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.
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
My birthday is the 7th! 🙂
Happy Birthday! Mine’s actually on the 5th!
Oh my gosh — what an incredible recipe! Sometimes less is more, and you just proved it! Thanks so much! 🙂
HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY, Katie! 😀
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!
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!
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!
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?
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.
Girl, who DOESN’T want pie?!
Great recipe! I always want pie. 🙂 Happy early birthday!
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!!!
Depends on the recipe. Sometimes it’s just regular chocolate syrup. But I really do love that raspberry one 🙂
Yum! This is a great recipe! I love it!
Graham crackers are a weakness of mine 🙂 I’ll see if they last long enough to make a crust out of them!
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).
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. 😉 )
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. 🙂
Happy birthday!
I wish we had Graham Crackers over here!
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