Graham Cracker Cookies

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Quick Summary

Graham Cracker Cookies– soft and chewy graham cracker cookies topped with sweet vanilla buttercream frosting! If you like graham crackers and frosting together, the nostalgic treat, you will LOVE these cookies. They are AMAZING!

graham cracker cookies with frosting on platter with graham cracker crumbs and glass of milk.

Did you eat graham crackers with frosting when you were a kid? It’s seriously the best treat. And let’s be honest, I still love graham crackers and frosting, it’s such a nostalgic combo.

Well, I decided to create a cookie based on one of my favorite treats and I think these just might be the BEST cookies I have ever made. Mic drop! I have made A LOT of cookies, I am the ultimate cookie monster, so you know these are GOOD.

These Graham Cracker Cookies with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting are PERFECTION! The cookies are soft, chewy, have a hint of cinnamon, and are covered in sweet vanilla frosting.

I give them a 100/10. They really are off the charts. And I’m not the only one who loves them, my family is crazy about them and every person I have made them for has begged me for the recipe and says they are the best cookies they have ever tasted.

So if you love graham crackers and frosting or just want a REALLY good cookie, you HAVE to make these graham cracker cookies. They are life changing!

And they are really good without the frosting too, if you just want a soft and chewy graham cracker cookie. You can’t go wrong with this cookie recipe!

graham cracker cookie ingredients in bowls.

The ingredients are simple and the results are amazing! My favorite kind of cookie recipe!

  • Graham crackers– you will need 18 graham cracker sheets to make the cookies. I recommend using original graham crackers or honey. Use a food processor or blender to make fine crumbs, you don’t want big chunks of crackers.
  • All-Purpose Flour– to measure the flour, fluff, spoon the flour into the measuring cup, and level off. Never pack your flour!
  • Baking Soda & Baking Powder– to give the cookies a lift in the oven.
  • Salt– to enhance all of the flavors.
  • Cinnamon– a little cinnamon brings out the best flavor in these cookies!
  • Butter– I use unsalted butter that is at cool room temperature. Make sure the butter isn’t melty or greasy.
  • Sugar– you will need brown sugar and granulated sugar.
  • Eggs– always use large eggs when baking.
  • Vanilla extract– I use one tablespoon, it’s not a typo:)

Vanilla Buttercream Ingredients

The frosting is simple to whip up and makes the cookies extra special.

  • Butter– make sure it is at soft room temperature so it’s easy to beat.
  • Confectioner’s sugar– I like to sift the sugar so the frosting is super smooth.
  • Vanilla Extract– use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
  • Heavy Cream or Milk– you can use heavy cream or milk.
  • Salt– just a pinch to balance out the sweetness!
graham cracker crumbs in food processor.

How to Make Graham Cracker Cookies

  • Put the graham crackers in a food processor or blender, and blend until you have graham cracker crumbs. If you don’t have a food processor or blender, you can place the graham crackers in a ziplock bag and using a rolling pin to crush them, just make sure you crush them REALLY well.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the graham crackers, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugars together until creamy and smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, as necessary.
  • Add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until combined.
  • Add the dry ingredients and mix on low until just combined. Don’t over mix.
  • Cover the dough and chill for at least one hour. Can chill for up to 48 hours.
graham cracker cookie dough balls on baking sheet.
  • When ready to bake, take the dough out of the fridge and let sit on the counter for about 30 minutes while you preheat the oven.
  • Roll the dough into balls, about 2 tablespoons per cookie. Place on baking sheet, 2-inches apart.
  • Bake until set around the edges but still soft in the center. Don’t over bake. You want the cookies to be soft. They will set up as they cool on the baking sheet.
  • Let the cookies cool completely before frosting.
vanilla buttercream frosting being spread with a knife on graham cracker cookie.

How to Make the Frosting

  • With a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the butter over medium speed until creamy. Gradually add the confectioner’s sugar while you continue beating. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed, until the sugar is fully incorporated.
  • Add the vanilla and beat in the heavy cream or milk 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
  • Frost the cooled cookies with the vanilla buttercream. Garnish with chopped graham crackers.
graham cracker cookies with vanilla frosting on plate and one cookie with a bite taken out of it.

How to Store

Frost the cooled cookies and let the surface of the frosting dry, which will take a couple of hours. Transfer the cookies to an airtight container and store in a cool, dry area of your kitchen.

