While addicting on their own, each of these recipes takes advantage of Nilla Wafers’ delicious flavor. If you have a box to spare, try your hand at one of these sweet treats for an incredible cookie makeover. From puddings to dips, there’s a recipe for everyone on this list! These desserts range from rich and decadent truffles to light and airy dips. Share a Nilla Wafer-inspired treat with a friend and enjoy the sweet nostalgia of this classic cookie. Put a homemade spin on store-bought cookies and taste the difference a little TLC can make on an already delicious dessert.
1. Homemade Nilla Wafers
If you don’t have a box of Nilla Wafers lying around and want to try one of these recipes, save yourself a trip to the store by making your own! These cookies have that classic vanilla taste you know and love, but are softer and still warm from the oven. It’s no secret that homemade is always better than store-bought, anyway!
2. Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding
This is the dish that first introduced me to Nilla Wafers. Sweet banana pudding and smooth whipped cream pairs wonderfully with these deliciously crunchy cookies. The result is a beautiful pudding packed with plenty of delicious banana flavor. Everyone will love this cool and creamy dessert. Layer each ingredient so every bite is equal parts pudding, cream, cookies, and bananas!
3. Vanilla Wafer Cake
Turn those cookies into a delicious cake with this recipe! Whether you’re celebrating a milestone like a birthday or just craving something sweet, this cake will do the trick! Crushed vanilla wafers replace traditional dry ingredients in this tried-and-true recipe. The result is a flavorful, moist cake with a beautiful yellow hue. Add a lemon glaze or dusting of powdered sugar to the top, and you’ll have one delicious pastry on your hands!
4. Double Chocolate Cookie Truffles
Turn your Nilla Wafers into a chocolatey treat with this recipe! Crush up those cookies to form the base of this decadent recipe. The truffles are soft and rich. Roll each one in crushed nuts or coconut flakes to give these candies the perfect finishing touch. This recipe creates a delicious sweet treat in a few simple steps.
5. Banana Cream Pie
Use those wafers to make a sweet and crispy crust for this banana cream pie! Once you’ve made your crust, fill it with luscious pie filling. Banana and vanilla are two flavors that go well together. That couldn’t be truer than in this recipe. Complement your Nilla Wafer with the sweet flavor of soft banana.
6. Funfetti Cake Batter Dip
This dip is all the fun of a cake in a cute and quick dish. Cream cheese, whipped cream, and sprinkles make the perfect dip for your Nilla Wafers. Take this with you to your next get-together! You might even be able to pass it off as an appetizer and have your dessert before dinner. It’s your childhood dream come true.
7. Banana Pudding Cupcakes
Scale traditional banana pudding down to these cute cupcakes! They have all of your favorite pudding flavors, packed into a single serving. These cupcakes are perfect for serving guests quickly and efficiently. Everyone gets their own! Garnish each one with a Nilla Wafer on top as the finishing touch.
8. Strawberry Shortcake Fudge
Smooth and creamy fudge topped with crushed Nilla Wafers is a dreamy treat that’s perfect for the strawberry lovers in your life. The fruit flavor isn’t as rich as chocolate or peanut butter and the pink color embodies birthday parties and unicorns. Make this strawberry shortcake fudge for your little princess or dessert fanatic. Each square is a creamy, dreamy treat with a Nilla Wafer crunch.
9. Nilla Wafer Caramel Candy
These caramel candies are vying for a spot on your Christmas baking list this year! Nilla wafers are topped with caramel and then drizzled with chocolate. This is a great recipe for younger kids to help with. It is a little messy, but doesn’t use the oven so they can “bake” these cookies all by themselves! You should still probably help them, especially with licking the bowl.
10. Tagalongs
The only problem with Girl Scout cookies is that they aren’t available year-round. Get a taste of their glory with this homemade tagalongs recipe. Transform vanilla wafers into perfect chocolate peanut butter bites with these copycat treats. This way, you can enjoy the delicious taste of the Girl Scout classic all year round. You may find you like this recipe even better than the cookies in the box! Fortunately, the Girl Scouts have their puppy dog eyes to help keep their cookies selling. You can’t tell them no!
