graham cracker

This page is about the eponym graham cracker

Meaning

a light, square-shaped baked cookie that is often today sweetened with honey

For example

  • Line the bottom of the pan with graham crackers.

  • We'll need graham crackers to make s'mores at camp.

Origin: Sylvester Graham was a New Jersey minister (1794-1851) who invented graham bread (1829), which had no additives. At the time, additives were used to make bread white. Reverend Graham preached about healthy eating and vegetarianism as a way of preventing sexual urges. He rejected meat and animal byproducts. Graham crackers were originally a bland snack made from graham flour. Today they are usually sweetened and made with the enriched flour that Graham was against.

Quick Quiz

What shape are graham crackers?

a. square

b. round

c. triangular
a) square b) round c) triangular

Contributor: Tara Benwell