Graham crackers were invented in 1829 by Sylvester Graham, who aimed to provide a healthier alternative to white bread through his 'Graham diet.' This involved creating a flour from unrefined, coarse wheat. Over time, others adapted his recipe, ultimately leading to the sweeter version we know today. While originally savory and healthy, graham crackers evolved into a popular snack, especially paired with chocolate and marshmallow in s'mores, a treat that can be traced back to 1927.
The purpose of graham crackers was never to pair them with chocolate and marshmallow. They were actually intended to be a chemical-free alternative to white bread.
Sylvester Graham, known as the 'father of vegetarianism,' was a health-conscious reformer who criticized processed foods, especially white bread, which he believed lacked essential nutrients.
Graham started by creating his own flour using unrefined, coarse wheat, eventually developing a bread and later a thin, cracker-like structure.
A baker named J. Thompson Gill is credited with making a richer, sweeter version of the graham cracker using lard, which he published the recipe for in 1881.
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