Gluten-Free Graham Cracker Pie Crust

By
Teri Gruss, MS
Teri Gruss, MS
Freelance writer and nutrition expert Teri Lee Gruss, M.S. has written hundreds of recipes focusing on healthy gluten-free cooking.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/25/22
Gluten free graham cracker crust

​The Spruce Eats / Teena Agnel

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 8 mins
Total: 13 mins
Servings: 10 to 12 servings

A gluten-free graham cracker pie crust recipe is great to have at hand when you want to make a dessert. It can be filled in a variety of delicious ways and used baked or unbaked. It is the base for desserts like gluten-free key lime pie and gluten-free s'mores pie.

This recipe yields one 9-inch gluten-free graham cracker pie crust. All you need are gluten-free graham crackers, softened butter, and a bit of cane sugar. Nairn's gluten-free oat grahams are a delicious option to use for this pie crust. Pamela's also makes a gluten-free graham cracker, as does Kinnikinnick. If you have the time and are feeling ambitious, you can also make your own graham cracker from scratch.

As a rule of thumb, 1/2 cup of crumbs is produced by three graham cracker sheets, so you will want 12 graham cracker sheets to make the needed 2 cups of crumbs. However, different brands may vary in the size of their crackers and affect this ratio.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for graham cracker crust
    ​The Spruce Eats / Teena Agnel

  2. Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C).

  3. Place the gluten-free graham crackers in a zip-close bag and use a rolling pin to crush the crackers into fine crumbs.

    Place crust in bag
    ​The Spruce Eats / Teena Agnel

  4. Place crumbs in a bowl and add soft butter, sugar, and the optional nutmeg. Use a large spatula or your hands to thoroughly combine ingredients.

    Place crumbs in a bowl
    ​The Spruce Eats / Teena Agnel 

  5. Pour the crumb mixture into a 9-inch pie plate or tart pan with a removable bottom. Use your fingers to press the crumbs evenly into your pie pan. Use a lot of pressure to compact the crumbs as much as possible. For extra compaction, use a flat-bottomed water glass to press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan.

    Pour mixture into pie plate
    ​The Spruce Eats / Teena Agnel

  6. For a baked crust place crust in a preheated oven, bake for about 8 minutes or just until edges of crust start to brown. Allow the crust to cool before you add the filling.

    Bake crust
    ​The Spruce Eats / Teena Agnel

  7. For an unbaked crust, chill it in the refrigerator until firm, at least an hour, before using it.

    Chill in the fridge
    ​The Spruce Eats / Teena Agnel

Tip

  • To make the crust ahead of time and store it, wrap it in plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for up to three days before using it. You can also freeze it in the pan for up to three months, wrapped well in foil or plastic wrap or encased in a large freezer bag. Thaw it before filling.

If you are cooking a gluten-free dessert for someone who is sensitive, you need to ensure all of your work surfaces, utensils, and pans are free of gluten. When buying the ingredients, check the label even if you have used the product before. Manufacturers can change the formulation without notice.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
142 Calories
9g Fat
14g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10 to 12
Amount per serving
Calories 142
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 12%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 20mg 7%
Sodium 72mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 14g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 14mg 1%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 28mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)