Sometimes a recipe is so simple it makes you wonder why you hadn’t thought of it before…
This healthy pie crust is one of those recipes.
I started with two basic ingredients, fully intending to add more. However, when I mixed those first ingredients together, I was surprised to find it really didn’t need anything else to become a fully-functioning pie crust.
Depending on the graham crackers you use, this healthy graham cracker crust can be whole-grain, gluten-free, low-sugar, low-fat, vegan, and completely free of the trans fats that lurk in most commercially-prepared crusts.
You’ll never have to buy a graham cracker crust again.
Healthy Graham Cracker Crust
- 1 1/2 cups crumbs of Homemade Graham Crackers, or 10 graham cracker sheets
- 3 tbsp oil or a butter spread like Earth Balance, or 3 tbsp milk of choice for a low-fat crust
In a food processor, process crackers into fine crumbles. Add the milk or oil (or buttery spread) and process again to combine. Pour the now-sticky crumbs into a prepared pie pan, and smush down very firmly with your hands or a sheet of wax paper. (Be sure to smush down VERY hard if using the milk version, as the lack of fat will make this crust crumbly if you don’t.) You can go up the sides if desired, and if you need a larger crust simply add more graham cracker sheets and milk of choice (I used almond milk) until it reaches the same consistency as the original recipe. There’s no need to pre-bake; just pour desired pie filling on top and then bake the pie according to whatever particular recipe you’re making. This also works great for no-bake pies or even freezer pies!
View Pie Crust Nutrition Facts
Highly recommended for the above: Ultimate Chocolate Fudge Pie.
lea says
Simply genius!
Cathy says
This is perfect for the pie i am making tomorrow! Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!
Michelle says
Yummi!!! Looks sooo good! 😀
Nichole says
Yay! Now I can try this with my vegan cheesecake! I have been using alot more ingredients in mine! I will have to try!
AJ says
Happy birthday! My birthday is September 6 🙂 I love recipes like this that are easy, simple, healthy, and delicious. I love chocolate, but I don’t think I’ll make the chocolate fudge pie. My neighbor, who is into healthy eating, said I should stay away from soy products as much as I can.
Andrea says
I’ve heard that, too. That too much soy isn’t good for you. I do love me some vanilla soy milk, though!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Unless there’s a medical reason (like an allergy), I don’t think you need to worry about soy in moderation. If you’re bored, I once wrote a post (a long time ago) with my thoughts on soy: https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2009/06/09/processed-foods-and-soybeans-and-tofu-oh-my/
And my birthday is the 6th as well :).
Cindy says
Another reason to be careful about soy is if you have thyroid issues. Even in those cases, it is possible to eat soy (which I’ve avoided until recently due to my thyroid), but you must do it under a doctor’s guidance. From what I’ve learned, eating soy can affect how thyroid replacement meds are processed. So, meds may need to be adjusted depending on how much you’re eating. Again, best thing to do, if this is an issue for you, is check with your health care practitioner.
Rere says
No
Do your own research. Soy products are way more healthy than some other so called healthy products.
Honeybird says
Your birthday is in 4 days! Mine is in 8 days :P.
Do you already know what kind of pie you’ll be making (or maybe more than one)?
I am already thinking hard about that; writing down and crossing out ideas 😛
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I’m sure it’ll include chocolate!
Aja says
This is great! Happy early birthday! I’m making a pie in a few days and am so glad you posted this. Just in time, haha!
Erica { EricaDHouse.com } says
This would taste incredible! Unfortunately I cannot keep graham crackers in the house due to a severe lack of willpower not to eat an entire sleeve of them :/
jenica says
Oh wow. This is so simple and beautiful. Those are the best kind of recipes! I can’t wait to try this.
kim@hungryhealthygirl says
I definitely want pie!! This is sooooo easy. What a great find…no oil and no butter! I wonder how it would work with almond flour.
Jordan Drankoski says
THANK YOU FOR THIS. YES.
Jennifer JCD says
Excellent! I am making chocolate pie for my brother’s birthday today and will give this a try. I’ve been lazy before and just used water and it worked, and I am guessing nondairy milk will hold it together even better. Brilliant! 🙂
Kendra says
Such a simple crust recipe; I bet it would certainly be delicious for your chocolate fudge pie:) And I can’t wait for the cheesecake recipe–I am sure it will be fantastic!! I hope you have a wonderful birthday; do you have any special plans??
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Besides eating chocolate? No, not yet 🙂
Olivia@ OmNom Love says
Yum! I love graham cracker crusts. Especially with key lime pie. Delicious. Unfortunately, I’ve never seen gluten free graham crackers 🙁
Alan says
I’ve never tried these but it may be worth a shot if you really like graham crackers.
http://www.amazon.com/Kinnikinnick-Cracker-Smoreable-Grhm-8-Ounce/dp/B001SATW46
Its not cheap as a whole BUT its really only about $5.50 a box when you break it down so its not horrible. The reviews seem to be favorable. Hope this helps.
