Make your personal gluten free graham cracker crust and an entire world of simple pies of all sorts is feasible. And it is simpler than ever since there are such a lot of gf graham crackers to purchase!
If you happen to choose to make use of home made gluten free graham crackers that style identical to Nabisco, I am going to present you my shortcuts for making that recipe actually fast and simple.
My take
Nicole’s Recipe Notes
Texture: Crispy and crunchy, however by no means exhausting or robust.
Style: Buttery and candy, with the richness of molasses and honey
Ease: Combine graham cracker crumbs with sugar and butter in a single bowl. Bake alone for a no-bake filling, or fill and bake!
Secrets and techniques to success: Ensure your crumbs really feel delicate in your fingers after processing, and do not pack the crust combination down an excessive amount of!
what’s in it
Recipe Substances
There are solely 3 elements on this crust. Here is a little bit bit about every:
Gluten free graham crackers – The style of the crust (and its construction) comes largely from the graham crackers. I like the flavour of Pamela’s model the very best, however nothing beats home made.
Sugar – The crackers are already candy, however including some granulated sugar to the crust helps it bind collectively within the oven. If you happen to do not plan to bake the crust, depart the sugar out.
Butter – Provides moisture, taste, and brings the crumbs collectively.
The best way to make a gluten free graham cracker crust
To make a graham cracker crust, begin with 8 ounces of gluten free graham crackers. Break them up a bit and course of in a meals processor or a blender simply sufficient to create uniform crumbs. They need to really feel delicate in your palms.
Whisk the crumbs along with some white sugar in a mixing bowl, then combine in melted and cooled butter.
The combination will flip into moist clumps that maintain collectively while you press on them with a spoon or squeeze in your palm. Switch the clumps to a ready springform or tart pan.
Use a big spoon to press into the underside and midway up the edges of a springform pan, or all the best way up the edges of a tart pan.
Bake at 350°F for about 12 minutes or till not shiny within the heart. Let cool utterly.
My Professional Tip
Professional suggestions
Select graham crackers you want greatest
The crust will largely style just like the graham crackers you select, so make sure you select a model you just like the style of, or make your personal home made crackers. I like Pamela’s and Schar manufacturers greatest, however they’re generally extraordinarily crumbly. Strive including 1 tablespoon of your favourite gluten free flour mix to the combination to assist it maintain collectively effectively if yours are actually crumbly.
Make home made crackers simpler
If you happen to’re utilizing my recipe to make home made gluten free graham crackers, add 3 extra tablespoons (27 grams) gluten free flour to the uncooked dough. Place the dough on a sheet of parchment paper the identical measurement as your baking pan, and roll them out right into a tough rectangle thinner than traditional, about 1/8-inch thick.
Both do not reduce out shapes, or simply slice tough rectangles within the dough however do not separate them. Place the parchment with the dough proper on the pan, and bake at 325°F till golden brown throughout (13 to fifteen minutes). Let cool, after which grind into crumbs.
Make crumbs by hand
If you do not have or do not need to use a meals processor or blender, place the graham crackers in a sealed ziptop bag and faucet again and again with one thing heavy, like the graceful aspect of a meat mallet, a rolling pin or perhaps a forged iron skillet. Do not hit the bag too exhausting or the plastic will tear.
Do not pack an excessive amount of
When urgent the crumb combination into the pan, make a gently sloped edge between the underside and sides and do not pack the combination down too exhausting or it is going to turn out to be robust throughout baking.
Bake on foil
While you bake the crust, melted butter might drip from between the underside and sides of a springform or tart pan. Place a sheet of aluminum foil on the oven rack under the pan throughout baking to catch any drips.
Ingredient substitutions
Here is all I learn about the best way to make this recipe pleasant for individuals who have extra dietary restrictions.
Dairy free
Ensure the graham crackers you’re utilizing are dairy free (like Schar and Kinnikinnick). Instead of common butter, block-style vegan butter like from Soften or Miyoko’s Creamery work greatest.
Sugar
There’s sugar within the graham crackers, however the added sugar within the crust recipe helps make the crust extra secure after baking. If you happen to’d choose to not bake your crust, you’ll be able to miss the sugar and simply chill the crust earlier than filling it with a no-bake filling.
Stop your display screen from going darkish
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In case your filling is baked, skip this step. In case your filling isn’t any bake, preheat your oven to 350°F. Place a sheet of aluminum foil at the least as massive as the underside of the pan on the middle oven rack.
