Vanilla wafers

Small, crisp, lightly sweet cookies — the classic base for banana pudding and no-bake crusts. Crush them for a crust, or layer whole where a recipe wants them to soften into a cake-like texture as it sits.

Vanilla wafers

Used for

  • banana pudding
  • no-bake crusts
  • icebox cakes
  • toppings

In the kitchen

  • crush for a crust or topping
  • layer whole and let sit to soften into puddings
  • pulse in a food processor for a fine, even crumb

Picking it at the store

  • Store-brand vanilla wafers work just as well as the name brand for crushed applications like crusts
  • Buy extra if layering whole — recipes almost always call for more than seems necessary since a layer needs full coverage

Related terms

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