Find out what vanilla wafers are, what they’re made of, used for, and if these popular cookies are safe for a gluten-free diet. Plus get gluten-free alternatives and recipes.
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If you enjoy vanilla wafer cookies or Nilla wafers, you are not alone. I feel like all through my childhood, I saw these cookies at so many events I went to. They were always served as one of the go-to options for a dessert table. In my mind, they were a staple cookie that everyone enjoyed.
It was only after going gluten-free that I realized that every single dessert that I’d ever known would need to be scrutinized to find out whether or not it contained gluten. And if I could enjoy it anymore without having digestive issues later.
If you’re going through the same thing, trying to decide if vanilla wafers or Nilla Wafers are cookies you can still enjoy while following a gluten-free diet, you’re in the right place.
In this post, we’re going to talk about what vanilla wafers are, what varieties they come in, and what this popular cookie is used for. We’ll also go into details about what ingredients are used in these cookies and answer the question “are Nilla Wafers gluten-free?”
Finally, we’ll dive into answering a few questions about if you can buy gluten-free options, what brands to look for, as well as if you can make these simple but delicious cookies at home.
Ready to talk vanilla wafers? Let’s get into it!
What are Vanilla Wafers?
Vanilla wafers, also best known as Nilla Wafers, are a brand name of cookies sold by the Nabisco brand. These cookies are what most people are referencing when they talk about vanilla wafers, though you can make your own version of this cookie at home as well.
There is a bit of a toss up between what the term vanilla wafers refers to. Some folks think of Nilla Wafers, the round disc-shaped cookies, while others think of the layered light cookies with cream filling between the layers. We’re going to discuss the round shaped cookies mostly in this post.
What varieties do Nilla Wafers come in?
Nilla Wafers come in two varieties: regular and mini. You can find them in their standard 11 ounce sized boxes, as well as smaller 1 oz packages for perfect portioning of this snack.
What are vanilla wafers used for?
While these cookies can be eaten on their own, many folks also use them in different dessert recipes too, like tiramisu or puddings.
I’ve seen folks use them as a base for pies and cheesecakes, trifles, made into little sandwiches with chocolate or other frosting between them, and even used to dip in a dessert dip made with frosting or whipped topping and other flavorings.
Nilla Wafers ingredients
According to the Nilla Wafers packaging, these are the ingredients in these popular cookies:
“Unbleached enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate {vitamin b1}, riboflavin {vitamin b2}, folic acid), sugar, canola oil, palm oil, high fructose corn syrup, whey (from milk), eggs, salt, leavening (baking soda, calcium phosphate), mono- and diglycerides, natural and artificial flavor, soy lecithin.”
What is gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in most wheat products, and acts as the “glue” that helps to hold wheat, barley, kamut, spelt, farro, durum, bulgur, rye, and semolina together to maintain their shape.
You can find gluten in whole grains, but also in many processed foods as well. If you purchase wheat bread, there will be gluten in it, because wheat by nature has gluten.
Many processed foods have hidden gluten in them in the form of gluten or wheat derivatives. These are used as flavorings, binders to keep ingredients together, or other additives.
Are Nilla wafers gluten-free?
Nilla Wafers are not gluten-free, because they contain unbleached enriched flour. This ingredient is made from wheat flour, making it not a good option for folks who are trying to steer clear of gluten in their diet.
Can I buy gluten-free vanilla wafers?
You can buy gluten-free vanilla wafers. Look for them under the names of Vanilla Wafers as opposed to Nilla Wafers, which is a specific brand.
Look for them in the gluten-free section of your grocery store or with other cookies and desserts. If you can’t find them locally, try looking for some of these gluten-free options online.
Gluten-free vanilla wafers brands
You can find a few different gluten-free vanilla wafers options out there. Look for one of these brands next time you’re in the mood for this cookie and looking to stick to your gluten-free diet.
Kinnikinnick Vanilla Wafers
Kinnikinnick offers gluten-free vanilla wafers that are gluten-free and dairy-free. These are the ingredients you’ll find in these cookies according to the Kinnikinnick website:
“Sugars (cane sugar, tapioca syrup), Egg whites, White rice flour, Potato starch*, Non-hydrogenated shortening (palm oil, modified palm oil)†, Pea starch, Tapioca starch, Cellulose, Water, Natural flavours, Salt, Baking powder, Modified cellulose, Sunflower lecithin, Beta-carotene.”
Schar Gluten Free Vanilla Wafers
Schar is a great brand that offers gluten-free products, including their gluten-free vanilla wafers. While these cookies aren’t the round-shaped wafers that we’ve been talking about throughout the post, they are a light, crispy cookie that can enjoyed much the same way their round cookie counterparts are.
Schar Vanilla Wafers are made with these ingredients according to their website:
“Potato starch , sugar , coconut oil , skimmed milk powder , rice flour , whey powder , soy flour , sunflower lecithin , natural vanilla flavor , guar gum , baking soda . Contains: Tree Nuts (Coconut), Soy, Milk. May Contain: Tree Nuts (Hazelnut).”
HighKey Gluten-free Vanilla Wafer Cookies
HighKey is a brand that specializes in keto and low carb options. Their vanilla wafers are also gluten-free and have about 4 grams of protein per serving.
According to their website, these are the ingredients you can expect to find in them:
“Almond Flour, Erythritol, Butter (Cream [Milk], Natural Flavor), Resistant Cassava Fiber, Egg Whites, Inulin, Natural Vanilla Flavor with other Natural Flavors, Stevia Extract, Monk Fruit Extract, Baking Soda, Salt, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum
*Contains: Almonds, Milk, and Egg”
Read on: Gluten and dairy-free cookie brands
Can I make my own gluten-free vanilla wafers?
Absolutely! If you love vanilla wafers and want to find an option that works for your gluten-free diet without having to hunt them down at the grocery store or online, you’ll only need a few ingredients to make this happen.
Use one of these recipes from amazing bloggers who have put together everything you need to know about making gluten-free vanilla wafers come together:
- Gluten Free “Nilla Wafers” Nabisco-Style by Gluten-free on a Shoestring
- Gluten-free Vanilla Wafers from Gluten-free Palate
- Homemade Gluten Free Vanilla Wafers from Let Them Eat GF Cake
- Vegan Gluten-free Vanilla Wafers from Minimalist Baker
- Vegan Vanilla Wafers from ElaVegan
If you love vanilla wafers or Nilla Wafers, I hope that you’ve been able to get the answers you’ve been looking for about what your options are to keep enjoying this cookie while sticking with your gluten-free diet.
While most vanilla wafer cookies aren’t gluten-free, there are a few brands out there that will work for your gluten-free diet. You can also try your hand at making your own at home to enjoy on their own or in your favorite dessert recipes!
If you loved this post, I hope that you’ll share it with your friends on Facebook and pin it for future reference on Pinterest.
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