Health & Fitness
Graham Cracker Recipes
Graham cracker rims add texture and sweetness to drinks such as eggnog, white Russians and pumpkin pie martinis. Other sweet accents like fig jam or slices of green apples also work nicely as add-ons.
Graham crackers differ from traditional cookies by being thinly rolled using metal gauge rolls, then cut into rectangular pieces before being baked.
1. Make Crusts
Graham cracker crusts make ideal bases for cheesecake and pie. You have two options for creating them: baking creates toastier flavour while also helping it stay together to support creamy fillings.
Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter and press into an ungreased pie plate or springform pan. Bake for about 10 minutes, or chill to set before using. Alternatively, an unbaked crust may work just as well, although baking helps the sugar bond the crumbs together more securely.
2. Add To Your Desserts
Though yogurts may not provide much in terms of nutrition alone, Shaw suggests they can act as an efficient vehicle to deliver other nourishing foods to kids. She suggests mixing unsweetened Greek yogurt with natural food dyes for an exciting treat while providing them with age-appropriate nourishment.
Graham flour, made from coarsely ground whole wheat flour, is responsible for creating the signature nubby texture and flavor found in today’s graham crackers. However, regular whole wheat flour works just as well and may be easier to find; select the option which best meets your dietary needs and preferences.
3. Rim Your Cocktails
Add some graham cracker flavor to your drinks with an interesting rim – try table salt for maximum simplicity, or opt for something with more personality like chili powder or pink peppercorns for something different.
Graham flour was initially created by Sylvester Graham to give these sweet crackers their distinctive nubby texture, although this may no longer be available easily. Regular whole wheat flour works just as effectively and shares the same taste; you could even experiment with cake flour for an airier cookie-like texture and brighter hue!
4. Make Crusts for Cakes
For making graham crackers, the following ingredients will be required:
Cold and cubed butter add a flaky texture to these snacks, while baking soda helps them rise. Ground cinnamon adds their signature flavor, and Kosher salt balances sweetness with depth and provides balance and complexity.
Graham flour has a more coarsely milled texture than regular whole wheat flour, which gives these crackers their distinct nutty taste. If desired, white whole wheat or all-purpose flours may also be substituted as alternatives.
For optimal results, spread dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and cut using square or circular cookie cutters into squares or fun shapes.
5. Make Crusts for Breads
Graham flour was once an easy way for kids to enjoy delicious whole-wheat cookies and cereal, with its distinctive texture and nubby taste. Although no longer widely available, regular whole wheat flour still works just as effectively.
To create graham crackers, the dough should be rolled thin and cut into squares or shapes using cookie cutters. Evenly rolling the dough ensures even and crisp baking results; if the dough becomes sticky reduce the amount of water used as each flour absorbs moisture differently.
6. Make Crusts for Pizza
Graham crackers make great pizza crusts! Crafted with whole wheat flour but more coarsely ground for an authentic rustic texture.
Sylvester Graham was an evangelical Presbyterian who preached against alcohol, meat, and other pleasures that caused “societal lust and sin”. To combat these pleasures, he advocated a bland diet which avoided stimulating the flesh as this activity caused social unrest and sinful behaviors.
Today’s graham crackers are much sweeter and less bland than Graham’s original recipe, yet their distinctive nubby whole grain flavor still recalls their religious origins.
7. Make Crusts for Breadsticks
Graham crackers might appear like something created out of sheer creativity by an enthusiastic home chef, but these deceptively simple treats were actually carefully planned out by their inventor to meet biblical diet guidelines, according to Atlas Obscura. Their original recipe called for nearly exclusively hand-ground whole wheat flour for optimal wholesomeness.
Baking soda helps these crackers rise slightly for a light and crisp texture. Ground cinnamon balances sweetness while adding an aromatic flair, unsalted butter provides richness and flakiness, sugar sweetens up their sweetness while honey adds more subtle notes of flavor.
8. Make Crusts for Potato Chips
Graham crackers make for a delicious sweet treat, whether slathered with peanut butter or used in making s’mores. Crafted with whole wheat flour (known as “graham flour”, named after their inventor Sylvester Graham) and featuring an irresistibly rustic, hearty flavor profile thanks to their coarsely ground granola texture, they offer a healthy snack option!
Graham wasn’t always popular; he often spoke out against meat, traditional baked goods, and alcohol, believing they fueled sexual desires leading to moral depravity and masturbation. Modern-day graham crackers differ significantly from his initial formulation in that quality control chemists carefully inspect every batch before it hits stores.
9. Make Crusts for Crackers
Graham crackers were originally created with an aim of being bland and unexciting, taking their name from their flour of origin: Graham flour has more coarsely ground texture than regular whole wheat flour and provides for an easier baking experience.
Sylvester Graham was a pastor who advocated the temperance movement. He believed that diet free from overly processed food would help people curb their carnal urges; he even advocated for living a vegetarian and vegetable-based lifestyle according to Atlas Obscura.
10. Make Crusts for Muffins
Rolled thin and evenly, these graham crackers bake into crisp crackers when baked. If your dough is sticky, try decreasing the amount of water used – different whole wheat flours absorb water differently.
Sylvester Graham advocated for natural foods, traditional family structures, vegetarianism, abstinence from alcohol consumption and Christian/Victorian values. Unfortunately, modern-day graham crackers resemble more closely the unhealthy snacks Graham promoted than the nutritious whole foods that they once were.
Graham flour gives these crackers their distinct taste and texture, but regular whole wheat works just as well – plus, it’s easier to find.