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Use a few of the melted butter to frivolously grease an 8-inch or 9-inch springform pan or 11-inch spherical tart pan. Line the underside with a spherical of parchment paper and set it apart.
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Place the graham crackers within the bowl of a meals processor fitted with the metal blade or a comparatively highly effective blender. The much less energy your machine has, the extra it’s best to break the graham crackers by hand into smaller items.
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Course of till the cookies have turn out to be small, delicate crumbs. If there are any massive items left, break them together with your palms a pulse a number of instances to course of them absolutely.
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In a medium-size bowl, place the graham cracker crumbs and sugar, and whisk to mix.
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Create a effectively within the heart of the dry elements and pour within the melted butter. Combine to mix. The combination ought to flip into moist clumps.
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Switch the combination to the ready pie pan and, utilizing a big mixing spoon, press into an excellent layer throughout the underside and midway up the edges of a springform pan or all the best way up in a tart pan. Use solely mild stress on the crust so it is easy, however do not press to pack it in.
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In case your filling is baked, place your pan within the fridge or freezer to relax and comply with that recipe from this level.
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For a no-bake filling, place the pan within the heart of the preheated oven on high of the sheet of foil. Bake till barely puffed and matte-looking all the best way within the heart, about 12 minutes in case your filling is no-bake.
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If the crust has developed bubbles, you’ll be able to pop them fastidiously with a toothpick however they may quiet down because the crust cools.
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Permit the baked crust to chill utterly within the pan at room temperature. Run a uninteresting knife across the edge to ensure it is not sticking the edges of the pan anyplace.
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Comply with the directions in your no-bake filling pie recipe.
I often use my home made gluten free graham crackers, and it takes 1/2 of the recipe to make one crust. It’s also possible to use store-bought gf crackers. They’ve much less taste and are extra crumbly, however that is effective right here. I’ve used and might suggest Schar, Partake Meals, Kinnkinnick, and Pamela’s manufacturers. If the packaged crackers appear tremendous crumbly, attempt including 1 tablespoon (9 g) all goal gluten free flour to them.
About added sugar
The added sugar helps the crust maintain collectively after it is baked. If you happen to do not plan to bake the crust, you’ll be able to simply miss the sugar.
Meals processor or blender
If you do not have both one, simply place the graham crackers in a sealed ziptop bag and faucet again and again with a rolling pin.
Diet info
Estimated vitamin info are for 1 slice of the crust solely assuming a crust of any measurement is split into 8 equal parts.
Serving: 1slice crust solely | Energy: 274kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 1g | Fats: 18g | Saturated Fats: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fats: 3g | Trans Fats: 0.5g | Ldl cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 96mg | Potassium: 4mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 350IU | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
Diet info is routinely calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
make forward/leftovers
Storage directions
You may make the graham cracker crumbs as much as 3 weeks upfront, and retailer them in a glass container at room temperature. It’s also possible to freeze them for longer storage in a sealed container.
As soon as you’ve got baked the crust, you’ll be able to let it cool utterly, take away it from the pan, wrap it tightly in Glad Press ‘n’ Seal and freeze for as much as 3 months. If you happen to do not bake the crust, you’ll be able to warp it tightly and freeze it within the pan for as much as 3 months. Defrost at room temperature.
FAQs
You’ll be able to actually make a graham cracker crust in any kind of pan, however a 2-piece springform pan or tart pan makes it best to slice the pie with the crust intact. An 11-inch tart pan may have a thinner crust than an 8-inch or 9-inch springform pan. You might at all times lower the yield from 8 slices to six and make much less crust, or enhance the yield to make a thicker crust for a bigger pan.
Sure! It really works greatest in a mini cheesecake panel pan with detachable bottoms, however you may also use a regular 12-cup muffin tin. Simply be certain that the nonstick coating in your muffin tin is undamaged or the crust might get caught in there, or line every effectively with a “sling” of tinfoil or parchment paper. Bake at 325°F for five minutes for a no-bake filling, or bake with the baked filling within the recipe you are following.
You might double the recipe for a thick crust in a 9×13 pan, or change the yield to 12 slices for 1 1/2 instances for a considerably thinner crust.
Usually, when your filling is baked, there is no have to bake the crust alone first, except the pie recipe you are following directs you to parbake the crust. If it does, bake the crust at 350°F for five minutes on a chunk of aluminum foil within the heart of a preheated oven. Then, comply with the opposite recipe’s directions.
