For no-bake pie crusts, you can experiment with just about any crispy ingredient as your base. Pretzels, potato chips or shortbread cookies come to mind.
Before you start experimenting, here a 4 tested and proven to work no-bake pie crust recipes. These no-bake crusts are suitable for cream fillings or fillings cooked on the stove top and cooled before adding to the pie.
Why turn on the oven if you don’t have to? Use these recipes for your summer pies.
Graham Cracker Pie Crust
This crust is perfect for cream pies and gelatin based no-bake cheesecakes.
1 cup Graham cracker crumbs
1 teaspoon flour
1/2 cup softened butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1.) Crush crackers to fine crumbs in a zip top bag with a rolling-pin. Combine with remaining ingredients and mix well using your fingertips.
2.) Press the mixture firmly into the bottom and sides of a pie plate.
3.) Put in the refrigerator to chill.
Almond Cream Pie Crust
1 cup Graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup of toasted almond slivers
1/4 cup soft butter
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 Tablespoon heavy cream
1.) Grind crackers and toasted almonds to fine crumbs using a rolling pin or food processor.
2.) Mix with butter, almond extract and heavy cream.
3.) Press into pie plate and set in refrigerator to chill until needed.
Notes: You can experiment with different nuts and extracts for this crust. Try using pecans or hazelnuts. Toast nuts in a dry pan on the stove top to bring out more flavor.
Cereal Crumb Pie Crust
Don’t throw your cereal crumbs away! Collect them and in a few days, you’ll have more than enough crumbs to make a tasty pie crust.
5 Tablespoons butter
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 cup cornflake crumbs
1.) Melt butter, add sugar and crumbs. Mix well. Press into bottom and sides of pie plate and place in refrigerator to chill until needed.
Notes: Don’t stop at just cornflakes. Use rice cereal, bran flake type cereal or even fruit loops. If you really like to experiment, then try a combination of two or thee types of cereal.
Holland Rusk Pie Crust
Holland rusks are toasted bread circles used mainly for canapes and dips. If you can’t find them in your local area, they can be ordered online or you can use Melba toasts, which are similar.
1 cup Holland rusk crumbs
1/2 cup softened butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1.) Mix rusk crumbs with butter, sugar and cinnamon.
2.) Press into bottom and sides of pie plate and chill until needed.
Notes: You may need to double this recipe for deep dish pies.