Salty Graham Gravel

Use to sprinkle on anything that you think needs a hint of sweet crunch: ice cream, puddings, pie with whipped cream toppings, etc. From "Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream Desserts," by Jeni Britton Bauer.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Yields: 2 cups

Ingredients

• 1  cup  finely ground graham cracker, from about 10 crackers
• 3⁄4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2  teaspoons cornstarch
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 2  teaspoons fine sea salt (or kosher salt)
• 8  tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
2. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, flour, cornstarch, sugar and salt in a small bowl. Add the butter and stir until large lumps form and all the dry ingredients are moistened (it should look like lumpy wet sand). Pour the crumbs onto a baking sheet and spread evenly.
3. Bake the crumbs for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and toss the crumbs with two bench scrapers or metal spatulas, then chop into 1/8- to 1/4-inch pieces.
4. Return to oven and bake 10 minutes longer, or until gravel is a rich brown. Remove from oven and cool. Store in airtight container for several days or freeze for longer storage.