Vanilla Wafer Cookies Recipe (2024)

Each bite of these easy Vanilla Wafer Cookies is rich and buttery. They are so much better than store bought. Enjoy them as a snack or in other desserts for a great treat.

Easy Vanilla Wafer Cookies Recipe

Have you ever tried to make homemade Vanilla Wafers? It is actually very simple and they taste amazing. They are so light and fluffy with wonderful vanilla flavor.

Enjoy them as a snack or use them in your favorite banana pudding recipe and other desserts.

Once you see how easy it is to make store bought vanilla wafers, you will be hooked. They are buttery and tasty while being effortless to make. See more Vanilla Desserts.

Do these taste just like store-bought vanilla wafers?

No, they are so much better than anything you can purchase at the grocery store. They are so yummy and buttery.

The store-bought wafers are loaded with artificial flavors and lots of extra ingredients. Once you make homemade wafers, you will be able to taste the difference.

There really isn’t any comparison because they are so yummy.

Ingredients:

All Purpose Flour
Baking Powder
Large Egg (room temperature)
Granulated Sugar
Vanilla Extract
Salt
Unsalted Butter (softened)
Milk

How to make Vanilla Wafer Cookies:

Step 1. Preheat the oven. Set the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2. Combine the butter and sugar. Beat together the butter and sugar in a large bowl with a hand held mixer or stand up mixer until creamy. Then add in the egg and vanilla extract until combined.

Step 3. Get out a separate bowl for the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.

Step 4. Combine the flour mixture with the butter mixture. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to over mix.

Step 5. Pour in the milk. Then add in the milk and stir until combined.Make sure everything is well combined.

Step 6. Form the cookies. Scoop the cookie dough into 2 teaspoon size scoops onto a baking sheet at least 2 inches apart. Gently flatten out the cookies with damp fingertips.

Step 7. Bake the cookies. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the edges of the cookies are a light golden brown.

Step 8. Let the cookies cool. Allow the cookies to sit on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then move them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!

How to store:

Store the leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

How long will homemade vanilla wafers last?

They will last up to a week if stored properly.

However, the cookies don’t last very long around here. The kids eat them so fast because they are delicious.

How to serve Vanilla Wafer cookies:

Snacks. Serve these cookies as a snack any day of the week. They are delicious as a lunchbox treat or an afternoon snack.
Banana Pudding recipe. Use the cookies in banana pudding and serve as a luscious dessert.
Banana Pudding Fluff. Top this dessert with homemade wafers. It will be so delicious.
Eclair Cookies. This recipe is amazing already but homemade vanilla wafers will be so yummy.

Tips for the best Vanilla Wafers

Room temperature ingredients. Make sure the eggs are room temperature and the butter is softened at room temperature. The mixture will combine easier and have a smoother consistency.
Vanilla. The Vanilla is what gives the cookies the classic nilla wafers flavor. Don’t leave it out.
Double the recipe. If you plan to use some for snacking and baking, you might want to double the recipe.
Prepare the baking sheet. Line the pan with parchment paper to make clean up easy.

Can I use homemade vanilla wafers for banana pudding?

Yes, we love to use these in our favorite Banana Pudding recipe. This homemade wafers recipe makes the dessert even more delicious.

If I plan to make banana pudding with the wafers, I often leave out the desired amount overnight. It allows them to get a bit stale which is perfect for the pudding. This is totally based on preference though and you can do what you prefer.

You are absolutely going to love homemade vanilla wafers in banana pudding. It is so decadent and delicious. If you need a gluten free option, try Gluten Free Shortbread Cookies.

Vanilla Wafer Cookies taste amazing.

This easy to make cookie recipe does not disappoint. It is very easy to make and these cookies are amazing.

They are soft and fluffy. Each cookie is baked to perfection. Everyone will enjoy these for the perfect snack. Homemade Vanilla Wafer Cookies taste so delicious.

Make this easy and tasty recipe today. You will be hooked!

Print this Vanilla wafers recipe below:

Review

Pin Print

Vanilla Wafer Cookies

4.60 from 15 votes

Each bite of these easy Vanilla Wafer Cookies is rich and buttery. They are so much better than store bought. Enjoy them as a snack or in other desserts for a great treat.

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Let Sit 5 minutes mins

Total Time 27 minutes mins

Servings 24

Cuisine American

Ingredients

▢ 1 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
▢ 3/4 teaspoons Baking Powder
▢ 1 Large Egg room temperature
▢ 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
▢ 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
▢ 1/2 teaspoon Salt
▢ 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter softened
▢ 1 Tablespoon Milk

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Beat together the butter and sugar in a large bowl with a hand held mixer or stand up mixer until creamy. Then add in the egg and vanilla extract until combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to over mix.
Then add in the milk and stir until combined.
Scoop the cookie dough into 2 teaspoon size scoops onto a baking sheet at least 2 inches apart. Gently flatten out the cookies with damp fingertips.
Bake for 12-14 minutes until the edges of the cookies are a light golden brown.
Allow the cookies to sit on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then move them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Calories 91kcal, Carbohydrates 12g, Protein 1g, Fat 4g, Saturated Fat 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat 1g, Trans Fat 0.2g, Cholesterol 17mg, Sodium 65mg, Potassium 14mg, Fiber 0.2g, Sugar 6g, Vitamin A 129IU, Calcium 12mg, Iron 0.4mg

