Oreo Cookie Crust

Desserts

​Another favorite for cookie crumb pie crusts is the Oreo.  There are others that will work fine, but oh, I love an Oreo. Oreo crusts are especially good with chocolate icebox pies and peanut butter cheesecakes.  Always use single cream Oreos.   Please leave the cream filling, don’t scrape it off.  It helps the crumbs to bind together!  Alternately - you can use the golden Oreos - the vanilla ones; they make another great cookie crumb crust.  I especially love them with a lemon icebox pie!

Ingredients for 9-inch pie pan or 9 to 10-inch springform cheesecake pan:
     2 cups Oreo cookie crumbs = about 23 cookies
     5 Tablespoons butter, melted

Instructions for:
Pre-Baked Version - I highly recommend pre-baking the Oreo crust for cheesecakes and pies (even no-bake recipes).  It helps the crust bind together and it adds a bit of flavor.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Make crumbs:  In a food processor or in a sealed ziplock bag with a rolling pin.  (I usually break them in half, before making into crumbs.)  They should be a sandy texture.
3. Melt the butter on the stovetop or microwave - do not scorch it! 
4. Put the cookie crumbs and melted butter in a mixing bowl and stir together well.  The mixture will be like damp sand.
5. Putting it in the pan:  With clean hands, press the crumb crust into the pie pan - on the bottom and up the sides.  Then with your thumb or a spoon, smooth or round out the area where the side and bottom of the pan meet - helps in cutting.  If you are making a cheesecake, simply press it on the bottom only of the springform pan. 

      6.   Baking - 

• No-bake dessert:   Bake 10-12 minutes in 350 degree oven.  Do not let it burn!
• For a baked dessert:  Pre-bake in a 350 degree oven for 8 minutes.  Do not let it burn!

      7.    Remove from oven; let cool 30 minutes to an hour.  Some no-bake recipes tell you to freeze  it.

Instructions for:
No-Bake Version:  I absolutely recommend pre-baking the Oreo crust, even for no-bake pies and cheesecakes.  However, if your recipe says do not bake the crust, then here is how to make it. ​

1. Follow directions 2 - 5 above.

       6.  Chill for at least one hour before filling.  Check the dessert recipe - you may need to freeze the crust.