If you are stacking frosted cookies on top of one another, place a piece of wax paper or parchment paper in between the layers to ensure the cookies don’t stick to each other.

How to Freeze

Freezing Baked Cookies: If you want to freeze the cookies, I recommend freezing the cookies BEFORE you frost them. Place the cooled cookies in a freezer container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Let the cookies thaw and then frost.

Freezing Cookie Dough: You can also freeze the cookie dough. Scoop the dough into balls and place on a baking sheet or tray. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes or until dough balls are solid. Transfer the balls to a freezer container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, place the cookies on a baking sheet and add a couple minutes to the baking time. You don’t have to defrost the balls before baking.

stack of graham cracker cookies with frosting on cooling rack.

FAQ

Can I buy graham cracker crumbs instead of making my own.

You can, but I like to buy graham crackers and make my own crumbs. They taste fresher to me:) If you are going to use pre-made crumbs, you will need about 2 2/3 cups.

Do I have to frost the cookies?

If you don’t care for frosting, you can enjoy the cookies plain. They are REALLY good on their own too.

Can I freeze frosted cookies?

I prefer to freeze unfrosted cookies, let them thaw, and THEN frost them so they are fresh, but you can freeze frosted cookies. Let the frosting “harden” and then place them in a freezer container. If you are layering the cookies, place wax paper or parchment paper in between. Freeze frosted cookies for up to 3 months.

Find more cookie recipes HERE!

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Graham Cracker Cookies with Frosting

Soft and chewy graham cracker cookies topped with sweet vanilla buttercream frosting! If you like graham crackers and frosting together, the nostalgic treat, you will LOVE these cookies. They are AMAZING!
4.46 from 122 votes

Ingredients
  

For the Cookies:

For the Frosting:

Instructions
 

  • To make the cookies: Put the graham crackers in a food processor or blender, and blend until you have graham cracker crumbs. You should have about 2 ¾ cups of crumbs.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the graham crackers, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugars together until creamy and smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, as necessary.
  • Add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until combined.
  • Add the dry ingredients and mix on low until just combined. Don’t over mix.
  • Cover the dough and chill for at least one hour. Can chill for up to 48 hours.
  • When ready to bake, take the dough out of the fridge and let sit on the counter for about 30 minutes while you preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat baking mat.
  • Roll the dough into balls, about 2 tablespoons per cookie. Place on baking sheet, 2-inches apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until set around the edges but still soft in the center. Don't over bake! Remove from the oven and let cookies cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely.
  • To make the frosting: With a mixer, beat the butter over medium speed until creamy. Gradually add the confectioner’s sugar while you continue beating. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed, until the sugar is fully incorporated.
  • Add the vanilla and salt, and beat in the heavy cream or milk 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
  • Frost the cooled cookies with the vanilla buttercream. Garnish with chopped graham crackers.

Notes

You need 18 full graham cracker sheets, which was 2 packages for me. If you want to use store bought graham cracker crumbs, you will need 2 2/3 cups. 

Nutrition

Calories: 301kcal, Carbohydrates: 51g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 53mg, Sodium: 207mg, Potassium: 74mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 29g, Vitamin A: 489IU, Vitamin C: 0.02mg, Calcium: 35mg, Iron: 1mg
Keywords cookies, graham cracker

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Maria

I'm Maria and my husband is Josh. We share a love of cooking, baking, and entertaining. We enjoy creating recipes that are simple, fresh, and family friendly. We love sitting around the table with good food, good conversation, and good friends and family! Our kitchen is always open!
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Comments

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  1. Hi there! i am excited to try making these cookies! However, just curious if anyone has made their either with using wheat or oat flour… if so let me know how much you used and how they turned out too! Much appreciation. Thank you!

    1. I am sure whole wheat flour would be fine, the texture will just be heartier and a little thicker.

  2. Do you ever portion out the dough into cookies prior to chilling? I sort of hate trying to scoop refrigerated dough! Looks like in one of your photos all the cookies dough balls are close together (so not ready for baking) and I wondered if that’s what you were doing there.

    1. I haven’t tried gluten-free ingredients. The texture/flavor might be a little different. Let me know if you try it.

  3. When I was a kid we’d make orange icing for our graham crackers – frozen concentrate OJ & powdered sugar. I’m going to make your cookies but use OJ instead of cream. Thanks for another great-sounding recipe.

