little more butter. If it’s too wet (you may have too much butter). Then you will want to add a few more crushed graham crackers. You are looking for a wet sand-like texture.

Tips

The big decision – do you want a no-bake graham cracker crust or a baked graham cracker crust. Both are delicious and each has its time and place.

A baked graham cracker crust takes the crust and bakes it up into a deeper golden color and allows the sugar to intensify in flavor while it heats up in the oven. It will be a little firmer and crunchy in flavor!

Don’t want to turn that oven on in the heat of the summer or just want the convenience of a no-bake crust in this recipe? You still have an amazing-tasting pie crust that is crisp and crumbly with that buttery sweet taste!

Either way, you cannot go wrong!

No-Bake Graham Cracker Crust

If you are making a no-bake pie/dessert: chill this pie crust for at least 2 hours before filling it. Chilling the crust before adding your no-bake filling solidifies the melted butter/sugar mixture. The will ensure your crust is compact and won’t fall apart.

Baked Graham Cracker Crust

If you are making a baked pie/dessert: I usually pre-bake for 7-8 minutes at 350°F. Or pre-bake this crust per your recipe’s directions. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Then, fill the crust and continue with your recipe.

This homemade graham cracker crust mixture will make enough crust to fill a 9-inch pie pan and is enough crust for a 10-inch pie plate as well, standard or deep dish.

You can use this recipe for a springform pan or even a tart pan. If you want to add more crust or have an even thicker crust add about 1 tablespoon of butter for every ¼ cup of crumbs you add to the mixture.

This classic recipe is sure to be your favorite graham cracker crust!

Overhead image of a no-bake homemade graham cracker crust on a wooden board.

Recipe Frequently Asked Questions

How many servings in a 9-inch pie crust?

A conventional 9-inch pie will be cut into 6 standard slices. If you have a thicker pie or one that is really dense you can get 8 slices.

How to measure a pie pan?

You will measure the pie pan inside rim to rim to figure the width of the pan and then inside from the bottom to the rim to determine depth. If the depth is 1¼ to 1½ it is a standard depth pie dish. Anything taller will be considered a deep-dish pie pan.

How to keep pie crust from sticking to the pan or glass pie plate?

Make sure not to press down too much, using that measuring cup or glass with a firm but not too firm pressure. You can also spray or butter your dish lightly if you would like to help keep it from sticking.

Can I make mini pie crusts with this recipe?

Yes, you can. They can be placed in mini pie pans or in a cupcake tin. You can bake for about 5 minutes at 350°F if desired for a sturdier crust.

Can I make this a gluten-free graham cracker crust?

Yes, just be sure to use gluten-free graham crackers.

A homemade baked graham cracker crust in a white pie plate surrounded by graham crackers and a tea towel.

Substitutions and Variations:

You can use this recipe with so many cookie or cracker variations. If you cannot find graham cracker crust you can use digestive biscuits. Also here are a few other delicious options to try:

  • Chocolate Graham Crackers: A chocolate crust is really delicious in cookie butter, any nut butter, or peanut butter pie. It’s perfect for a chocolate pudding pie as well. It pairs great with cheesecake fillings or fresh fruits like strawberries or raspberries.
  • Chocolate Wafer Cookies: These cookies are super crunchy and have a more intense chocolate flavor than the graham crackers.
  • Vanilla Wafers: This also makes an amazing pie crust and really goes with any pie. If you love banana pudding you are sure to love this one!
  • Oreo’s: Who doesn’t love an Oreo Cookie! If you want to use a sandwich cookie you can omit the sugar as the filling has plenty of sweetness.
  • Ice Cream Cones: Ice cream pie calls for that sugar cone or waffle cone taste!
  • Gingersnaps: These are perfect for holiday pies!
  • Biscoff Cookie Butter Cookies: This is something to die for! You have to give this a try. It also goes nicely with hazelnut butter or any cream cheese pie or ice cream!
  • Add in your favorite spices: Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie, or Cinnamon all give the pie crust a little extra flavor.
  • Nuts or Pretzels: Replace about ¼ to ½ cup of the crumbs with pecans, almonds, walnuts, or pretzels for an amazing addition.

Storage Instructions

Make-Ahead & Freezing Instructions:

Make this ahead and store it in the refrigerator for a few days before using it in your recipe. Just cover with foil, plastic wrap, or a pie cover while storing.

This recipe is very freezer friendly! Freeze the prepared crust in a freezer-safe pan and wrap with freezer-safe plastic wrap and foil for up to 3 months. Thaw the crust before using it in your recipe.

Dessert Recipes You Will Love:

Hungry for more easy, home-cooked, delicious recipes?

Sign up for my free recipe club to get family-friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing daily meal-time inspiration on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Upclose image of a homemade graham cracker crust in a white pie plate.
Recipe
5 from 7 votes

(click stars to rate)

Homemade Graham Cracker Crust Recipe (Bake and No-Bake)

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 1 (9 to 10 inch) crust
Author: Nikki Lee
This easy homemade graham cracker crust recipe is the perfect base for any of your favorite pies or desserts! A delicious graham cracker pie crust only takes a few simple ingredients and a few minutes and you will never buy store-bought crust again.

Ingredients 

  • 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs, (about 10 to 11 full sheets of graham crackers)
  • 6 Tablespoons butter, (salted or unsalted), melted
  • ½ cup granulated sugar, use ¼ cup if you prefer a less sweet crust
  • pinch salt, (optional), if using unsalted butter

Instructions

  • If you’re starting out with full-sheet graham crackers, you can use a food processor or blender to crush them up. Or crush them in a zipped top bag with a rolling pin.
  • Mix the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, (a pinch of salt if using) and melted butter together with a fork until combined and the texture of wet coarse sand.
  • Press the mixture into the bottom of the dish or pan and slightly up the sides. This crust will fit into a 9 – 10 inch pan standard or deep dish. Make sure it is compact. Use the bottom of a flat measuring cup.

No-Bake Graham Cracker Crust

  • For a no-bake dessert, chill the crust for 2 hours before using in your recipe.

Baked Graham Cracker Crust

  • For a baked dessert, I usually pre-bake for 7-8 minutes at 350°F. Or pre-bake this crust per your recipe’s instructions.

Notes

Make-Ahead & Freezing Instructions:

Make this ahead and store it in the refrigerator for a few days before using it in your recipe. Just cover with foil, plastic wrap, or a pie cover while storing.
This recipe is very freezer friendly! Freeze the prepared crust in a freezer-safe pan and wrap with freezer-safe plastic wrap and foil for up to 3 months. Thaw the crust before using it in your recipe.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1slice Calories: 190kcal (10%) Carbohydrates: 24g (8%) Protein: 1g (2%) Fat: 10g (15%) Saturated Fat: 6g (38%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 23mg (8%) Sodium: 171mg (7%) Potassium: 31mg (1%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 16g (18%) Vitamin A: 262IU (5%) Calcium: 15mg (2%) Iron: 1mg (6%)

Nutritional Disclaimer

Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

©️Soulfully Made

Did You Make This?I love to see what you made! Tag me @soulfullymade_ and hashtag #SoulfullyMade
Pin Recipe Tag on Insta Share on Facebook Leave Review

Please share

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RATE THIS RECIPE




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I just love a good homemade graham cracker crust! Perfect for all of those fall and upcoming holiday pies. 🙂

  2. 5 stars
    This was so much easier than I thought it would be, and way better than a store bought version! Dessert was a delicious success, indeed!