Do you crave something sweet and crunchy but out of graham crackers in your pantry? Pick the top graham cracker substitute from our list. There are plenty of options to satisfy your craving.
This article will explore alternatives to traditional graham crackers that can be used as a healthy snack or as a base for your next dessert creation. With options ranging from store-bought crackers to homemade recipe ideas, there’s something here for everyone!
A Graham cracker is a type of sweetened cracker made of graham flour, which is a combination of whole-wheat flour and unbleached wheat flour.
Graham crackers are brown and somewhat gritty. It uses cinnamon, honey, and brown sugar as sweeteners.
It was invented by Rev. Sylvester Graham in the 1830s as part of his health food movement.
The graham cracker has become a popular snack and is often eaten alone or with a topping such as cheese, jam, peanut butter, honey, or chocolate. It can also be used to make desserts such as pie crusts and cheesecakes.
Graham crackers are commonly found in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and some other countries around the world.
Regardless of the reason, there are plenty of delicious substitutes that can give you the same crunch and flavor as a graham cracker.
Best substitutes for Graham crackers:
Vanilla Wafers can be used as an excellent substitute for graham crackers in a variety of recipes.
It has a similarly sweet, buttery flavor and texture without the added extra sugar that is found in graham crackers.
To use them, begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly greasing a baking sheet with cooking spray.
Place two sleeves of vanilla wafers on the baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
Allow to cool completely before using as a graham cracker substitute.
If you want something a bit sweeter than graham crackers, Honey Maid might be the perfect fit for your s’more cravings.
These cookies have a similar texture and sweetness to graham crackers, making them an excellent substitution.
However, keep in mind that the flavor will be slightly different due to the addition of honey and other ingredients found in Honey Maid cookies.
If you need a graham cracker crust for a pie or other dessert, use Honey Maid cookies instead of graham crackers and you won’t be disappointed.
Animal crackers make for a great substitute for graham crackers. These crackers have a harder texture than graham crackers which makes them perfect for crusts and toppings on pies and other desserts.
Animal crackers also have a slightly sweeter taste which can add a nice twist to your favorite recipes.
They’re also so popular that almost all grocery stores have them on their shelves. With that, you don’t need to worry about accessibility.
As a Graham cracker substitute, crush them until you get your desired texture. Depending on the variety you use, you might end up with a crust with a lighter hue.
You can use gingersnaps as a substitute for graham crackers in many recipes. They won’t be quite the same, but they will add a unique twist to your dish.
Simply crush them into small pieces and use them instead of graham cracker crumbs in crusts or toppings.
You can also use gingersnaps as the base for icebox or no-bake pies, cheesecakes, and tarts.
If you’re not a fan of the strong ginger flavor in some gingersnaps, look for milder varieties that still have a hint of spice. You could also combine them with graham cracker crumbs to get the perfect balance of flavor.
Shortbread crackers are another great option for making s’mores. They have a buttery texture and sweet flavor that is similar to graham crackers.
These cookies are widely available and equally easy to make at home. If you have the time, bake them in advance before using them in recipes.
Use them in cheesecake and pie crusts as you would Graham crackers. Crush them until they’re fine in texture. Combine with melted butter and press into the bottom of your prepared pan.
If you want something with a bit more of a chocolate kick, chocolate graham crackers are the way to go.
These delicious cookies have all the flavor of graham crackers with a rich chocolate coating.
You can use biscuit crackers as a substitute for graham crackers.
Biscuit crackers are a bit flat cookies than traditional graham crackers and may not give the same crunch, but they will still work well in recipes that call for graham cracker crumbs or crusts.
For added flavor, top your biscuit crackers with melted butter and cinnamon sugar before using them in recipes as a graham cracker substitute.
You may also want to experiment with different flavors of biscuit crackers, such as chocolate or mint, for a unique twist on the traditional graham cracker taste.
Among the best Graham crackers substitutes are sugar cones. First of all, they are inexpensive. Then, you can buy them almost anywhere.
Lastly, they’re specially made for dessert. So, their own slightly sweet flavor will not clash with the dessert you’re making.
