Digestive Biscuit vs. Graham Cracker
Whether you are more familiar with Digestive Biscuits or Graham Crackers will depend on where you live. Graham Crackers are a staple in many households in the US, whereas Digestives are loved by families in the UK.
While these two biscuits are popular in different countries, they are often compared to one another, and many people consider them to be quite similar.
What are the differences between Digestive Biscuits and Graham Crackers?
There are a few differences between Digestive Biscuits and Graham Crackers. Graham Crackers are crispy and light, and slightly sweet, whereas Digestive Biscuits are less sweet, thicker, and are not necessarily crispy.
Even though there are quite a few differences between the two, and the fact that they are two completely different biscuits, they can be used interchangeably. Read on to find out more about Digestive Biscuits and Graham Crackers.
Let the Digestive Biscuit vs. Graham Cracker battle begin!
What Is a Digestive Biscuit?
Digestive Biscuits originated in Scotland, but they are not a very popular biscuit across the United Kingdom. Initially, as the name suggests, Digestive Biscuits were made to help with digestion, as they contained sodium bicarbonate.
However, this is not necessarily the case anymore, even though the name has not changed. These biscuits are only semi-sweet and are quite thick. They are not crispy, but instead are soft enough to enjoy on their own. It is a wheat-based biscuit.
Digestive Biscuits are one of the most popular biscuits to use for dunking into tea in the United Kingdom, and this earns the biscuit the rank of one of the most favorite in the UK.
What Is a Graham Cracker?
A Graham Cracker is slightly different from most biscuits, as it is a thin, sweet-flavored cracker made from graham flour, which is where the name comes from.
Graham Crackers originated in the US in the mid-19th century, and have only grown in popularity since.
Most people do not just snack on Graham Crackers on their own but instead use them to make dessert bases by crumbing the graham crackers or using them to make some delicious s’mores.
Graham Crackers can be found outside of the United States, but the US is definitely where they are most popular and where they are used the most.
Are Digestive Biscuits and Graham Crackers the Same?
Digestive Biscuits and Graham Crackers are not the same thing, even though they can often be confused with one another because they are used in similar ways.
Graham Crackers are popular in the United States, where they are used as a base for desserts and pies, or where they are used to make s’mores. They are thin, sweet, cracker biscuits made with graham flour.
Digestive Biscuits are more popular in the United Kingdom, as they originated in Scotland, and while they can be used to make dessert bases, they are commonly enjoyed as a biscuit, especially after being dunked into tea. These are wheat-based biscuits.
Graham Crackers and Digestive Biscuits are two different brands of biscuits, and are produced in very different places too!
Can You Use Digestive Biscuits and Graham Crackers as Substitutes?
Though they are two different biscuits, you can use Digestive Biscuits and Graham Crackers as substitutes for each other in most cases.
Whether you are looking for a biscuit to crumb and use as a base for a dessert, or if you are looking for a biscuit to use to make s’mores, both Graham Crackers and Digestive Biscuits can work well.
It is worth noting the differences between the two, such as Graham Crackers being slightly sweeter than Digestive Biscuits and Digestive Biscuits being thicker and not as crispy when using them as substitutes for each other, but they still work well if you cannot get your hands on one.
They might have slightly different tastes and textures, but they can be substituted for one another!
Digestive Biscuit vs. Graham Cracker – What Are the Differences?
There are quite a few differences between Digestive Biscuits and Graham Crackers, and this is mostly due to the fact that they are two separate biscuits made on separate continents!
Taste
When you look at something like a biscuit, taste has got to be one of the first differences to consider.
Graham Crackers and Digestive Biscuits have fairly different tastes to them, but at their core, both taste like plain biscuits or crackers.
Digestive Biscuits tend to be less sweet and have a more malty flavor, whereas Graham Crackers are sweeter and have more of a cracker flavor to them. Graham Crackers do have hints of honey, vanilla, and even cinnamon to them, adding to their flavor.
Texture
The texture of the two biscuits is quite different. Graham Crackers are thin and crispy, whereas Digestive Biscuits are thicker and not as crispy, and are fairly softer.
However, both are not completely smooth and have quite a coarse texture to them compared to some other crackers and biscuits.
Though they have a coarser texture, both make great crumbs for dessert bases and are a great base to use for s’mores!
Uses
Digestive Biscuits are primarily used as a biscuit to enjoy dunked into tea, or as a sweet snack to enjoy during the day. They are also used to make a crumb for a dessert base too, but their most common use is as a treat dipped into tea.
Graham Crackers can be enjoyed as a snack, but they are most commonly used as a crumbed base for pies and desserts, and they are also one of the most popular crackers used to make s’mores, as they are strong enough to hold the other fillings, and the crispy texture adds a good dimension to the fire-side treat.
Origin
Graham Crackers originated in the United States in the mid-19th century, and this is where they have continued to be most popular.
Digestive Biscuits originated in Scotland, and are one of the most popular biscuits enjoyed in households across the United Kingdom.
Both can be found across the world, but they will be more difficult to come across, and this could cause them to be a bit more expensive than usual.
Do Digestive Biscuits Come in Different Flavors?
Graham Crackers come in a few flavors, mostly with hints of vanilla, cinnamon, and honey, and the flavor might vary between different brands, but they remain very similar.
Digestive Biscuits, on the other hand, come in a few different flavors. The actual base of the biscuit is the same, but you can find Digestive Biscuits with melted chocolate coating on one side. This could be milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even white chocolate.
The milk chocolate variety of Digestive Biscuits is one of the most popular biscuits consumed in the United Kingdom!
Do Digestive Biscuits Really Help With Digestion?
Initially, Digestive Biscuits were supposed to aid in digestion, as they were supposed to contain enough sodium bicarbonate to make a difference. This might have been true back when they were first created, but it isn’t as true now.
Digestive Biscuits have kept the name because they are a household brand and are easily identifiable, but they are not as helpful in digestion as we once thought. Yes, they do contain a fair amount of fiber that can aid with digestion, but so do other biscuit types.
What Can I Use in Place of Graham Crackers?
Graham Crackers are used for desert bases, pie bases, and for s’mores, but you might not always have some stocked in the pantry, or the store may have sold out. Luckily, there are some great alternatives you can use in place of Graham Crackers.
Some of the best substitutes to use when you have run out of Graham Crackers include Vanilla Wafers, Honey Maid, Animal Crackers, Shortbread Cookies, and Gingersnaps.
These will all obviously have different textures and flavors, and you do have to keep in mind what you are using them for, but they will work well when you have no Graham Crackers to use!
Digestive Biscuit vs. Graham Cracker
Digestive Biscuits and Graham Crackers are from two separate sides of the pond. Graham Crackers are an American staple and are thin crackers with a honey, vanilla flavor which are used as a base for desserts, or to make delicious s’mores.
Digestive Biscuits are one of the most popular biscuits consumed in the UK and are popularly dunked into tea and enjoyed as a sweet snack. They are not as sweet as Graham Crackers, and are thicker, but are still just as loved.
Related Questions
What Are Digestive Biscuits Called in America?
There is no direct substitute for Digestive Biscuits in America, but the closest option you would find are Graham Crackers. They work well in the place of Digestive Biscuits for many things but are not identical.
Do Graham Crackers Come in Various Flavors?
Graham Crackers can come in various flavors, but it depends on the brand. You can find chocolate Graham Crackers, but they are not as popular as the original flavor, with hints of honey, vanilla, and cinnamon.
