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Home » Recipes » No Bake

Easiest No Bake Crumb Crust Recipe

Published: Jul 3, 2020 Last Updated: Aug 7, 2022 by Marye 1023 words. | About 6 minutes to read this article.

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35 minutes mins
An easy crumb crust that's. no bake! Just chill and fill! Use your favorite cookies, breadcrumbs, or crackers to create unique combinations. Add cinnamon, ginger, or other spices to make it even more special!
Crumb crust with text overlay for Pinterest

This is the BEST Graham cracker crust recipe for any baked or no bake pie, cheesecake, or bar!!! Plenty of variations including bread crumbs, cake crumbs, cookie crumbs, and more! You'll never buy a store-bought crust again!

Even easier?? Try my easy, 2 ingredient Oreo Cookie Crust!

no bake crumb crust is an easy way to have pie without heating up the kitchen ! This versatile recipe has many suggested variations - restlesschipotle.com
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 📖 Variations
  • 💭  Tips
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 📞 The last word
  • Easy, No Bake Crumb Crust Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

  • You can make an infinite variety of unique, no bake pie crusts to fit any flavor pie.
  • No need to heat up the kitchen during the summer.
  • Make graham cracker crust for cheesecake, chocolate crumb crusts for chocolate pie, pretzel crust for peanut butter pie, and so on!

This is really a super easy, no fail recipe that can be adapted to any flavor or preference. It's quicker and easier than a pastry pie crust, too.

🥘 Ingredients

The ingredients for this crumb crust couldn't be easier! Remember you can use whatever type of crumbs you like - even bread crumbs or cake crumbs!

Make sure you have a total of 1 ½ cups.

Labeled ingredients for the crumb pie crust.
  • Crumbs (graham cracker, pretzel, bread, cake, cookie, etc)
  • Butter
  • Sugar

🔪 Instructions

Step by step images for making a crumb crust.
  1. Melt the butter. Blend graham crackers or cookies in a blender or food processor to make fine crumbs.
  2. Put graham cracker crumbs in a large bowl.
  3. Add sugar and stir.
  4. Add the melted butter.
  5. Stir well to combine.
  6. Stir until all the crumbs are moistened and they hold together when squeezed firmly in your hand.
  7. Gently press the mixture over the bottom of a 9-inch pie dish.
  8. Press up the sides and even out the top with your finger.
  9. Chill for one hour minimum or bake at 325F for 10 minutes.

📖 Variations

Here are some of the crusts I've made with this recipe just to give you some inspiration...

  • Ritz
  • Goldfish (so good with an apple cheesecake pie!)
  • Lemon cookies and gingersnaps combined
  • Gingersnaps
  • Pecan Sandies
  • Ice cream cones
  • Oreos
  • Nutter Butters
  • Graham crackers
  • Lorna Doones
  • Pretzels (especially good with lime pie)
  • Oreos and Pecan Sandies combined
  • Oreos and Nutter Butters combined
  • Dry bread crumbs
  • Dry cake crumbs ( I love this method for ice cream pies)
  • You can even use finely ground nuts as part of the crumbs!

Don't be afraid to add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, cloves, ginger, or another favorite spice. Vanilla extract and other flavorings can be added with the butter, too.

You get the idea. You'll think of so many more!

Slice of pie that is made with this crumb crust recipe.
My popular millionaire pie uses this crumb crust recipe.

💭  Tips

Expert Tip: Use a flat bottom cup or back of a measuring cup to press the crumbs into the pie plate. It packs them down better than your fingers.

  • If you use bread or cake crumbs make sure they are dry and crispy. You can toast them in a 375F oven to dry them out - watch carefully!
  • If you don't have a blender or food processor make the crumbs by putting the crackers in a plastic bag and using a rolling pin.
  • Spray the pie pan with nonstick spray to help the crust slip out easily when serving.
  • If your crust doesn't hold together dump it back in the bowl and add a tablespoon or two more melted butter.
  • Freeze the prepared crust right in the pan, tightly covered, for up to 3 months. No need to thaw before using.

