Sandwich them with melty marshmallows and chocolate, smear them with nut butter, pulverize them into a buttery, crumbly cheesecake crust, or eat them straight from the package — just don’t forget the graham crackers.
Often regarded as kid food, grahams are so versatile that they qualify as a pantry essential, especially at this time of year. Unlike so many crackers that are either bland and dry, salty or laced with savory flavorings, grahams are sweet, toasty and flavored with a magical trio of ingredients: honey, cinnamon and vanilla.
For decades, the brand that has ruled the category is Nabisco’s Honey Maid. But a quick sweep of local supermarkets turns up a stack of competitors, including organic, gluten-free and all natural versions of the beloved graham.
Great graham crackers have a delicate crunch and lots of deep, nutty flavor thanks to plenty of fresh, coarsely ground whole wheat flour. The earthy flavor of the flour is enhanced with dashes of honey, vanilla and sometimes cinnamon. The very best graham crackers are made with top ingredients and toasted to perfection.
As simple as it seems, making great graham crackers is apparently tricky, as far too many boxes are filled with grahams gone wrong. Bad grahams are flat, flavorless squares that taste fruity and fake, primarily due to too many preservatives, too much white flour and less than a hint of flavorings.
Here are details on the most delicious graham crackers, and the questionable grahams that fall short in every way. Nutrition details refer to 31 grams; a full cracker sheet in most cases.
Graham crackers (aka Graham wafers) are flat, crisp wafers made from graham flour and sweetened, often with honey.
Sandwich them with melty marshmallows and chocolate, smear them with nut butter, pulverize them into a buttery, crumbly cheesecake crust, or eat them straight from the package — just don’t forget the graham crackers.
Too much white flour and poor quality flavorings make these a bad pick. They are not going to perform well in recipes, and they are likely to be rejected by even the youngest of cracker eaters. 130 calories, 3 g fat, 135 mg sodium, 8 g sugar, 2 g protein. $1.98 for 14.4 ounces at Walmart. (1 star)
Here are details on the most delicious graham crackers, and the questionable grahams that fall short in every way. Nutrition details refer to 31 grams; a full cracker sheet in most cases.
Great graham crackers have a delicate crunch and lots of deep, nutty flavor thanks to plenty of fresh, coarsely ground whole wheat flour. The earthy flavor of the flour is enhanced with dashes of honey, vanilla and sometimes cinnamon. The very best graham crackers are made with top ingredients and toasted to perfection.
This iconic brand serves up crackers with deep honey flavor, but the nuttiness is understated, making them taste a bit too sweet. More graham flour would be an improvement. 130 calories, 3 g fat, 160 mg sodium, 8 g sugar, 2 g protein. $4.49 for 14.4 ounces at Raley’s. (3 stars)
Honey Maid Honey Graham Crackers vs Walmart Great Value Brand (Reed Reviews)
FAQ
What is Graham wafer made of?
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Is Honey Maid same as graham crackers?
Why do graham crackers not taste the same?