7 delicious dessert recipes to make with graham crackers
Of all the popular snacks in America, graham crackers probably have one of the most unusual origins. Whole-wheat cookies began in the late 1800s in Connecticut, when a Presbyterian minister, the Rev. Sylvester Graham, began looking for ways to discourage sexual urges (which he believed made people sick).
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Graham believed there was a link between high-fat, meat-based diets and sexual drives. So he took it upon himself to develop a new alternative to processed white bread, which would, in turn, help people lead moral lives. His creation ? A very bland cracker, made with whole wheat flour.
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Unfortunately for Graham, and fortunately for American taste buds, graham crackers have taken on a life of their own since their invention. They’re one of the key ingredients in s’mores, a campfire classic made with layers of chocolate and marshmallows sandwiched between two graham crackers.
These weren’t quite what the minister had in mind for his white bread alternative, but Americans love them. In fact, research suggests that of the 90 million pounds of marshmallows purchased each year in the United States, about half are used in s’mores.
But graham crackers aren’t exclusive to s’mores. They can be used in many sweet treats, from cheesecake to pie crusts to protein shakes. Below we’ve listed some of our favorite vegan graham cracker recipes. But before we begin, here’s a little more about graham crackers themselves.
What are graham crackers?
Graham crackers are lightly sweetened, crunchy cookies, usually cookie-like, that are usually made with a mixture of enriched wheat flour and whole wheat flour, along with sugar, salt, canola oil (or palm oil) and baking soda.
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Are graham crackers vegan?
All of the main ingredients in graham crackers contain no animals, so it’s easy to find vegan versions of the snack on the shelves. However, many brands also choose to add extras to the recipe. If they’re made with chocolate or chocolate chips, it’s worth checking the ingredients list in case milk has been added, for example. Many graham crackers are also flavored with cinnamon, which is vegan, or honey, which most consider non-vegan. Some of the most popular graham cracker brands offering vegan options in the United States include Partake Foods, Nabisco, and Nairn’s.
Why is honey not vegan?
Although some vegans choose to continue consuming honey, and therefore continue to eat honey graham crackers, many believe the ingredient is not vegan. This is because it is made by animals: female bees. These bees make honey to feed their offspring and also store it as another food source for the winter months, when there are far fewer flowers. If you’d like to learn more about why bees produce honey, you can find more information here, as well as a guide to some of the best vegan alternatives on the market.
Vegan Graham Cracker Recipes
Once you’ve purchased your vegan graham crackers, the fun part begins. Of course, you can just eat them straight from the package. But you can also decide to follow one of these vegan recipes below and make a deliciously indulgent treat too.
1 Easy Vegan S’mores Protein Smoothie
Who says protein smoothies have to be basic and boring? Nobody, that’s who. Jazz up your shake by making it s’mores inspired. Yes, we’re talking about combining graham cracker crumbs, chocolate protein powder, milk, and almond butter for a delicious, creamy treat. To serve, garnish with deliciously gooey toasted marshmallows.
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Little Pine
2 Chocolate Pecan Cheesecake with Toasted Meringue
Cheesecake is always a decadent, crowd-pleasing dessert choice, especially when it features a toasted meringue topping and, of course, the all-important graham cracker crust. Make it even more indulgent by adding homemade fudge sauce.
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Hannah Kaminsky
3 Indoor S’mores Bars
Question: How many s’mores-inspired desserts can you make with graham crackers? Answer: The limit does not exist. With a deliciously gooey chocolatey filling, graham cracker crust, and toasted marshmallow topping, your loved ones will ask you to make these indoor s’mores bars again and again.
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Lauren Hartmaan and Julie Grace
4 Key Lime Pie Bars
The classic dessert of key lime pie isn’t complete without a deliciously thick and buttery graham cracker crust. The same goes for this tasty bite-sized version, which sees the Southern treat baked into pie bars.
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Sam Turnbull
5 Chocolate Peanut Butter Graham Bars
If you love peanut butter cups, but can’t be bothered to make them, these Chocolate Peanut Butter Graham Bars give you the same taste, but without any of the hassle. Plus, they come together very quickly.
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6 Magic Cookie Bars
Layer graham crackers, nuts, chocolate chips, and shredded coconut to create these delicious and easy vegan magic cookie bars. They are very easy to make, and if you want to make them quickly, save time by purchasing concentrated vegan milk in advance, instead of making your own.
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Doron Petersan
7 Gooey S’mores Brownies
If you love s’mores and brownies, what better way to treat yourself than to combine the two? It’s the perfect year-round snack, but if you’re going camping in the summer, make a batch in advance and enjoy it by the fire, s’mores style.
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To learn more about vegan snacks, read:

Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on the south coast of England.
At VegNews, we live and breathe the vegan lifestyle and only recommend products that we believe make our lives amazing. Sometimes articles may include sponsored links through which we may earn a small commission. This in no way affects the editorial integrity of VegNews.
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