When making a pie, it is important to have the right crust. And there are many options for this.
For example, Graham Cracker crust is an option.
The Graham Cracker crust can be very useful when making a pie with absolutely no flour since the graham cracker itself is already made of pure crushed Graham Crackers.
This can work well with pies like cheesecake, perfect for dinner parties, or maybe an apple pie recipe, where you might not want to use traditional pie crust.
That being said, there are other options to try out if you want a different crust.
Here are five of the best substitutes for Graham Cracker Crust that I could find.
What is Graham Cracker Crust?
Graham cracker crust is a pie pastry made from crushed graham crackers mixed with butter, sugar, and cornmeal.
It has been used as a pie crust since the 1840s and remains very popular today.
The pastry is usually prepared by crushing graham crackers into fine crumbs, then mixing them with melted butter and sometimes sugar.
The mixture may optionally include cornmeal to add texture.
Graham cracker crust recipes vary widely in the ratio of ingredients, particularly in the amount of butter used relative to graham cracker crumbs.
Recipes that call for more butter result in a softer, more pliable crust that will hold its shape better when removed from the pan.
Typically, it is baked before being filled with an unbaked filling mixture, such as in most pumpkin pies, thus becoming crisp.
It is also used for most cheesecakes because recipes typically call for the baked filling to be chilled before serving, making the crust soggy if not pre-baked.
The 5 Best Substitutes for Graham Cracker Crust
If you find yourself away from home and without a pre-made graham cracker crust, there are five simple substitutes you can use.
1 – Crisp Cookies
Alternatively, you could use a crisp cookie.
This substitute is easy to make and will hold together well.
First of all, take your favorite crisp cookies from the store or bakery and place them inside a plastic bag.
Then crush them with a skillet until they form fine crumbs.
After that, pour these crumbs into your greased pie plate.
Then, pour your desired filling on top of the crumbs.
Finally, bake the pie according to the recipe’s instructions.
The crisp cookie substitute will hold together firmly because it is made with shortening or oil, which melt during baking and form a crust that holds everything in place.
2 – Ice Cream Cones
One substitute for graham cracker crust is ice cream cones.
This is a quick and easy substitute to make if you have an ice cream cone in your freezer.
To make an ice cream cone substitute:
- Place your ice cream cones in a zip-top plastic bag.
- Use a rolling pin to crush the cones into fine crumbs.
- Pour these crumbs on top of your desired filling and bake according to the recipe’s instructions.
The trick with this substitute is not to wait too long to add the filling.
Another tip is to ensure that your substitute contains no chunks.
Otherwise, it will not bake into a crust.
3 – Shortbread Crackers
Shortbread biscuits are always a good substitute for graham cracker crusts.
This is because you can easily break them up and pour them on top of an unbaked filling.
All that is required is to place them in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin or pan.
Then, pour your shortbread crumbs on the unbaked pie crust and bake according to the recipe’s instructions.
The tip for this substitute is to make sure the crumbs contain no chunks.
After all, the chunks will not form a good crust.
If the chunks are small, this substitute will work just fine.
4 – Pretzels
Pretzels are crunchy, salty, and they go well with sweet fillings.
To use pretzels as a substitute for graham cracker crust, place them inside a plastic bag and crush them.
Then, pour the crushed pretzel crumbs on top of your desired filling and bake according to the recipe’s instructions.
The trick with this substitute is not mixing in chunks when crushing your pretzels.
While it will bake into a crust, the chunks will not hold together as well as pretzel crumbs with no chunks.
You can also make this substitute by placing the pretzels inside a zip-top plastic bag and lightly crushing them with a rolling pin or pan.
5 – Animal Crackers
My favorite substitute for graham cracker crust is animal crackers.
To use animal crackers as a substitute, place them in your plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin or pan.
Then, pour the crushed animal crackers on top of your desired filling and bake according to the recipe’s instructions.
The tips for this substitute are to make sure your crumbs are fine, and you don’t mix in any chunks.
Once again, this will result in a less stable crust than an unbaked crust.
You can find these crackers at most grocery stores or your local bakery.
There are also many brands to choose from, so try them all until you find one that you like best.
Conclusion
In conclusion, each of these substitutes holds together well, and all are easy to use.
Also, using one of these substitutes will make your pie crust taste more like the original.
That said, my favorite substitute for graham cracker crust is animal crackers because they bake up into fine crumbs that stick together nicely.
So the next time you’re craving a pie but lack time to make a graham cracker crust, try one of these substitutes.
You’ll get your sweet fix and still have time to spare.
The 5 Best Substitutes for Graham Cracker Crust
Ingredients
- Crisp Cookies
- Ice Cream Cones
- Shortbread Crackers
- Pretzels
- Animal Crackers
Instructions
- Choose your preferred substitute from the list of options.
- Organize all of your ingredients.
- Follow the substitution ratio to determine how much is required in your recipe.
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