How to Make a Graham Cracker Pie Crust

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This homemade Graham Cracker Pie Crust is easy, versatile and delicious! With just three ingredients, you can make a perfect graham cracker crust for everything from no-bake pies to cheesecake.

Once you know how to make a graham cracker pie crust, you’re ready to whip up a No Bake Lemon Cheesecake or this S’mores Pie!

Graham cracker crust in a white pie plate.

Why Make Your Own Crust

Graham cracker crusts are about the easiest homemade pie crust you can make.

It’s only a little bit more effort than opening up a packaged one from the store, and the results are much tastier.

Homemade graham cracker crust tastes much fresher than the store bought. It hasn’t been sitting on a shelf for weeks!
It only takes a few minutes to make a graham cracker crust at home. No blind baking required.
This recipe works for both baked and no-bake recipes.
You can adjust the recipe for just about any size pie plate or baking dish.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients needed to make a graham cracker crust.

Here’s what you need for this graham cracker pie crust recipe.

Graham crackers are pulsed in the food processor to form fine crumbs.
Sugar provides a little extra sweetness.
Butter binds the crumbs and sugar together while adding rich flavor.

This recipe makes enough crust to cover an 8 or 9 inch pie plate. It can also be used for a square 8 or 9 inch baking dish. Will also provide enough crust for a 9-inch springform pan if only lining the bottom. If you want the crust to go up the sides, double the recipe.

Want to make it in a rectangular 9 x 13 dish instead? Simply double the recipe and you’ll be set.

Press the crust into the pans. As with Rice Krispie Treats the harder your press, the harder your finished crust will be. In this case though, YOU WANT THAT.

Can I make a graham cracker crust without a food processor?

Step by step photos showing how to make a graham cracker crust.

It’s easiest to make graham cracker crust using a food processor. To achieve the crumb texture, graham crackers need to be crushed into a sand-like consistency.

If they’re not fine enough the butter won’t hold them together and you’ll have a crumbly mess on your hands.
Some readers have had success using a mallet and a little elbow grease to crush the crumbs but we don’t recommend it for this recipe. It’s time consuming and doesn’t produce consistent results–just sore arms!

The good news is that you can purchase ready-made graham cracker crumbs at the grocery store! If you don’t have a food processor, we recommend using the store bought crumbs for this recipe.

Measure the graham cracker crumbs according to the recipe. Use a form to stir them together with the melted butter and sugar, until combined.

Lemon cheesecake with graham cracker crust.

Should I blind bake my graham cracker crust if I’m using it in a no-bake recipe?

There is no need to bake this graham cracker crust.

The crackers themselves are already baked, so there is no food safety risk in skipping the baking.

However blind baking the crust does give it a crispier texture that some bakers prefer for no-bake recipes.

To blind bake graham cracker pie crust:

Preheat the oven to 350℉.
Place the pie crust in the center rack of the oven.
Bake for about 10 minutes or until you see the edges begin to brown.

If you choose to blind bake the crust, make sure to cool the crust completely before adding the filling!

What is the key to a graham cracker crust that doesn’t fall apart?

Slice of cheesecake with cherry pie filling.

Butter!

Graham cracker crust falls apart when it’s dry. Moisture and fat from melted butter hold the crumbs together. Typically, the more butter your crust has, the less likely it is to fall apart.

Our recipe has ⅓ cup of melted butter. You may add up to ½ cup total, depending on how the crust is holding together. That said, it is possible to add too much butter to a graham cracker pie crust! Any more than ½ cup tends to make the crust hard.

For best results, make sure all the crumbs are being coated and the melted butter is evenly distributed when you combine the crust ingredients. Even distribution of butter is key to a crust that holds its shape.

Recipe FAQs

Why is my graham cracker crust hard?

Graham cracker crust becomes hard if its pressed too firmly into the baking dish. You want to use just enough pressure to hold it together but not be rock solid.

Can I freeze a graham cracker crust?

You sure can! You may want to blind bake it first before freezing. This helps it hold up better during storage. Once it’s cooled, wrap the graham cracker crust tightly with saran wrap and keep frozen for up to 3 months.

Why is my graham cracker crust soggy?

If your graham cracker crust is soggy, make sure you are using real butter (and not a low fat spread or margarine).

Graham cracker crust in a 13x9 baking dish.

Do I have to line my baking dish?

No lining is required for no-bake recipes made in a pie plate like our No Bake Cheesecake.
For no-bake recipes made in a square baking dish, we recommend lining your dish with foil first before adding the crust. Foil lining makes it easier to serve the dessert from the pan or add the ability to lift it out and cut for serving, like we do with these Apple Cheesecake Bars with Caramel
For recipes that require baking, like our Key Lime Pie Bars, we recommend lining your baking dish with parchment paper first.

Serving Suggestions

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