A vanilla wafer crust is buttery, sweet and so delicious! Say goodbye to pre-formed pie crusts waiting to expire on supermarket shelves. This homemade Nilla wafer crust is fresher and tastier than store-bought!
This crust is the perfect base for cheesecakes, bars, oven-baked desserts, and no-bake pies. Like a graham cracker crust, Oreo cookie crust, and flaky quiche crust, it’s a super easy recipe. Make it in 15 minutes!
INGREDIENTS
Only 3 ingredients (plus cooking spray) are needed for a delightful Nilla wafer crust! Here’s what you’ll need for this easy recipe.
- Vanilla wafer cookies (Nilla Wafers)
- Granulated sugar
- Salted butter
- Cooking spray – for greasing the pan
KITCHEN SMARTS: The sugar crystals and melted butter help bind the cookie crumbs together. It makes the crust less crumbly. However, if desired, this recipe can be assembled without granulated sugar.
BEST INGREDIENT SWAPS
Missing an ingredient for this pie crust recipe? Before putting on your shoes and heading to the store, check your pantry for these easy ingredient swaps.
- VANILLA WAFERS: Substitute with graham crackers, biscoff cookies, crisp ginger snap cookies, or crushed waffle cones. For those residing outside the USA, I’ve been told that digestive biscuits are a great substitute.
- GRANULATED SUGAR: Substitute with light-brown sugar. Because brown sugar has moisture from molasses, you may need to slightly adjust the amount of cookie crumbs (add more) or melted butter (add less).
- SALTED BUTTER: Use unsalted butter. If desired, add a pinch or two of salt directly to the melted butter. You can also substitute margarine for butter, but the crumb mixture won’t be as rich and flavorful.
best pie pan for this recipe
When assembling a vanilla wafer crust, I pull out my favorite 9-inch pie pan. This USA Pan is made from 65% recycled aluminized steel. It’s professional-grade bakeware that’s beautiful, stylish and a joy to use.
I picked up my pie plate at an upscale market in California. But you can grab one now, at a fantastic price, through the Amazon affiliate link below.
RECIPE STEPS
RECIPE PREP: In a heat-safe ramekin, melt the butter. Put it aside to cool.
- STEP 1: Add Nilla wafers to the bowl of a food processor. [No food processor? Use a blender instead. Or put the cookies into a large freezer bag and crush them with the back of a metal measuring cup.]
- STEP 2: Pulse until the cookies are reduced to fine crumbs. This cookie crushing process takes less than 60 seconds.
- STEP 3: Transfer the crumbs to a large bowl. Add the granulated sugar. Mix well to combine. Drizzle melted butter over the mixture.
- STEP 4: Mix until the butter is fully incorporated. Break up any lumps. The texture will be mealy.
RECIPE TIP: With a spoon, press some of the loose crumb mixture against the side of the mixing bowl. Does the compressed mixture hold together well? If it’s too dry and crumbly, add more melted butter. If the mix is too wet, add more crumbs.
ASSEMBLE THE VANILLA WAFER CRUST
- STEP 1: Lightly spray the bottom and sides of the pie pan with a flavorless cooking spray. Do this even if the pan has a non-stick surface. Use a paper towel to evenly distribute the oil. This little trick will help the slices of pie lift out of the dish more easily.
- STEP 2: Assemble the sides of the crust. Hold the pie pan at angle, directly over the mixing bowl. With a combination of a thin spatula and a metal 1/3 measuring cup, press crumb mixture up the sides of the pan. Rotate the pan as you work. The sides of the crust should be firm, compact, and about 1/4 inch thick.
- STEP 3: Add remaining crumb mixture to the pan. Form the bottom of the crust. Pack down the crumbs in a tight even layer. With a fingertip and a thin spatula, compress the top rim of the crust and even it out.
- STEP 4: Transfer the pie pan to the freezer. Chill 35 minutes or until the pie crust has hardened. An alternate method: refrigerate 1 to 2 hours until sturdy and stable.
MAKE-AHEAD RECIPE: For holidays and parties, this is a time-saving make-ahead recipe. Refrigerate your vanilla wafer crust up to 3 days, or freeze it for up to 1 month.
RECIPE FAQ & EXPERT TIPS
One 11-oz (311g) box of Nilla wafer cookies contains 80 to 85 cookies. Instead of counting out 62 cookies, grind them all up. Use what’s needed for the vanilla wafer crust, and save the extra crumbs for later. Use them as a topping for oatmeal, yogurt, parfaits, and ice cream.
Replace 3/4 cup cookie crumbs with unsalted nuts, like pecans, walnuts or macadamia nuts. In the food processor, grind up wafers and nuts together. ALERGY ALERT: Only add nuts when you’re 100% sure no one who will enjoy the dessert has a nut allergy. For potlucks and parties, don’t take the risk. Don’t use nuts in the crust.
It’s not necessary to bake the crust when using it to assemble a no-bake dessert. After preparing the crust, chill it in the freezer for 35 minutes or until it’s sturdy and firm.
In a 350°F oven, par-bake the Nilla wafer crust for 7 to 8 minutes, or until light golden blonde. It’ll be crisper and less crumbly when sliced.
No. It’s not necessary to par-bake the crust when using it for a baked dessert like cheesecake or lemon bars.
Repair the cracks with honey. Or create a mixture of 1 teaspoon granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon melted butter. Drizzle it over the cracks. Gently press the mixture into the cracks to seal them.