Cindy says
I wonder if you could substitute almond meal in this?
Erika says
My GF friend recommended GF ginger snaps in place of graham crackers for crust, and though I haven’t tried them with this recipe, they worked great with my recipe that uses butter. Mi-Del makes a great GF ginger snap.
Alanna says
Check out Katie’s graham cracker recipe (she linked it above) — you can use gf flour to make them!
Katie @ Youth Literature Reviews says
A graham cracker crust without butter – who would’ve thought? You’re a lifesaver, Katie!
Alaine says
This would be perfect for cheescake! So easy too! I love, love your recipes!
tiffany says
I love that you use milk in place of margarine or butter..the recipe i used to use (i havent made it in ages) was nothing but graham cracker and a bit of butter to hold it together
Becca says
My birthday is the 7th! 🙂
Juliana says
Happy Birthday! Mine’s actually on the 5th!
Kathleen @ KatsHealthCorner says
Oh my gosh — what an incredible recipe! Sometimes less is more, and you just proved it! Thanks so much! 🙂
HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY, Katie! 😀
Shannon says
I just came across your blog thanks to Pinterest and I have to say I am glad I did! I originally came for all of your Funfetti recipes, but I am loving all of your oatmeal/breakfast ideas too. I Have recently gotten back into eating oatmeal for breakfast because it’s fast and easy (I have to be at work by 6:30am and refuse to wake up earlier than is needed to throw my hair into a braid and put on a little make up). But I quickly found eating the ready made/microwave oatmeal got old quickly. I cannot wait to try some of your recipes!
Emily says
Hey katie, I know this is off topic, but I have a question about trying to make my own larabar. I want to make a coffee one, but I have no clue if your supposed to grind the coffee beans in a coffee grinder first, or if I just put it in the food processor with all the other ingredients?
Thanks!
Alanna says
Maybe try instant coffee? Either that or I would suggest pre-grinding your coffee extremely fine (like espresso or Turkish coffee) so ithe final product doesn’t end up gritty. Let us know if you try it!
carolyn says
I wish you a very happy early birthday!!!
And watch me make this for thanksgiving… I need some healthier alternatives to our typical fare (biscuits w/ butter, boxed stuffing cooked in turkey, this ridiculously unhealthy peanut butter chocolate dessert…) And it’s not very far off anymore.
BTW what kinds of graham crackers besides yours would you recommend? What brand did you calculate this with?
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I calculated it with whatever was on spark recipes, which is usually the calculating service I use. But I know Whole Foods sells whole-grain graham crackers, both in their own brand and others. And I think there’s a brand called Health Valley that makes vegan ones (without honey). Or Sweet n Sara.
Chrissy says
Girl, who DOESN’T want pie?!
Annie @ Naturally Sweet Recipes says
Great recipe! I always want pie. 🙂 Happy early birthday!
Megan says
I haven’t commented in FOREVER, though I do read your blog everyday. Just wondering, in your posts where it looks like you are using chocolate syrup, is that the Omega-3 chocolate syrup? I saw the chocolate raspberry one at Whole Foods yesterday and was seriously thinking about getting it…mostly because it looks so delicious in all of your pictures!!! And, I am SO SO excited about your cookbook!!!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Depends on the recipe. Sometimes it’s just regular chocolate syrup. But I really do love that raspberry one 🙂
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
Yum! This is a great recipe! I love it!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
Graham crackers are a weakness of mine 🙂 I’ll see if they last long enough to make a crust out of them!
Rachel @ my naturally frugal family says
Simple is the perfect word for this crust. I love both simple and graham cracker crusts…it would be fantastic indeed with chocolate pie.
I will have to make those graham crackers first thing.
Thanks for such a simple, yet healthy alternative for crust (you are right I won’t buy pre made again).
Cindy says
So, your birthday’s on the 5th? Me, too. Happy birthday to us! I just discovered CCK in the past few weeks, and it’s already become a favorite. I’ve made more recipes from this since I started reading it than I have from others that I’ve been reading for a long time. Among my favorites (so far) are the various flavors of Boatmeal. I even went out to get traditional ramekins for them. (I finally had good justification. 😉 )
Cindy says
I just read your note above — I miscalculated your birthdate based on the date of the article (Sept 1) rather than the date it came out. Oh well. Everything else remains the same. 🙂
Laura says
Happy birthday!
Bek @ Crave says
I wish we had Graham Crackers over here!
cucicucicoo says
oh wonderful! i’d asked you for a healthy pie crust recipe before, and here it is! now if only they sold graham crackers in italy, where i live!! 🙂 lisa
lynn @ the actor's diet says
say what? awesome! i wonder if you could do this with granola???