👩🏻‍🍳 FAQs

Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.

Can I leave out the sugar?

The sugar helps to hold the crust together so you need to add it to keep your crust from being too crumbly.

Why does my crust crumble?

You need to add a bit more melted butter.

How do I make this recipe for a 13x9-inch pan?

Use 1-½ times the recipe and it should be perfect for that size pan.

My crumb crust is rock hard! I almost can't cut it - why?

You've probably pressed the crumbs in too hard. Firm, medium pressure should be just right.

finished crumb crust in a pie plate.

📚 Related recipes

You'll want to try my favorite Oreo crust, too.

  • Closeup of a slice of lemon pie with a bite taken out of it for social media shares.
    No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie: Grandma's Favorite
  • Top of the pie showing texture of the filling.
    Shoney's Strawberry Pie (with Jello)
  • Closeup of blackberry cobbler with a spoon in it.
    Old Fashioned Southern Blackberry Cobbler Recipe
  • Closeup of a serving of cobbler and ice cream.
    Blueberry Peach Cobbler

📞 The last word

This no bake crumb crust is absolutely perfect for pies, cheesecakes, and bars. You can make it out of any type of cookie or cracker plus you can combine different kinds of crumbs to get unique and personalized flavors.

For example, I made a lemon icebox pie with this recipe and I used pretzels and Nilla wafers for the crumb mixture. It was sweet and salty goodness!

This is a blank canvas crust recipe, y'all. Don't be afraid to make it your way!

This easy crumb crust recipe is completely unbaked. Freeze it for 30 minutes or so before filling it and be sure to chill your pie thoroughly after filling.

Finished crumb crust.
4.69 from 22 votes

Easy, No Bake Crumb Crust Recipe

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An easy crumb crust that's. no bake! Just chill and fill! Use your favorite cookies, breadcrumbs, or crackers to create unique combinations. Add cinnamon, ginger, or other spices to make it even more special!
Course Desserts
Cuisine Amercian Heritage
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Chill: 1 hour hour
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Servings:8
Calories:159
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • Pie Pan
  • Blender

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs, or other crumbs. 33 crackers or so
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ⅓ cup butter, you may need a bit more

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Melt the butter.
  • Put graham cracker crumbs and sugar in a bowl.
  • Add the melted butter and stir well to combine.
  • Firmly press the mixture over the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate.
  • Chill for one hour minimum or bake at 325F for 10 minutes.

Notes

*Nutriton info was calculated using graham crackers. It will vary depending on what kind of crumbs you are using.
Expert Tip: Use a flat bottom cup to press the crumbs into the pie plate. It packs them down better than your fingers.
  • If you use bread or cake crumbs make sure they are dry and crispy. You can toast them in a 375F oven to dry them out - watch carefully!
  • The actual amount of cookies/crackers needed will be different for each variety of cookie or cracker.
  • Spray the pie pan with nonstick spray to help the crust slip out easily when serving.
  • If your crust doesn't hold together dump it back in the bowl and add a tablespoon or two more melted butter.
  • Freeze the prepared crust right in the pan, tightly covered, for up to 3 months. No need to thaw before using.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 171mg | Potassium: 28mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 236IU | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

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    First published May 29, 2015. Last updated June 22, 2021 to add more tips.

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    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jennie

      March 15, 2021 at 10:00 pm

      Lorna doone cookies might be good just set inside your pan without crumbling they will be pre cut for you.

      Reply
    2. Stephanie

      November 18, 2018 at 7:20 pm

      I would like to make mini pumpkin pie. Similar size to two bite brownies. I read that the pie crust may crumble a bit when cutting. Since I wont be cutting these but essentially popping them out of the small tray do you think the crust will crumble or hold firm since its in a smaller base with no cutting? Any suggestions?

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        November 19, 2018 at 1:57 pm

        I'd use regular pastry.

        Reply

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