16 Things to Do With Nilla Wafers

Banana pudding in individual dessert dishes. — Diana Rattray

Eating Nilla Wafers on their own is great, but making totally new desserts using them is even better. You may want to buy a few extra boxes next time you're at the grocery store to make more than one of these excellent and creative recipes.

Feeling Ambitious? Learn to Make Nilla Wafers at Home

01 of 16

Acorn Cookies

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

These adorable acorn-shaped cookies use Hershey's Kisses, Nilla Wafers, and chocolate chips to "glue" the two together. They make a great party favor or classroom treat and a fun activity to do with the kids in the fall. Mix it up by using different flavored chips or cookies.
02 of 16

Vanilla Wafer Cake

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Use crushed vanilla wafer cookies instead of flour to make this creative cake that tastes similar to pound cake. Pecans add nutty flavor and using dark brown sugar in the glaze gives it a richer, sweeter note.
03 of 16

Nilla Wafer Crust

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

You can make a tasty crust for cheesecake, no-bake pie, or ice cream pie using vanilla wafers. Use it in place of a graham cracker crust for a sweeter, more vanilla-forward flavor. It tastes especially great with pumpkin pie.
04 of 16

Mini Cheesecakes With Cookie Crust

The Spruce / Jolinda Hackett

Make these adorable miniature cheesecakes using a vanilla wafer crust for even more sweetness than traditional graham crackers. They bake in a muffin tin and work great as a light dessert or snack. Top them with a fruity glaze for delicious contrast.

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05 of 16

Easy Banana Pudding

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

This shortcut banana pudding uses prepared whipped topping and instant vanilla pudding as well as lemon juice and bananas for a fresh, tropical flavor. It works great for a busy day or when you need a last-minute dessert. If possible, build it in a trifle bowl or clear glass cups so you can see the pretty layers.
06 of 16

No-Bake Orange Balls

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

For a sweet, unique treat, try these orange ball cookies that use a similar technique to rum balls. Crush the vanilla wafers nice and fine for the right texture,and serve them chilled so they don't get mushy. They taste best when made a day ahead to give the flavors time to meld, so plan accordingly.
07 of 16

Chocolate Delight Dessert

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

This layered dessert uses pudding, graham crackers or vanilla wafers, cream cheese, and whipped topping for a delightful treat that kids and adults alike will love. It also lends itself well to variation, so feel free to experiment with different pudding flavors, adding nuts, or making the crust out of different cookies.
08 of 16

Banana Pudding Cake

Kristina Vanni

This banana pudding cake is made up of delicious layers; the moist cake made with mashed banana is covered with a sweet vanilla pudding, sliced bananas, and whipped cream. The vanilla wafers are the finishing touch, crushed up and added to the top for a nice crunch.

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09 of 16

Sweet Potato Cream Cheese Pie

Diana Rattray

A vanilla wafer crust complements this autumnal pie perfectly. The cream cheese, sweet potato, and spiced filling has a texture similar to cheesecake but with a fall twist. It comes out very rich, so serve it in small slices, perhaps with a dollop of whipped cream on top.
10 of 16

Classic Gingerbread House

Leat Maroney

Nilla wafers make great decorations for your classic gingerbread house. Try using them for windows or doors, shingles on larger houses, shutters, or any other element you can imagine. The only limit is what you can come up with!
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Banana Pudding Pie

Alexandra Grablewski/Photolibrary/Getty Images

Use vanilla wafers for the crust on this banana pudding pie for a combination that tastes similar to a banana trifle. Sprinkle some extra crumbled wafers on top for additional crunch. You can also use a prepared graham cracker crust, for a faster preparation.
12 of 16

Pumpkin Dip With Vanilla Wafers

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Vanilla wafers make the perfect dippers for this creamy spread that tastes like a fluffier version of pumpkin pie filling mixed with candy corn. If you don't care for candy corn, use roughly chopped leftover Halloween candy, caramels, or even caramel popcorn.

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13 of 16

Mini Cheesecakes With Cherry Topping

Angus Fergusson/Radius Images/Getty Images

These mini cheesecakes use whole vanilla wafers for the crust, making them both easy and delicious. Bake them in muffin tins for a simple, portable dessert and top them with cherry pie filling or another fruit preserve, nuts, or even chocolate chips.
14 of 16

Old-Fashioned Layered Banana Pudding

Brian Hagiwara/Photolibrary/Getty Images

You may recognize this old-school banana pudding from your grandmother's kitchen, which uses a box of vanilla wafer cookies and bananas with a luscious meringue topping. It tastes great hot or chilled—try it both ways for a lovely, classic dessert.
15 of 16

Kentucky Bourbon Balls

The Spruce

Everyone will ask for these easy, no-bake bourbon balls when the holidays roll around. They taste great coated in powdered sugar or dipped in melted chocolate, and have plenty of bourbon flavor. If you like them less sweet, cut back on the sugar and add more cocoa powder to balance it out.
16 of 16

Thanksgiving Turkey Cupcakes

Leah Maroney

These adorable turkey-topped cupcakes make a great project for the kids that they will love showing off to their friends. Use Nilla wafers for the turkeys' bodies, candy corn for their feathers, M&Ms for their beaks, and a fruit roll-up for the waddle. If you can't find candy eyes, use small M&M candies to make those, too.

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Pumpkin Dip With Vanilla Wafers