Graham cracker facts for kids
Modern mass-produced graham crackers
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| Alternative names | Graham wafer |
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| Type | Cracker |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Main ingredients | Graham flour |
A graham cracker is a slightly sweet cracker that first appeared in the United States in the mid-1800s. It is made using a special kind of flour called graham flour.
People often enjoy graham crackers as a snack. They usually have flavors like honey or cinnamon. You can also find them as an ingredient in many other tasty foods.
The Story of Graham Crackers
Graham crackers were inspired by the ideas of a man named Sylvester Graham. He was part of a movement in the 1800s that encouraged healthy living. Graham believed that eating simple, natural foods, especially bread made from coarsely ground wheat, was good for people's health.
His ideas became very popular, especially during a time when many people were sick. People who followed his ideas were called Grahamites. For them, special foods like graham flour, graham crackers, and graham bread were created. Interestingly, Sylvester Graham himself did not invent these foods or make money from them.
An early mention of graham crackers can be found in a book from 1852. The author, Herman Melville, wrote about people eating "crumbs of Graham crackers." This shows how popular they were even back then!
How Graham Crackers Are Made
In the past, graham crackers were made with graham flour, oil or shortening, molasses, and salt. They have been made in large factories in the United States since 1898. The National Biscuit Company was one of the first to mass-produce them.
Another company, the Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company, also started making them in large amounts in the early 1900s. Today, graham crackers are still widely produced across the U.S.
Older recipes often used yeast to help the dough rise and add flavor. However, most modern graham crackers are made without this step. Sometimes, the dough is chilled before it is rolled out. This helps prevent the crackers from breaking or bubbling too much when they are baked.
Fun Ways to Use Them
Graham cracker crumbs are very popular for making graham cracker crusts. These crusts are used for pies and cheesecakes. You can even buy ready-made graham cracker pie crusts in stores. They usually come in an aluminum pan, ready to fill.
One of the most famous uses for graham crackers is in making s'mores. A s'more is a delicious treat with toasted marshmallow and chocolate sandwiched between two graham crackers.
Graham crackers are also used in a traditional Filipino dessert called mango float. This dessert is like an icebox cake and uses layers of graham crackers, cream, and fresh mangoes.
Gallery
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A box of National Biscuit Company graham crackers from around 1915.
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A delicious s'more!
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A homemade graham cracker crust ready for a pie.
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Mango float, a yummy dessert from the Philippines that uses graham crackers.
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Pan Graham#Graham cracker