Pin This Now to Remember It Later

Pin Recipe

More homemade cookie recipes:

Custard Cookies
3 ingredient sugar cookies
Soft Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies Recipe
Butter Cookies Recipe
Cinnamon Roll Cookies

Try these other recipes

Easy Easter Desserts

Easter Cake Mix Cookies

Easy Easter Desserts

Easter Chocolate Covered Oreos

Easy Easter Desserts

Easter Egg Sugar Cookies Recipe

St. Patricks Day Desserts

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

St. Patricks Day Desserts

Shamrock Cookies

St. Patricks Day Desserts

Pistachio Cookies

Keto Deserts

Keto Edible Cookie Dough

Homemade Nutter Butter Cookie Recipe

About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Desserts on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you create delicious desserts on a budget and do not require a ton of time. Together, we are going to make something sweet that the entire family will love!

About Carrie

FAQs

Are Nilla Wafers the same as vanilla wafers? ›

By the 1940s, Vanilla Wafers had become a major ingredient in the Southern cuisine staple banana pudding, and Nabisco began printing a banana pudding recipe on the Vanilla Wafers box. The name of the product was not changed to "Nilla Wafers" until 1967.

Get More Info Here ›

What are the ingredients in vanilla wafers? ›

Unbleached Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate Vitamin B1 , Riboflavin Vitamin B2 , Folic Acid), Sugar, Soybean Oil, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil, Whey (from Milk), Eggs, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Salt, Leavening (Baking Soda and/or Calcium ...

Read The Full Story ›

Are vanilla wafers being discontinued? ›

December 23, 2022 at 6:45 a.m. Jackson's Old Fashioned Vanilla Wafers, crispy vanilla-flavored round cookies first produced at a North Little Rock baking facility in 1933, are leaving the store shelves.

Read The Full Story ›

What is a substitute for vanilla wafer crumbs? ›

Replace the vanilla wafer crumbs (in part or altogether) with chocolate cookies, animal crackers, or shortbread cookies. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract to amp up the vanilla flavor, or use your own homemade vanilla sugar.

Discover More Details ›

Has Nabisco discontinued Nilla Wafers? ›

Nilla wafers are no longer available.

Who makes the best vanilla wafers? ›

Great Value (Walmart): The clear favorite among tasters, these wafers have the best vanilla flavor overall and a delicate crunch. Bud's Best (Edwards): Made in Alabama, these crunchy wafers border on toasty (they hold up great in pudding), with present vanilla flavor that ranked them second overall among tasters.

Learn More ›

Who makes the original vanilla wafers? ›

A history of the Nabisco product says that these cookies were actually called “Vanilla Wafers” from their introduction in 1889 until 1967, when “Nilla” was substituted in the brand name.

Learn More ›

Can you freeze vanilla wafers? ›

You can keep vanilla wafers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days (if they last that long!). You can also freeze the baked wafers for up to one month or unbaked dough for two months.

Discover More ›

Can dogs eat vanilla wafers? ›

Vanilla wafers aren't particularly suitable for dogs. While they aren't blatantly toxic (unless they contain xylitol), they don't contain many nutrients and are high in sugar. Therefore, we recommend avoiding them. They don't make healthy snacks.

Keep Reading ›

What are the black spots on vanilla wafers? ›

Sometimes during the baking process, a drop of wafer batter can drip onto the next wafer, creating a dark spot of burnt wafer. This is completely harmless to consume.

Read The Full Story ›

What is the shelf life of Nilla wafers? ›

Given supply chain issues, you may be tempted to buy wafers long before you're able to use them. While this can be done, it's important to store wafers properly. You also need to keep a timeline in mind. While wafers don't technically have an expiration date, it's advisable to use them within 18 months.

Discover More ›

Are Nilla wafers smaller than they used to be? ›

Today's Nilla Wafers are way smaller than the ones I remember from my childhood.

Find Out More ›

Can you use graham crackers instead of vanilla wafers? ›

I haven't had banana pudding in years, and as I recall, it was always with vanilla wafers. The graham crackers worked equally well as a replacement. I'd never used Dream Whip before, but it certainly thickened the pudding nicely.

Learn More Now ›

What is the difference between graham crackers and vanilla wafers? ›

Vanilla wafers are considered a cookie, so they are a sweet snack. However, graham crackers and animal crackers are considered crackers and are not counted as sweet items.

What can I use in place of vanilla wafers in banana pudding? ›

I make my banana pudding the same way, but instead of vanilla wafers, I use Italian lady finger cookies.

View Details ›

Can you substitute vanilla wafers in banana pudding? ›

What are good alternatives to vanilla wafers? It's worth trying to find vanilla wafers — their mild flavor and crunchy texture is ideal for this dessert. However, if you're unable to source them, you can substitute with shortbread cookies, ladyfingers (also known as Savoiardi cookies), or animal crackers.

Are Nilla Wafers made with real vanilla? ›

You can read more about the difference between vanilla and vanillin, but we're going to just come right out and say it: Nilla wafers contain no actual vanilla. That doesn't mean they don't taste delicious and make a mean Southern banana pudding.

Read On ›

What are vanilla wafers in America? ›

Nilla Wafers, or Vanilla Wafers, are crispy, light, vanilla-flavored cookies that melt in your mouth. They are made with flour, sugar, shortening, eggs, and vanilla. These wafer cookies were invented in the late 19th century by German-American confectioner Gustav A. Mayer on Staten Island.