Graham cracker

A graham cracker is a sweet cracker made with graham flour. It started in the United States in the mid-1800s and became popular around 1880. Big factories began making them in 1898.

Graham crackers are often eaten as a snack, especially with honey or cinnamon. They are also used in many favorite foods. For example, they help make the crust for cheesecakes and pies, giving them a crunchy, sweet layer.

History

The graham cracker was inspired by Sylvester Graham. He was a leader in the 19th century who talked about healthy eating. Graham thought that simple foods like bread from coarse wheat flour helped people stay healthy. He created the first graham wafer, a plain biscuit made from this special flour.

During a health problem in the 1800s, Graham’s ideas became popular. His followers, called Grahamites, were among the first people in America to choose not to eat meat. They used graham flour to make crackers and bread. The writer Herman Melville wrote about graham crackers in his book Pierre; or The Ambiguities.

Production

Graham crackers are made from simple ingredients like graham flour, oil, and molasses. They have been made on a large scale in the United States since 1898, when the National Biscuit Company first started producing them. Another company, the Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company, also began making them around the early 1910s. Today, graham crackers are still widely produced in the U.S. and Canada.

In the past, graham crackers were made using a special dough that added flavor. Now, most graham crackers are made without this extra step. Sometimes the dough is chilled before baking to help it stay intact during the process.

Uses

Graham crackers are often used to make pie crusts for fruit pies and moon pies. They are also used in cheesecakes. When you make a s'more, a graham cracker is a key part of the treat. In the Philippines, graham crackers are sometimes used in a special dessert called mango float, which is similar to an icebox cake.