Submitted by nicole on Wed, 11/06/2013 - 17:00

Chocolate graham cracker crust is easy to make and oh so delicious. This chocolate graham cracker crust recipe is especially versatile because it doesn't use chocolate graham crackers, just regular ones.

miniature peanut butter cream pie with chocolate graham cracker crust on a rustic tray made of a slice of wood, a tag reading "mud pies" next to pies.

Some pies are just better with a graham cracker crust. There's something magical about that mix of butter and sugar and cookie crumbs that's just so right, especially with creamy-type pies. But what if you want a chocolate graham cracker crust and don't have chocolate wafer cookies? This recipe shows you how to make a chocolate graham cracker pie crust without needing chocolate graham crackers.

These peanut butter pies from the Mud Pie Bakery party are just the kind of lucious, creamy pie that goes so well with a graham cracker crust. A chocolate graham cracker crust, to be precise. But the recipe in my trusty Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book simply calls for replacing the graham cracker crumbs with crushed chocolate wafers. I didn't have any of those, and didn't want to make a special trip to the grocery store. It was time to improvise.

How to Make Chocolate Graham Cracker Crust

Ingredients for chocolate graham cracker pie crust made with regular graham crackers and cocoa powder.

Chocolate Graham Cracker Crust Ingredients (With No Chocolate Cookies):

1/3 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

Clear glass bowl of chocolate graham cracker pie crust mixture and four miniature pie tins, one filled with chocolate graham cracker crust.

Place all ingredients in a bowl, and mix until combined. Press the mixture into one regular sized pie tin (or about six miniature pie tins, as shown here). Chill while preparing the filling.

I used this chocolate graham cracker pie crust for the No Bake Peanut Butter Pie I was making, but it would be great for lots of other delicious pies, like a chocolate Jello pudding 3 layer pie, dirt pie, a chocolate-mint grasshopper pie, or a caramel pie.

Little girl holding a miniature peanut butter cream pie with chocolate graham cracker crust.

It works perfectly, and the cocoa powder adds a true, rich chocolate flavor. And with no extra ingredients to buy, and no leftover chocolate cookies calling to me from the cupboard. I'll never go back now. And that gingersnap crust? No more! I can't wait to try adapting the basic recipe with ginger and nutmeg and a bit of cinnamon. That would be amazing with a pumpkin pie. I can't wait for Thanksgiving!

Collage of chocolate graham cracker pie crust pictures optimized for Pinterest.