Pies & Tarts

How to Make A Cookie Pie Crust

4.67 from 36 votes
The easiest pie crust is the one that's two ingredients and you don't have to bake... which happens to be my Cookie Pie Crust recipe!

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Hi Bold Bakers!

When it comes to my personal preference for crusts, I choose cookie over pastry any day!! And with all of the cheesecakes and pie recipes I’ve made here on Bigger Bolder Baking, would you believe I have never shown you how to make a plain old cookie pie crust?

I knew I had to get this recipe to you before the Holiday season really kicks in and we are up to our eyes in pies.

What Is A Cookie Pie Crust?

It’s an alternative base to a pie, tart, or cheesecake that isn’t pastry.

A cookie pie crust is fast to make and you don’t need to bake it. I use it often in my no-bake recipes like No-Bake Lemon Meringue Cheesecake, Peanut Butter and Fudge Ice Cream Pie, and, of course, my Pumpkin Cheesecake with Pecan Praline Sauce.

The Cookies Best For A Pie Crusts

This is subjective! In the U.S. we love Graham crackers and Oreos! In Ireland we use digestives and in other European countries, they commonly use Biscoff cookies. All will work and are equally delicious.

P.S. Around the Holidays I use gingersnaps in my cookie crusts for that extra bit of spice and warmth.

What You Need To Make Cookie Pie Crust

You don’t need a pen to write this down, it’s a very short list:

  • Plastic bag or a food processor
  • Rolling pin
  • Cling wrap
  • 9 inch Pie Pan
  • Mixing bowl

Shaping my Cookie Pie Crust recipe.

Baked vs. No-Bake Cookie Crust

Often bakers bake their cookie crust to really set the base. I don’t bake my crust because it doesn’t need it. I add in the right amount of butter which sets the crust. Keeping the whole process fast and easy.

How To Make Cookie Pie Crust

  1. Crush your cookies to a very fine crumb. Do this in a food processor OR put the cookies in a ziplock bag and roll over them with a rolling pin.
  2. Melt the butter in a bowl. Add cookie crumbs into the bowl and stir until the mix resembles wet sand. Set aside.
  3. Grease and line a 9-inch pie pan with cling wrap. I do 3 layers so it is very strong.
  4. Mold the cookie crumbs into your prepared pan with your hands. Try and get an even thickness all the way around and up the sides.
  5. Place the crust in the fridge to set for a minimum of 15 minutes before using in any of my pie or tart recipes. The cookie crust will keep in your fridge for up to 2 day unfilled.

How To Remove A Cookie Crust Without Breaking It

Line that puppy with cling wrap! Lightly butter your pie pan or dish and lay 3 pieces of cling wrap overlapping in the pan. Push down to take the shape of the pan. The layers of cling wrap will allow you to release your crust from the pan with ease and no breaking.

My Cookie Pie Crust with Graham crackers and a block of butter.

Tips for Making A Cookie Pie Crust

  • Don’t add sugar to the crust! It simply doesn’t need it. The cookies are sweet enough.
  • Make sure the cookie you use compliments the pie filling — gingersnap cookies pair beautifully with Key Lime Pie.
  • I used salted butter in my cookie crust for that little bit of extra flavor. Check out my Salted vs Unsalted Butter guide.
  • If you have access to a food processor use that to crush your cookies.
  • Want to use homemade cookies for your cookie crust? Check out my Homemade Graham Crackers, Homemade Oreos, and Homemade Digestive Biscuits 

How Long Does A Cookie Pie Crust Last?

Your cookie pie crust will keep happily in the fridge for up to 2 days unfilled.

Make More Pie Recipes!

And don’t forget to buy my Bigger Bolder Baking Cookbook!

Full (and printable) recipe below!

Watch The Recipe Video!

How to Make A Cookie Pie Crust Recipe

4.67 from 36 votes
The easiest pie crust is the one that's two ingredients and you don't have to bake... which happens to be my Cookie Pie Crust recipe!
Author: Gemma Stafford
Servings: 1 crust
Prep Time 10 minutes
Chill 15 minutes
The easiest pie crust is the one that's two ingredients and you don't have to bake... which happens to be my Cookie Pie Crust recipe!
Author: Gemma Stafford
Servings: 1 crust

Ingredients

  • 2 sleeves (9oz/252g ) Graham crackers (or any cookie)
  • 1/2 cup (4oz/115g) butter melted

Instructions

  • Butter and line a 9-inch pie pan with 3 layers of cling wrap. Set aside.
  • Crush the cookies to a fine consistency. You can do this in a food processor OR you can put the cookies in a bag and bash them with a rolling pin until fine.
  • Add the cookie crumbs into a bowl and stir in the melted butter. Stir until it resembles wet sand.
  • Press the cookie crust into your prepared pan with your hands. try and get an even thickness on the base and up the sides.
  • Place the crust in the fridge to set for 15 minutes before using it in any of my pie or tart recipes. The cookie crust will keep in your fridge for up to 2 days unfilled.
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carolyn
carolyn
3 years ago

Why do I need to put the cling wrap in the pan? Can’t I just make the crust in the pan I am going to use and put my filling right in the same pan? Thank you in advance. Love your site!

Christina
Christina
2 years ago

I would love to see a technique that doesn’t require using and throwing away so much plastic. I’m very conscious of plastic use these days, and this technique uses a lot of it.

Susan
Susan
3 years ago

I like a very very thin cookie crust. I first melt some butter directly in my pie pan and swirl it around. Next I toss in some cookie crumbs dumping out any excess that hasn’t stuck to the butter. More room for filling!

Steve Cavanaugh
Steve Cavanaugh
3 years ago

Gemma, can I line the pan with heavy aluminum foil, or just use a (buttered) disposable aluminum pie pan?

avacuppa
2 years ago

I really want to try this recipe, but am afraid to make the crust, because when I have made graham wafer crust a couple of times before for different recipes, the crust gets rock hard in the fridge and I can barely get a knife through it. I don’t know why that happens.

Niya
Niya
1 year ago

I’m using stauffer’s apple pie crisps for my cookie crust with this recipe for a gingersnap crumb pear pie. I hope it comes out well!

Miriam
Miriam
3 years ago

When do I remove the plastic wrap?

lisa
lisa
2 years ago

easy recipe but single use plastic is just wrong.

Marcela CS
2 years ago

I baked this for the Lemon cheesecake challenge and it was new to me, I liked it very much. It is very easy to make.

Lexxus Brown
Lexxus Brown
4 months ago

Is this good for making apple pie

This Recipe Made By Bold Bakers

2 Images

Marcela CS

Rein Pagal

About Us

Meet Gemma

About Us

Meet Gemma

Hi Bold Bakers! I’m Gemma Stafford, a professional chef originally from Ireland, a cookbook author, and the creator of Bigger Bolder Baking. I want to help you bake with confidence anytime, anywhere with my trusted and tested recipes and baking tips. You may have seen one of my 500+ videos on YouTube & TikTok or as a guest judge on Nailed It! on Netflix or the Best Baker in America on Food Network. No matter your skills, my Bold Baking Team & I want to be your #1 go-to baking authority.

 

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