Easy Gluten Free Graham Cracker Pie Crust

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I love making pies. But since I’m gluten free, I’ve had to learn how to adjust my recipes so I can enjoy them. One of the most difficult recipes to tackle was gluten free graham cracker pie crust. Finding the right alternative for graham crackers was a big challenge, but you’ll love this delicious crust! It’s a super simple gluten free dessert that’s perfect for any get-together.

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The key to making this gluten free graham cracker crust is finding a good alternative for graham crackers. Since it’s difficult to find GF graham crackers at the store, you’ll need a different ingredient to create a no-bake crust for cheesecakes and pies.

After trying a few different things, like the pecan crust on my gluten free pumpkin cheesecake, I found a great option that’s perfect for pies that don’t require baking! You can make this pie crust, pop it in the fridge, and fill it when you’re ready to make your pie.

Gluten Free Graham Cracker Crust Alternative

Is graham cracker pie crust gluten free?

Traditional graham cracker pie crust is not gluten free. That’s because the graham crackers used to make the crust are typically made with wheat flour. Luckily, there are a few alternatives you could use to create a gluten free graham cracker pie crust.

While you could use gluten free graham crackers to make your pie crust, I’ve found that the flavor and texture of these cookies just isn’t right. They’re typically dry and crumbly, making it difficult to turn the cookies into a good pie crust.

What is a gluten free substitute for graham crackers?

Instead of graham crackers, you’ll need to find a substitute to make this pie crust safe for someone who can’t eat gluten. I tried to find a good gluten free graham cracker crust alternative using different ingredients. My favorite option is gluten free vanilla wafers from Kinnikinnick. The flavor of these cookies is great and when they’re crushed, they resemble graham cracker crumbs.

When using vanilla wafers for your no-bake crust, you make it just like you would a traditional graham cracker pie crust. To make this gluten free graham cracker pie crust recipe you’ll need:

• Gluten free vanilla wafers. The key to making this pie crust is GF vanilla wafers. You can order these cookies on Amazon. But I was able to find them in the gluten free section of my Wal-Mart.
• Butter. Using butter to create your pie crust will help hold it together. And it’s perfect for making a chilled pie because once you place the butter in the fridge, it will harden, which means there’s no need to bake your crust before you use it.
• Sugar. Adding a little more sugar to your pie crust will increase the sweetness, so this ingredient is optional if you think your cookies are sweet enough already.

How to Make a Gluten Free Graham Cracker Pie Crust

Once you have all your ingredients gathered, you can start mixing. First, you’ll need to prepare your cookies!

I love using the food processor bowl on my Ninja blender to make a pie crust because it makes it super easy! Just place your vanilla wafers in the bowl of the food processor and pulse until they resemble graham cracker crumbs.

If you don’t have a food processor, try placing the cookies in a large zip-top bag. Then, use a rolling pin to smash the cookies until they’re fine crumbs.

After you’re satisfied with the texture of your cookies, add the melted butter and sugar to the bowl of the food processor. This time, pulse until the ingredients start to come together. Once you have a sticky mixture, you can stop processing and transfer the ingredients to your pie pan.

If you’re not using a food procssor, just pour the crumbs into a large bowl. Add the butter and sugar and stir with a wooden spoon to mix the ingredients together. Keep stirring until all the ingredients are combined and they start to stick together.

After transfering your crust mixture to your pie pan, use your hands to press the crust into place. I suggest starting from the center of your pan and working your way out. If you find the crust is sticking to your hands as you’re pressing, spray some nonstick cooking spray on your hands to prevent the ingredients from sticking.

Once you have your crust firmly packed into the pan, place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least one hour before filling it. This method is perfect for no bake pies, like pudding pies or no-bake cheesecakes.

If you’ll be making a pie that needs to be baked, like a traditional cheesecake, you can prebake your crust by placing it a 375-degree oven and baking for 10 minutes.

More Easy Dessert Recipes:

Gluten Free Carrot Cake

Peanut Butter Banana Oat Pancakes

Gluten Free Blueberry Scones

Gluten Free Banana Pudding

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