11. Banana Pudding Lasagna
Layer up this dessert lasagna for a fun twist on classic vanilla pudding. Don’t worry, all of your favorite banana pudding components are there, they just look a little different! Banana wheels, whipped cream, pudding, and Nilla Wafers alternate layer after layer. This way, you’ll get a little bit of each in every bite. Traditional banana pudding gets a new look in this dessert lasagna recipe.
12. Lucky Charms Magic Bars
Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day with these magic bars! Your favorite cereal and favorite cookie join forces for this sweet and simple treat. These magic bars are similar to Rice Krispie treats, but instead of rice cereal, you have marshmallows, Nilla wafers, coconut, and Lucky Charms. Match their childlike wonder with the magic of these magic bars. Use them as leprechaun bait or just an extra special after-school snack.
13. Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding Trifle
What can I say? It’s hard to beat the traditional flavor of classic banana pudding. Layer the ingredients into a trifle for an elegant upgrade on this southern favorite. With layer upon layer of pudding and whipped cream, this trifle is as much a piece of art as it is a dessert. This elegant recipe will be the talk of your next brunch. It’s so pretty, you won’t even need a centerpiece.
14. Orange Juice Balls
Nilla Wafers form the base of these sweet treats! Similar to the truffles, orange juice balls are soft desserts that are naturally sweetened with orange juice. Replace dry ingredients with crushed Nilla Wafers for a quick and easy recipe that comes together in a pinch. The orange and vanilla combo is a creamsicle lovers paradise.
15. Strawberry Shortcake Lasagna
This strawberries and cream dessert is a delicious no-bake dessert option. Layer Nilla Wafers, whipped cream, and fresh strawberries for a light and fruity dessert. Make your own whipped cream or just use a tub of store-bought! Pre-made whipped cream could be a game-changer if you need to quickly throw something together. This recipe makes a great last-minute dish. You’re 10 minutes away from a delicious strawberry shortcake lasagna.
16. Vanilla Wafer Crust
This versatile crust can support any pie filling. From tart lemon icebox to a rich chocolate meringue, any pie tastes better in a vanilla wafer crust. This recipe is the perfect hybrid of store-bought and homemade. Whip this recipe out when you don’t have time to make a homemade crust, but don’t want to completely cheat with a store-bought one. Crush your wafers, melt some butter, and get to packing. Pretty soon, you’ll have a pie crust that’s ready to be filled.
17. Mini-Cheesecake Bites
These cute little cheesecakes will be the life of the party! Everyone will love placing a tiny little cheesecake on their plate. Each Nilla Wafer forms a tiny crust for these cheesecake bites. They’re topped with a cheesecake flavored spread for a quick way to delicious cheesecake flavor. These bites are every bit as crispy, sweet, and creamy as a real cheesecake.
18. Acorn Cookies
These cute cookies are fall-festival ready! Adorn mini-Nilla Wafers with a Hershey’s kiss and chocolate chip to create an adorable acorn. You can’t eat just one of these sweet treats! They are so yummy, you’ll be squirreling them away by the handful. How fun would acorn cookies be at a woodland-themed birthday party?
19. Strawberry Shortcake in a Jar
Scale this southern favorite down to single-serving jars and enjoy the delicious flavor of strawberry shortcake while on the go. These jars are perfect for cookouts and get-togethers where people will want to mingle and socialize as they snack. Prepare a jar for each guest and let the good times keep rolling, even as they enjoy dessert!
20. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Nilla Wafer Sandwiches
Much like Oreos, these peanut butter chocolate chip Nilla Wafer sandwiches slather plenty of peanut butter filling in between two crispy cookies before rolling them in chocolate chips. Chocolate and peanut butter is a classic combo that could never disappoint. Add Nilla Wafers into the mix, and you’ll have a delicious dessert that may be too easy to make. Click on a star to rate it!
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