No-Bake Pie Crust: Give Yourself A Pat on the Back

Pie season is nigh! With the promise of berries beginning to plump, start practicing your crust game and play around with icebox pies, where the filling is pre-cooked and then chilled in a no-bake, pat-in-the-pan crust. We’re talking the kind of pie doesn’t even think about going in the oven! Hint: Chocolate Mud Pie Mix anybody? If you can stir, you can master this pie!

But let’s start with the crust, shall we? We love love love this easy, no-bake one because it’s so simple. Start with graham crackers or your favourite cookie – if you can crush ‘em, you can use em – or just buy “baking crumbs” so you don’t have to drag your food processor out.

Try it with graham crackers, chocolate wafer cookies, gingersnaps, or even oatmeal cookies. Make it gluten-free -there are lots of great choices in the grocery stores or ask at your local bakery. Just remember to eagle-eye the ingredient info on whatever you choose.

And, what holds this crust together? A little bit of butter or use coconut oil for a dairy-free option. Simply mix together, then press in the pan. That’s it. Congrats! You just made a pie crust.

Kitchen Hack: Not quite enough graham crackers in your cupboard? Short a few cookies? Sub in panko breadcrumbs and add generous pinches of Cinnamon or Apple Pie Spice.

Easy No-Bake Crust

This pairs well with Chocolate Mud Pie Mix or use as a base for cheesecakes, lemon meringue pie, or any icebox pie or ice cream cake. If you’re using graham cracker crumbs, you may want to add sugar, if you like it sweeter. Omit sugar if you’re using cookies.

Total Time: 20 min Makes: one 9” pie crust for 8 servings Cost per serving: $0.29 CA|0.25 US

Recipe tip: For a 10” pie plate, increase crumbs by ¼ cup and add another 1 tbsp melted butter or oil.

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs or chocolate wafer baking crumbs

1 tbsp sugar (optional)

3-4 tbsp butter, preferably unsalted, or coconut oil, melted

Directions

1. If you aren’t using baking crumbs, break a few crackers or cookies into large pieces and place them in a food processor. Pulse until fine crumbs form. Measure out 1 ¾ cups and freeze the remainder (if any) for another day.

2. Place crumbs in a bowl. If you’re using graham cracker crumbs, stir in sugar, only if you like it sweeter. Omit sugar if you’re using cookies – they’re sweet enough.

3. Drizzle in 3 tbsp melted butter or oil. Using a fork, stir until well blended; mixture should be moist. Add remaining tbsp butter or oil, if needed.

4. Press into bottom and partially up the side of a 9” pie plate. Freeze to set crumb before adding the filling, about 10 min.

Per serving: Calories 130, Fat 7 g (Saturated 3 g, Trans 0 g), Cholesterol 10 mg, Sodium 100 mg, Carbohydrate 17 g (Fibre 1 g, Sugars 5 g), Protein 2 g.