Key lime pie, banana cream pie, and cheesecake are among the more popular ways to showcase a homemade graham cracker crust, but they’re hardly your only options. This no-bake pie crust recipe is as versatile as it is easy to make. Pop whole graham crackers into a food processor and blitz into fine crumbs. Stir the graham cracker crumbs into melted butter, granulated sugar, and a pinch of salt and then press the crumb mixture into a pie plate, springform pan, or tart pan. That’s it. Without so much as glancing at your oven or a rolling pin, you’ve already got the makings of a stellar dessert.
Fill your graham cracker pie crust with pretty much any flavor of softened ice cream—strawberry is nice, but it’s up to you—and chill for two hours for a delightfully retro summertime treat. Spoon in store-bought or homemade chocolate pudding for an easy dessert recipe that hardly qualifies as a recipe at all. Swap in chocolate graham crackers and marshmallow whip to make a s’mores-inspired pie, or use cinnamon grahams to give classic pumpkin pie a kicky twist. Ditch the graham crackers entirely and try this pie crust recipe with Oreos, gingersnaps, digestive biscuits, or any other crisp cookies you like.
Some people choose to bake graham cracker crusts for a toastier flavor (and because doing so melts the sugar, which, when cooled, helps hold the crust together). It’s not strictly necessary, but if you’d like, slide the crust into an oven preheated to 350° and bake for 8–10 minutes.