Nilla Wafer Pie Crust Recipe - The Carefree Kitchen (2024)

This Nilla Wafer Pie Crust uses store-bought cookies in place of graham crackers for a fun and tasty twist on the classic. It’s a sweet and buttery pie crust that makes a great option for holding all sorts of your favorite baked and no-bake pies and cheesecakes.

You can bake the crust, or use this recipe to make a completely no bake Nilla Wafer cheesecake or pie. Simply freeze the crust for at least 1 hour before filling.

Homemade Vanilla Wafer Pie Crust

It’s always nice to have options and this Nilla Wafer Pie Crust is a great one to have in your back pocket. It takes just about 10 minutes to throw together and tastes great with basically any pie or cheesecake filling that you would normally pair with a graham cracker crust.

We recommend going the “baked” route if you have the time, because the end result will be far less crumbly. However, if you are short on time and plan to fill with something that will be served super cold, you can skip the par-baking altogether and toss in the freezer for a completely no-bake dessert.

Depending on the filling, we will sometimes toss in a few tablespoons of finely chopped pecans or walnuts for a little something special. But, nuts or no nuts, this homemade pie crust is a total hit and couldn’t be more simple.

And if you're looking for some more fun variations, try our Oreo Pie Crust, Gingersnap Pie Crust and our Biscoff Cookie Pie Crust.

Nilla Wafer Crust Ingredients

• Nilla Wafers - for this recipe you will need about ⅔ of a box of cookies. Sometimes, you can also get lucky and find these pre-crushed.
• Sugar - you’ll need regular white granulated sugar.
• Butter - we like to use salted butter to add just a touch of salt to the flavor. You can melt either in the microwave or a pot on the stovetop.
• Cinnamon - this is completely optional.

How to Make Nilla Wafers Pie Crust

1. Process the Nilla Wafers. Using a food processor, pulse the Nilla Wafers until they form fine crumbs.
2. Mix the ingredients. Transfer to a bowl and add the sugar, melted butter and cinnamon (optional). Mix well until the mixture resembles wet sand and keeps its shape when squeezed in your hand.
3. Press into a 9” pie dish. Scoop the mixture into a 9" pie plate and press it in evenly, getting the sides even and then pressing the remaining crumbs into the bottom. You can use the back of a spoon, flat bottom of a measuring cup or even you hands.
4. Bake and cool. Bake in a preheated oven for 12-14 minutes, or until it becomes very lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool completely before using. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Recipe Variations

• Add 2-3 Tablespoons of chopped pecans to the mixture.
• Instead of Nilla Wafers, use gingersnap cookies to make a gingersnap crust.
• Replace the cinnamon with another spice such as nutmeg or ground ginger.
• The measurements also work with a graham cracker crust.

Storing Instructions

• Freezer: The best way to store this Nilla Wafer Pie Crust is in the freezer. You can store the unbaked crust for up to 1 month as long as it is wrapped well with plastic and aluminum foil.To use, simply remove from the freezer, add your filling and let it set up (or bake) as directed in the recipe you have chosen.

More no bake desserts that we love!

• Cheesecake Strawberries
• Cookie Dough
• Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Dip
• Nutella No-Bake Cookies
• No-Bake Peanut Butter S'mores Cookie Bars
• No-Bake Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies
• More No Bake Recipes
• More Dessert Recipes

This Nilla Wafer Pie Crust is a great alternative for holding all sorts of your favorite baked and no-bake pies and cheesecakes. It's fun, tasty, and super easy to throw together.

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