  4. Why sea salt? Can regular salt be used at the same amount listed in the recipe? Please keep it to simple ingredients that most of us already have. I love old fashioned cookies and desserts and look forward to trying this right away. Thank you.

    1. Let the frosting dry/set up and then put a layer of parchment paper or wax paper between layers.

  5. Yum! I am totally making these for my work treat swap. I also picked up some WS peppermint bark and will make those cookies. Unless my family finds my stash and eats it all.

  6. ahhh! childhood! I audibly laughed outloud when I saw this recipe- I thought my family was the only one who made them! Perhaps a midwest thing! –We used to used the leftover (often colored) homemade frosting from cakes, make graham cracker sandwiches out of them, and pop them in the freezer…horrible for you but we loved them. Will be fun to try this new 100/10 childhood riff on frosting crackers! Cheers!

  7. 5 stars
    I was cleaning out my pantry yesterday and found that all of our graham crackers were broken in pieces. But I had just seen this recipe, so instead of throwing them away, I made these cookies. The whole family loved them! They’re a new favorite!

  8. 5 stars
    These are soooo good! Brings you right back to childhood with a graham crackers with vanilla frosting. Easy to make and the fresh graham crackers give it such good flavor. Give them a try!

  9. 5 stars
    These were delicious! Made exactly. Froze half of batter and cooked remaining. I did make the frosting but didn’t use butter just a bit of milk. Daughter was happy as she is a big graham cracker lover.

  10. 5 stars
    Great recipe, the cookies were perfectly soft. I ran out of butter so I ended up cutting the frosting recipe in half and still had enough frosting for all of the cookies. Brought the cookies to share at work and they were a hit!

  11. Mine didn’t turn out anything like the pictures I followed the recipe to a t the batter is super dry the cookies baked like balls. Just not good. Totally bummed

  12. 5 stars
    I tried this recipe for a party and had enough for Christmas too! They are the best cookie I have tried in a long time. Seriously moist and light, it does take me back to all those lunches I made for our girls, graham crackers and frosting. You hit this one out of the park! Everyone loved them too, and grabbed a few to take home as well.

  13. These are decadent and delicious! My 25-year old son told me he thinks they are his new favorite cookie 🙂 Definitely will make these again!

  14. I just came across this recipe for the first time today!
    It’s summer now, so I have s’mores on the brain. What do you think of adding chocolate chips to the dough and sticking a marshmallow on top of each one towards the end of the baking time…?

  15. These are the BEST cookies! We loved the frosting and the garnish on top of this chewy yummy cookie. I’ll make these again – lots!

  16. 5 stars
    These are a nice old-fashioned tasting cookie and easy to make. The crushed Graham crackers on the top add a homey touch. I made them about half the size stated and baked them the same amount of time as directed. Nice, chewy and delicious with or without the frosting!

  17. These are amazing! I have made them multiple times since you published the recipe! They freeze well too! thanks for another great recipe!

  18. 4 stars
    these were great however I think 1 tablespoon of vanilla in the frosting was way too much. I think 1 teaspoon would be better but that was just my preference! will be making again

  19. 3 stars
    These are 5-star cookies. Except two things: 1. They’re HUGE! I want a cookie, not a meal. 2. There’s enough frosting there for three batches. I have to scrape off all the frosting I comfortably can, then it leaves a perfect amount. Each to his own, I guess. I’ll save the rest of the frosting for whatever’s next.

  20. I’m in the middle of the recipe – 18 full sheets didn’t get me close to 2 2/3 c so I added about 8 more. Now I fear that the dough will be too dry. Is it supposed to be fairly crumbly as you put it in the fridge?

    1. Hmmm, what brand of graham crackers did you use? Adding 8 more seems like a lot more. The dough shouldn’t be crumbly.

    2. I used “Craven” – and so am wondering what I should add as dough very crumbly…add butter?

    3. Just FYI in case others have this issue – I added another half stick of butter and another egg and they came out beautifully…thanks!

  21. 5 stars
    This is the new favorite cookie at our house!! And we’ve made A LOT of your cookies. Soo fun and yummy. Thanks for all the fun recipes! Loving your cookie recipe book ❤️