Gluten-free Graham Cracker Crust

From gluten-free cheesecake to gluten-free no-bake pies, this gluten-free graham cracker crust recipe will help you make it all!

My husband LOVES his cheesecake. No joke, he can eat an entire one by himself, haha. I can't blame him. I love cheesecake too. That's why this gluten-free graham cracker crust recipe is a must-have recipe around our house. I use it all the time to make a delicious gluten-free cheesecake, and I even love using it to make a simple no-bake pie.

Are graham cracker crusts gluten-free?

Typically no, graham cracker crusts are not gluten-free. There are a few companies that do make gluten-free graham cracker crusts, but not many. Don't worry, though; making your own gluten-free graham cracker crust is easy to do.

Ingredients to make a gluten-free graham cracker pie crust.

This gluten-free crust recipe only needs three simple ingredients.

• Gluten-free Graham Crackers - I prefer to make my own gluten-free graham crackers and then turn them into graham cracker crumbs for making this pie crust. Do you have to? No, you can easily use any of your favorite gluten-free graham crackers. Just make sure you check the ingredients because some of them are flavored with cinnamon and other spices, which can become overpowering in your crust depending on what you are using it for.
• Sugar - If you're making something like a chocolate pie and want a deeper flavor, you can easily swap the sugar out for brown sugar. It will add a hint of molasses flavor to your crust.
• Butter - If you want to make this a dairy-free graham cracker crust, you can swap the butter for a dairy-free alternative like Earth Balance sticks.

Note: if you need a completely dairy-free graham cracker crust, ensure your graham crackers are also dairy-free. If you can't find dairy-free graham crackers, you can make a batch of homemade gluten-free graham crackers that can be made dairy-free.

Can you make a gluten-free no-bake crust with something other than graham crackers?

If you want to make a no-bake pie crust but can't find gluten-free graham crackers, or you don't have the time to make your own, you have a few options.

You can use any of these.

• Gluten-free Vanilla Wafer Cookies
• Gluten-free Gingersnaps
• Gluten-free Oreos make the perfect crust for a gluten-free oreo cheesecake.
• Your favorite gluten-free cookies.

How to make a graham cracker crust.

Making this gluten-free graham cracker crust at home is super simple to do. This is the easiest gluten-free pie crust you could ever make.

1. Crush the gluten-free graham crackers.
2. Combine the crushed graham crackers, sugar, and melted butter into a bowl until it looks like wet sand.
3. Transfer the graham cracker mixture to your baking dish and gently press it down.
4. Chill or blind bake before filling your graham cracker crust.

Should you bake your graham cracker crust?

This gluten-free pie crust recipe works for a no-bake, chilled graham cracker crust and a baked graham cracker crust.

• No-bake graham cracker crust - To make this a gluten-free no-bake crust, be sure to chill the crust for at least two hours before filling it. When you don't bake the graham cracker crust, it is more delicate than if it had been baked. Making a gluten-free no-bake pie, be sure to keep it chilled until you are ready to serve it.
• Baked graham cracker crust - I personally tend to opt to bake my gluten-free graham cracker crust, even when I am making a no-bake pie. When you bake a graham cracker crust, the sugar melts with the butter, making the crust hold together tighter, making the final pie crust less delicate.

Tips for the perfect gluten-free graham cracker crust every time!

This gluten-free pie crust comes together quickly; here are my tips and tricks to make it perfect every time.

• Make sure your graham cracker crumbs are fine. - If your graham cracker crumbs are course, it can make it harder to get a tight crumb on the final crust.
• Carefully press the crumbs together. - Don't be upset if some of the graham cracker crust doesn't want to stay put. This crust is not a rolled-out dough, so be patient when it comes to pressing the crumbs into place.
• Pack the crumbs down with the back of a measuring cup. - It doesn't matter if you are making this as a gluten-free no-bake pie or you're going to bake your gluten-free graham cracker crust, packing down the crumbs is a must. To do this, firmly press down with the flat bottom of a measuring cup to pack the crumbs into the bottom. Use your fingers to press the crumbs into the sides of the dish.
• Pack the crust down again after it bakes.-Packing the crust after it has been baked helps to create a more stable crust that won't crumble as easily when you are slicing your crust.

What kind of pan should you use to make a gluten-free graham cracker crust?

This gluten-free crust can be used in multiple different pans, depending on what you are making.

• You can use an 8 or 9-inch pie pan to make a gluten-free pie crust.
• A springform pan works great if you are making a gluten-free cheesecake.
• This graham cracker crust can even be pressed into an 8x8 baking dish. If you need to make a 9x13, I suggest doubling this recipe.

Storage and make ahead.

Lucky for you, graham cracker crusts actually store really well. I almost always have a few in my freezer, depending on the time of year.

• This crust can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to three days before filling it.
• To store your graham cracker crust longer than that, both baked and unbaked crusts can be wrapped tightly and stored in the freezer for up to three months.
• To thaw your gluten-free crust, just let it sit at room temperature for about thirty minutes before filling.

Pro tip: If you plan on freezing your graham cracker crust, I suggest getting some of the disposable pie dishes to make them easier to store in the freezer.

What to make with your gluten-free graham cracker crust?

Now that you know how to make a graham cracker pie crust, you can turn all your favorite recipes gluten-free. My personal favorite recipes to use this for are fresh strawberry pie in the summer and, of course, making gluten-free cheesecake. Let me know in the comments below what you turn yours into.

More gluten-free desserts to love.

📖 Recipe