Everyone in the U.S. has heard of graham crackers, especially people who love s’mores. These crispy crackers taste delicious and can be eaten in various desserts and even plain.
In other parts of the world, especially the United Kingdom, these crackers can be difficult to find. Instead, people use something called digestive biscuits.
The main difference between graham crackers vs. digestive biscuits is that graham crackers are light and crispy, while digestive biscuits are thicker, less sweet, and not nearly as crispy. Nevertheless, they can be used interchangeably in many situations.
Graham Crackers and Digestive Biscuits: What’s the Difference?
At one time, it was thought that digestive biscuits helped you digest your food and were actually healthy for you. This is because the cookies, which are called biscuits in the U.K., contained sodium bicarbonate.
Nowadays, they are made a little different and most people realize they are just plain cookies. That being said, the biscuits are made with sweet meal, wheat, sugar, and malt extract. They are not overly sweet but just sweet enough to make any dish yummy!
The differences between these two foods involve their consistency and their overall taste. Digestives tend to have an almost nutty flavor and have a grainy texture, while graham crackers are lighter, crispier, and sweeter than digestives. Digestives are a little maltier than graham crackers and have a softer texture. For this reason, the two are not always interchangeable. You’ll have to read the instructions in the recipe you’re using very carefully in order to determine if you can replace one of these with the other.
Which One Is the Most Nutritious?
Overall, graham crackers tend to be a little more nutritious than digestive biscuits, but they are still very similar. This is because biscuit bases in general tend to consist of different ingredients than crackers. Graham crackers have more iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc, while digestives have more calcium. Digestives have higher amounts of vitamins A, C, B1, and B12, while graham crackers have more vitamin B3, B5, B6, and zinc. Graham crackers are also lower in sodium, cholesterol and saturated fat, while digestive biscuits are lower in sugar.
If you’re curious about the prices of each of these foods, rest easy because they are close in price and are both affordable. If you’re watching your dairy or fat intake, you should consider eating graham crackers. Digestives are best for people who are watching their carbs or calories.
Conclusion
Both digestive biscuits, which are cookies made and sold in the U.K., and graham crackers, which are common in the U.S., can be used to make a variety of desserts and dishes, including yummy s’mores. The taste and texture of the two items are somewhat different, so if you use them interchangeably in recipes, just make sure you’re aware of this.
Keep in mind that digestives are a little thicker and maltier in flavor, whereas graham crackers are lighter, crispier, and sweeter. Fortunately, they are both delicious foods that can be eaten plain and in a variety of dishes and desserts.