The Salty Alternative To Graham Crackers That's Just As Good For Cheesecake Crusts

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The luscious, creamy goodness of rich cream cheese paired with a crumbly and sweet graham cracker crust creates a lovable sensation of tastes and textures in every bite of your favorite cheesecake. While there's nothing quite like this classic combination, you can always get creative with your crusts. One creative cheesecake crust that's not made with graham crackers that's salty, buttery, and worth trying is made with the humble Ritz cracker.

When crushed up and combined with melted butter and sugar, Ritz crackers make an excellent alternative to a typical graham cracker crust. The flavors tend to lean more salty and savory than graham crackers, which provide a delightful counter to the sweetness of your overall cheesecake filling. Making this swap is as simple as using a sleeve of these crackers in lieu of grahams, and pressing your cheesecake crust into the pan as you ordinarily would, then baking until golden-brown.

Combining brown sugar or granulated sugar into the mix with your melted butter and Ritz crackers can give your crust a more familiar flavor, or you can go in a different direction and lean into the savory notes. Try using this alternative cracker crust for a cheesecake made with herbs and vegetables. The possibilities are extensive.

Preparing a cheesecake crust is one of the most creative ways to use Ritz crackers, and the fun doesn't stop there. While the plain, original flavor of Ritz is ideal for either sweet or savory cheesecake crusts, there are a number of Ritz cracker flavors that boast herb, spice, and vegetable notes that pair well with an alternative cheesecake recipe. For example, consider using Roasted Garlic Ritz as the crust for a garlic and herb cheesecake.

Bring the heat for a sweet and spicy treat using Ritz Hot Honey crackers as your cheesecake crust. This would go well for a cinnamon-forward cheesecake topped with a sprinkle of the ground spice. It could even invite a cinnamon apple compote topping or a crumbled honeycomb candy like Violet Crumble.

Ritz crackers are a staple ingredient in Southern pineapple casserole, and you could also let these flavors inspire a tropical-style pineapple cheesecake. Add a topping of carefully brûléed pineapple chunks for a delightful finishing touch. And remember, if you love cheesecake for the crust, don't forget to put it on top too. Whether graham crackers, Ritz crackers, or any other alternative cheesecake crust, a double-crust version will be all the more enjoyable.