Vanilla wafers

Vanilla wafers are a small vanilla flavored cookie that dates back to the late 1800s. They were first produced by the Martin Biscuit Company and later by Nabisco. In 1967 Nabisco rebranded the cookie as Nilla wafers and that name is still used today.

In addition to being a cookie the wafers are used crushed as a pie or dessert crust as well as in a number of other desserts including banana pudding with vanilla wafers.

Substitute For Vanilla Wafers

If you don't have vanilla wafers you can use one of these substitutes:

• If you're using them as a cookie any small sugar or butter cookie will suffice.
• OR - Replace vanilla (Nilla) wafers with shortbread cookies
• OR - For making a pie or dessert crust you can substitute graham cracker crumbs
• OR - Chocolate wafers, crushed make a good pie crust.
• OR - Use crushed Zwieback cookies to make a crust