Freeze or refrigerate vanilla wafer crust until firm. Brush egg wash (1 egg white whisked with 1 tablespoon water) over the cold crust. Dry the crust by baking it in a 350°F oven for 3 to 5 minutes. The dried-on egg creates a moisture barrier between the crust and filling. Cool the crust completely before adding the filling.
Store an unbaked crust in the fridge (away from odorous foods) up to 3 days, or freeze up to 1 year. For a crust that’s baked, cool it completely. Cover the pie plate with plastic wrap. It can be safely stored on the countertop for up to 3 days, or refrigerated for up to 1 week.
Use a serrated knife. Crumb crusts are rustic and crumbly, whether baked or unbaked. It’s one of their charms. But a serrated knife will make a cleaner cut, resulting in a neater slice.
DELICIOUS DESSERTS TO MAKE ASAP!
If you loved this vanilla wafer crust, you’ll really enjoy these flavorful treats! Each dessert is a family favorite, and super easy to make. Add them to your recipe arsenal. Print the recipes now to make them later.
RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Friends say this is the best pie crust recipe! It produces an irresistible vanilla wafer crust! If you agree, give it a 5-star rating in the comments.
VANILLA WAFER CRUST
- Total Time: 15 Minutes
- Yield: 1 Pie Crust 1x
Description
Bring on the joy with a fresh, homemade vanilla wafer crust! It’s buttery and sweet with the perfect texture. It gives pies and desserts a rustic charm. Assemble this easy recipe in 15 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups vanilla wafer crumbs, firmly packed (about 62 cookies)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted
ALSO: Cooking spray for greasing the pan.
INGREDIENT NOTE: One 11-oz (311g) box of Nilla wafer cookies contains 80 to 85 cookies. I grind up the whole box of cookies, then measure out what’s needed. I save the extra crumbs for topping oatmeal, yogurt, and ice cream.
Instructions
RECIPE PREP: In a heat-safe ramekin, melt the butter. Put it aside to cool. Lightly spray the bottom and sides of the pie pan with a flavorless cooking spray. Do this even if the pan has a non-stick surface. Use a paper towel to evenly distribute the oil. Later, this will help the slices of pie lift out of the dish more easily.
- Add Nilla wafers to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the cookies are reduced to fine crumbs. This cookie crushing process takes less than 60 seconds. [No food processor? Use a blender instead. Or put the cookies into a large freezer bag and crush them with the back of a metal measuring cup.]
- Transfer the crumbs to a large bowl. Add granulated sugar. Mix well to combine. Drizzle melted butter over the mixture. Mix until the butter is fully incorporated. Break up any lumps. The texture will be mealy.
- In the prepared pie pan, assemble the sides of the crust. Hold the pan at angle, directly over the mixing bowl. With a combination of a thin spatula and a metal 1/3 measuring cup, press crumb mixture up the sides of the pan. Rotate the pan as you work. The sides of the crust should be firm, compact, and about 1/4 inch thick.
- Add remaining crumb mixture to the pan. Form the bottom of the crust. Pack down the crumbs in a tight even layer. With a fingertip and a thin spatula, compress the top rim of the crust and even it out.
- Transfer the pie pan to the freezer. Chill 35 minutes or until the pie crust has hardened. An alternate method: refrigerate vanilla wafer crust for 1 to 2 hours until sturdy and stable.
FOR A STURDIER CRUST: Par-bake the crust in a 350°F oven for 7 to 8 minutes, or until light golden blonde. It’ll be sturdier and less crumbly when sliced.
Notes
HOW TO PREVENT A SOGGY CRUST: Freeze or refrigerate vanilla wafer crust until firm. Brush egg wash (1 egg white whisked with 1 tablespoon water) over the cold crust. Dry the crust by baking it in a 350°F oven for 3 to 5 minutes. The dried-on egg creates a protective moisture barrier between the crust and filling. Cool the crust completely before adding the filling.
HOW TO STORE A VANILLA WAFER CRUST: Store an unbaked crust in the fridge (away from odorous foods) up to 3 days, or freeze up to 1 year. For a crust that’s baked, cool it completely. Cover the pie plate with plastic wrap. It can be safely stored on the countertop for up to 3 days, or refrigerated for up to 1 week.
HOW TO SLICE A DESSERT WITH A CRUMB CRUST: Use a serrated knife. Crumb crusts are rustic and crumbly, whether baked or unbaked. It’s one of their charms. But a serrated knife will make a cleaner cut, resulting in a neater slice.
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 0 Minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Vanilla Wafer Crust, Nilla Wafer Crust, Pie Crust
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
What are your favorite crumb-crust desserts? Which ones will feature a Nilla wafer crust? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Can fresh bananas be added to the crumb mixture before baking?
Ernest, that combination sounds interesting! I’ve never tried that. If you do, please come back to share how it turned out.
Wow!! Perfect combination of sweet and savory buttery crunch. I could eat this all on its own. Brilliantly done!!
★★★★★
This crust was the BOMB!! So crunchy and yet buttery!! Thank you for adding this crust into my recipe box!
★★★★★
There’s so many uses for this crust and thanks so much for the tips too!
★★★★★
I love this easy recipe for a homemade pie crust!! So delicious. I just paired it with lemon bars! :)
★★★★★
This crust is AMAZING! And I loved how easy it was to make, Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
I can’t wait to make this! I’m getting ready to assemble some pies this weekend. So excited!
★★★★★
Loved the perfect flavor and texture of the crust. It came out beautifully. I’ll be making this recipe again for my no-bake desserts!
★★★★★