Gluten free vanilla wafers?! The mere mention of a recipe like this popular one gets people talking. These cookies bring back such wonderful memories, and the thought of having them again, gluten free, ignites a fire of excitement for kids and all of us kids at heart.
How long has it been since you’ve had a vanilla wafer? As a celiac cookbook author creating gluten-free recipes, it’s often a challenge to devise recipes that are close to the original wheat versions, because I can’t conduct a taste test!
So when I set about to create a knock-off ‘Nilla Wafer, I had to line up some gluten-eating taste testers.
It might seem like making homemade “Nilla” knock-offs would be difficult, but it’s really not! The dough comes together easily when using my gfJules Flour — the light, airy flour works great in these cookies so there’s no grit, no nasty aftertaste and the taste really shines through.
Then after it gets nice and cold, just transfer the dough to a piping bag or other plastic bag with a corner cut out and squeeze!
With big smiles, full mouths and nodding heads, my family (and all the gluten-eating taste testers) gave this gluten free Vanilla Wafer recipe recipe a thumbs up!
I hope your family enjoys them as much as ours has!
To see more delicious gluten-free cookie recipes, search my RECIPES for “cookie” or for a particular type of cookie you might crave. Also grab a copy of my popular Gluten Free Cookie e-book With over 26 pages of gluten-free cookie baking tips and recipes, it’s a cookie resource you’ll definitely want to have.
To see the Virtual Gluten Free Cookie Exchange where this recipe was first published, hop to my post for links to all 18 GF cookies shared, and don’t forget to check the Gluten Free Cookie Swap on Facebook. So many delicious gluten-free cookie recipes, so little time!
Now, on to the recipe you’ve been waiting for: Gluten Free Vanilla Wafers!
Gluten Free Vanilla Wafer Recipe
Made with my gfJules Gluten Free Flour, no one would ever know these light and clean-tasting cookies were gluten free. They're the perfect thing to fix any Nilla Wafer craving, and they'll be the icing on your Banana Cream Pie ... so to speak!
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter or non-dairy alternative (e.g. Earth Balance® Buttery Sticks)
- 1 cup granulated cane sugar
- 1/8 tsp. sea salt
- 1 large egg white (or alternative like aquafaba)
- 1 Tbs. pure vanilla extract (or lemon zest for a lemon version of this cookie)
- 1 Tbs. milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 1/3 cup + 1 Tbs. gfJules™ All-Purpose Gluten-Free Flour (192 grams)
Instructions
Beat together the butter, sugar and salt for 4-5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add egg white (or aquafaba), vanilla and milk, mixing until integrated. Slowly add the gfJules Flour and baking powder, beating until totally combined.
Refrigerate for two hours or until cold.
Preheat oven to 350°F (static) or 325°F (convection).
Scoop dough into a piping bag with a large icing tip or a plastic bag with a one-inch corner cut out.
Evenly squeeze dough out onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, forming rounds approximately ¾-inch wide, spaced 1 inch apart.
Bake for approximately 13 – 14 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned.
Nutrition Information
Yield 50 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 34Total Fat 2gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 9mgSodium 32mgCarbohydrates 4gFiber 0gSugar 4gProtein 0g
Please keep in mind that nutrition information provided is per serving, which may vary. While we have taken care to provide you with the most accurate nutritional values possible, please note that this information may differ significantly depending on the exact ingredients and brands that you choose to use to make this recipe. Additionally, where options are given for ingredients, the resulting calculation may include all ingredient options instead of only one per line, skewing the totals significantly.
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Is the butter intended to be cold or softened?
Hi Jeffrey, cold butter always works best when creaming butter and sugar. Glad you asked, just to be sure, but I will definitely specify in my recipes if the butter should be softened or melted, otherwise, straight from the fridge! Happy baking!
~jules
can these cookies be used to make a crust for bars or cheesecake?
Oh yum, yes! Just make sure they’re fully cooled before crushing them and making them into a crust. This pie recipe has the how-tos of making a gluten free cookie crust, just sub these gluten free Nilla Wafers in instead!
~jules
I’ve made these aberration times and love them! Thanks for this recipe!
So glad to hear you’ve made this recipe bunches and love it, Heather!!! I always like to know I’m not the only one using my recipes! 😉
~jules
Mot flours weigh about 120gr a cup, why is yours heavier?
All flours are a bit different, density and weight-wise. It’s good to be sure the weight of the flour you’re using before measuring for a recipe, where the weights are offered. If you measure my gfJules Flour to 135gr/cup you’ll have the right amount for my recipes. Happy baking!
~jules
How long do these store for?
Hi Elaine, made with my gfJules Flour they will last longer since my Flour has a natural preservative. If kept in a tupperware-type container, they should be good for at least a week or so!
~jules
I will be making these today! My client is gluten free and this will work. I will also do a vegan substitute. Thanks!
I hope she loves the cookies!
~jules