Homemade Graham Crackers

By
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
An internationally recognized culinary authority, Kristina Vanni is well-known for her recipe development, food photography, and experience as a TV show host.
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Updated on 06/4/21
Homemade Graham Crackers

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Chill: 60 mins
Total: 110 mins
Servings: 17 servings
Yield: 32 graham crackeres

If you've ever wanted to make graham crackers from scratch, it's easier than you think. Eat these homemade graham crackers with a cold glass of milk for the complete nostalgic childhood experience.

The main ingredient in graham crackers is graham flour. While graham flour is a type of whole wheat flour, it's a bit different from what's packaged and labeled as whole wheat flour. Graham flour contains all three parts of the wheat berry: the germ, the endosperm, and the bran. The germ and bran aren't ground as finely as the endosperm, so you'll see those larger fragments in the flour. If you have difficulty finding graham flour in your local store, whole wheat flour is a suitable alternative.

What gives graham crackers their flavor? Most people think it is the nutty graham flour. However, it is primarily the combination of honey, cinnamon, and vanilla extract that gives graham crackers their signature flavor.

Enjoy as a snack or use in your favorite recipes. You'll swear off store-bought graham crackers after one taste of the homemade version.

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole wheat flour or graham flour

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1 large egg

  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil

  • 1/4 cup honey

  • 2 tablespoons milk (plus more as needed)

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Homemade Graham Cracker ingredients

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.

    Dry ingredients in a bowl for graham crackers

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  3. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the egg, oil, honey, 2 tablespoons of milk, and vanilla extract.

    Wet ingredients for graham crackers in a bowl with a whisk

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  4. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.

    Wet and dry ingredients in bowls side by side.

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  5. The dough will be fairly stiff, but additional milk can be added if necessary to form a soft but not sticky dough.

    Homemade Graham Cracker dough being mixed with a spoon

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  6. Knead the dough until smooth.

    Homemade Graham Cracker dough on a marble surface

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  7. Divide the dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill until firm, at least one hour.

    Homemade Graham Cracker dough wrapped in plastic wrap

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  8. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 300 F. Working with one piece at a time, roll the dough to 1/16 inch thickness onto a piece of parchment paper.

    Graham Cracker dough rolled out on a piece of parchment with a rolling pin

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  9. Transfer on the parchment paper to a baking sheet. Repeat with the second piece of dough. Bake the sheets of dough for 10 minutes.

    Graham Cracker dough rolled out on parchment placed on a cookie sheet

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  10. Remove the pans from the oven and, using a pizza wheel or sharp knife, immediately score the sheets of dough into 3x2-inch rectangles.

    Homemade Graham Cracker cut into squares on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  11. Prick with a fork and return to the oven and continue to bake for 18 to 20 minutes longer.

    Homemade Graham Cracker dough cut and pricked with a fork

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  12. Remove the sheets from the oven and cut the rectangles all the way through. Allow to cool to room temperature directly on the baking sheets. This will help them become as crisp as possible. The trimmings can be ground into graham cracker crumbs.

    Homemade Graham Crackers cooling on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  13. Enjoy as you would your favorite store-bought graham crackers.

    Homemade Graham Crackers on a cooling rack

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

How to Store

Store the crackers, well-wrapped, at room temperature for up to a week or freeze in an airtight container for up to two months.

How to Use Homemade Graham Crackers

You can use homemade graham crackers as you would store-bought cookies:

  • Serve as a crunchy treat with milk or a hot tea.
  • Use to make a graham cracker crust for pies and cheesecakes.
  • Use to make a variety of s'mores treats, like baked s'mores, s'mores bars, and s'mores cake.
  • Serve for dipping in a fun dessert dip.

Are Honey Maid Wafers the Same As Graham Crackers?

Although they taste the same as traditional graham crackers and can be used in all the same recipes, the ingredient list for Honey Maid Wafers doesn't contain any graham flour.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
110 Calories
4g Fat
18g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 17
Amount per serving
Calories 110
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 1g 3%
Cholesterol 11mg 4%
Sodium 96mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 18g 6%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 26mg 2%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 62mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)