Katy says
This was awesome! It really worked :).
Gloria says
I’m not crazy about graham cracker crust but I bet this would work for vanilla wafers or shortbread cookies also! Will have to try it.
Laura says
Just used this to be the bottom of a delicious vegan cheesecake. You’d never know it wasn’t just a regular old pie crust, and it only took 5 minutes to whip up!
Katie @ OhShineOn says
This is perfection right here. I might just make it and eat the entire thing without adding anything in the middle — that cool?
Clarice says
We don’t have graham crackers where I live, so I was thinking of substituting another type of cracker, but I need to know how many grams you used… I tried googling it, but apparently graham cracker sheets aren’t the same everywhere…
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I didn’t measure it, unfortunately… it says that 2 sheets are 28g, so 140g total?
April says
How could I do this in a blender? I don’t have a food processor
CC says
Oh someone please help me, I can NOT stop reading this blog!!! I am sOoOo grateful u posted this! I just made a no bake pie with a NO ROLL almond crust & it was fine but I WANTED a graham cracker one…and I LOVE that I don’t have 2 roll or prebake! So this is awesome.
I do have 2 say too, that I LOVE that u have so many recipes that give recipes also from scratch (ie how 2 make graham crackers too!). Just what I am looking 4.
Eternal thanks 4 the time spent experimenting, creating, documenting & sharing!!!!!!!
Shay says
I’m going to make this tonight for the greek yogurt cheesecake! I’m going to substitute an appropriate amount of wheat germ for one sheet of graham cracker crumbs — to amp up the protein & vitamins. Fingers crossed!!
Shay says
The plan worked out perfectly! And it added to the honey, nutty flavour I was going for in the crust. :]
wendy says
I used this recipe for my husband’s birthday pie yesterday, using store-bought graham crackers and almond milk. I loosely followed http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/key-light-pie-50400000115354/ for a light keylime pie. He says it was great! This was my first ever attempt at a pie crust. I have been browsing your recipes since I changed my diet a few months ago. Thank you so much for your recipes and inspiration!
Rayca says
Hi Katie!
I know you’re not going to believe this but I found out that potatoes make great savory crusts. That is, you just take as much potato as you need (I’ve only used peeled yukon or gold) and grate it. You then squeeze out all the liquid. In a bowl, you add salt/pepper. That’s it. You then flatten it into your (sprayed) pie tin. I’ve added onion powder and such for savory like quiches but I’ve made them for sweet potato pie and it was delicious. I’m going to experiment with adding some nuts and sweetener for even more variation. Hope you give it a try!
Rayca says
I forgot to mention you need to bake the potato crust in a 350 oven for fifteen minutes or so until edges are brown. Your oven temp. may vary.
Kently says
Hi Katie!
I am looking for a recipe that is a lightened up tart crust. Do you have one? I’ve only made non-vegan versions of tarts, but summer is approaching, and there are always lots of BBQs, parties, etc., and a vegan option would be very popular with some of my friends! The tart crusts that I’m thinking of are somewhere in between shortbread and sugar cookie – not too sweet, but definitely not plain pie crust either. If you have any ideas, I’d love to hear them. Thanks in advance!
Chocolate Covered Katie says
I do have a tart recipe (with a crust) for my cookbook, but I’m unfortunately not allowed to post it on the blog 🙁
Andy says
I love it!! Thanks for sharing 🙂 can’t wait to use this crust with a healthier cheesecake recipe!
Jody says
I want to make your graham crackers but can I substitute spelt flour for the whole wheat?
A H says
Try it, but be prepared for a result that is different to what you may expect. Be sure to respond back if you do experiment.
Courtney Ransom says
I love the recipe for this crust! I even linked to it on my post for my Vegan Frozen Coconut Cream Pie (http://cookwithcourt.com/recipe/vegan-frozen-coconut-cream-pie-easy/) so my readers can choose to make your crust if they don’t want to use store bought. (I don’t have a graham cracker crust recipe because I always just use yours!)
Jason Sanford says
Thank you so much for including Katie. Your pie looks fantastic!
-Jason (media relations)
Hayley says
I can confirm this recipe is fantastic and fool-proof! I had 200g cookies and used half coconut oil, half soy milk (about 1-2 tbsp of each). I pushed it against the side of my Vitamix and when it held together, I put it in the tin. So effortless and now I can’t wait to add my raw blueberry cheesecake filling!
Wynne says
is it possible to use coconut oil as a substitute for butter?
CCK Media Team says
Yes, oil is mentioned in the ingredients as an option 🙂
Esther says
Will this work for baked pie fillings. I am thinking of making pumpkin pie with this recipe.