Crush your ice cream cones as you would Graham crackers. Use as a crust in tarts, pies, and cheesecakes.
Light and airy, rice cakes are a great option for making s’mores. They make the healthier alternative to Graham crackers. They have a crunchy texture and mild flavor that pairs well with the sweet chocolate and marshmallow flavors in s’mores. They are also naturally gluten-free.
Made with shredded coconuts, sugar, and egg whites, macaroons make a good dessert idea.
Indeed, they’ll not give you the same crunch. Yet, they will lend a sweet coconut flavor that can give your desserts a touch of tropical taste.
Saltine crackers are also great Graham crackers substitute. These crackers work well if you love the salty and sweet combo.
Saltine crackers are savory instead of sweet. But the slightly salty flavor of these crackers complements the sweetness of most desserts. They do have a lighter color compared to Grahams, so you can expect your dish to look different.
But they have a similar texture, and crushed saltine will do the same job as crushed Graham crackers.
The best thing about saltine crackers? They are way more affordable than Graham crackers.
Another more affordable swap for Graham crackers is Marie biscuits! These vanilla-flavored biscuits are convenient substitutes because they are widely available. You might even have them in your pantry already.
They do have a lighter color, so your substitution will be noticeable. When it comes to texture, though, Marie biscuits are the same as Grahams.
They can hold the filling without crumbling. At the same time, they are easy to crush should you need them as a pie or cheesecake crust.
Who doesn’t love pretzels? They’re versatile pastries that can be plain, sweet, or savory. That said, they are a great substitute for Graham crackers.
Made with flour, yeast, salt, and water, pretzels are also easy to bake. There are plenty of brands that offer crispy pretzels, too.
There will be a change in flavor, as even plain pretzels won’t taste the same as graham crackers. To make things more interesting, you can use the salted ones to add a savory twist to your dessert.
You cannot use them to make S’mores, but they will do a fantastic job in crusts. Crushed pretzels are also great ice cream toppings if sweet-and-salty is your jam.
Digestive biscuits and graham crackers are ingredients you can mostly use interchangeably.
They’ll work in S’mores, pies, tarts, and cheesecakes. One of the best things about digestive cookies is that plenty of flavors are available.
Using flavored cookies can make your desserts richer in flavor. For instance, try using strawberry digestives if you’re making strawberry cheesecake. You’ll have a more decadent crust than regular Graham cracker crusts.
They’re also common food items, so you can easily find them in stores near you. Digestive cookies are excellent sources of fiber; they’re also healthy alternatives.
If you want something sweeter than Graham crackers, look no further than Oreo cookies! These sweet treats are not classic favorites for no reason. They’re affordable and taste incredibly good.
Take an Oreo apart and put some chocolate and a piece of marshmallow, and you’ll have instant an instant Oreo s’more. Or, toss them in a food processor. Don’t remove the cream filling!
The filling is the secret ingredient for a tastier crust. Blend until you get the desired texture. Use melted butter as a binder, and you’ll have a great chocolate vanilla crust for your desserts.
The difference between Graham crackers and regular ones is that Grahams use Graham flour. This flour is unbleached, unrefined, and unsifted. Regular crackers use all-purpose flour, the exact opposite of Graham flour.
Yes, you can use saltines instead of Graham crackers. They share a similar texture, so they’ll work in most recipes. However, saltines are savory instead of sweet, so you should expect a change in flavor. They also have a lighter hue, so there will be a visible change. The good thing, though, is that saltines are cheaper than Grahams.
Yes, you can use bread crumbs to replace Graham crackers in recipes where you need to crush Grahams. Bread crumbs are already crushed, so using them does not require additional processing. But they don’t taste the same. You might have to add brown sugar to get a closer flavor match.
If you don’t have Graham crackers, you don’t always have to run to the store and buy them. If you have plenty of time, you can make homemade Graham crackers.
You can check your pantry for Oreos, animal crackers, or even saltines. These are great alternatives to Graham crackers. Other excellent Graham cracker substitute options include crushed oats and crisp cookies.
