Graham cracker

A graham cracker is a sweet flavored cracker made with graham flour. It originated in the United States in the mid-19th century and became commercially popular around 1880. Mass production started in 1898 by The National Biscuit Company.

Graham crackers are often eaten as a snack, especially when flavored with honey or cinnamon. They are also a key ingredient in many favorite foods. For example, they are used to make the crust for cheesecakes and pies, adding a crunchy, sweet layer to these tasty treats.

History

The graham cracker was inspired by Sylvester Graham, a leader in the 19th-century temperance movement. He believed that eating simple foods like bread made from coarse wheat flour would help people stay healthy. Graham created the first graham wafer, a plain biscuit made from this special flour.

During a cholera pandemic from 1826 to 1837, Graham’s ideas became popular. His followers, known as Grahamites, were among the first vegetarians in America. They used graham flour to make crackers and bread, though Graham himself did not make or profit from these foods. Famous writer Herman Melville mentioned graham crackers in his 1852 novel 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 helped add 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, and 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.