what is the best thing to use...graham crackers, some kind of cookie, or just icing? I need help. what are your suggestions?

I use brown sugar

I used crushed nilla wafers for the baseball diamond cake in my gallery. I mixed a little Wilton clear sparkles in it for WOW.

I've also used crushed graham crackers on chocolate cakes and the combo is FANTASTIC!

Domino makes a granulated brown sugar that works great. It is usually sold in a 1 lb. box and called Brownulated Sugar.