Graham Cracker Crust Recipe
This easy Graham Cracker Crust only uses three simple ingredients and takes less than 20 minutes to make! Bake it first, or skip the oven and chill it for a no-bake crust.
Equipment
- 9-inch pie plate
Ingredients
- 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs (180g)
- 6 to 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (87g to 113g), melted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (50g)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a medium bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, 6 tablespoons of melted butter, and sugar until well moistened. Pinch the crumbs between your thumb, and pointer and middle fingers. If they feel moist and stick together when released from the pinch, they are ready to be pressed in the pan. If they feel dry, sandy, and lose their shape when released from the pinch, stir in more butter, 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Firmly press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie pan. Use the flat-bottom of a measuring cup or glass to firmly press the bottom of the crust, and your fingers or a small spatula to press the sides into the pan.
- Bake until aromatic and golden, about 8-10 minutes. Set aside to cool completely.
Notes
- If using fresh homemade crumbs, start with 6 tablespoons of butter. If using boxed crumbs, you'll likely need closer to 8. Use the pinch test to know when you have enough butter added!
- Let the melted butter cool for about 10 minutes before mixing. Hot butter dissolves the sugar and makes the mixture gummy rather than pressable.
- For a no-bake crust, skip the baking and freeze the pressed crust for 20 minutes instead.
- This recipe makes enough for a deep-dish 9-inch pie pan, the bottom and 1 inch up the sides of a 9-inch springform, or just the bottom of a 10-inch springform or 9x13-inch pan. For a thicker crust or a taller cheesecake side, use 2 cups (240g) crumbs and 10 tablespoons butter.
- Enhance the flavor with a pinch of fine sea salt, or ½ to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon or ginger.
Nutrition
Calories: 1329kcal Carbohydrates: 146g Protein: 10g Fat: 81g Saturated Fat: 45g Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g Monounsaturated Fat: 22g Trans Fat: 3g Cholesterol: 181mg Sodium: 840mg Potassium: 244mg Fiber: 4g Sugar: 79g Vitamin A: 2099IU Calcium: 120mg Iron: 5mg