Nilla Wafers

Nilla Wafers
Product typeCookie
OwnerMondelez International
CountryU.S.
Introduced1898; 126 years ago (1898)
Previous ownersNabisco
Websitesnackworks.com/nilla
Nabisco Vanilla Wafers box, prior to the 1967 name change
Banana pudding with Nilla wafers around the outside

Nilla Wafers are vanilla-flavored, wafer-style cookies made by Nabisco, a subsidiary of Illinois-based Mondelēz International.

The name is a shortened version of vanilla, the flavor profile common to all Nilla-branded products. Originally marketed as Nabisco Vanilla Wafers, the product's name was changed in 1967 to the abbreviated form, Nilla Wafer.[1] Originally a round, thin, light wafer cookie made with flour, sugar, shortening, eggs[2] and real vanilla, Nilla wafers have been primarily flavored with synthetic vanillin since at least 1994, a change which prompted criticism.[3][4] Nilla wafers are described as having "natural and artificial flavor", according to the ingredients list on the box.[5]

Nilla produced a variety of spin-off products, including pie crusts. The crusts were introduced in 1992 alongside pie crusts flavored like two other Nabisco cookie brands, Oreos and Honey Grahams.[6]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Hartel, Richard W. (2006-06-06). "Cracker or cookie: What's the diff?". The Capital Times. Archived from the original on 2017-10-08.
  3. ^ Hofsess, Diane (1994-02-24). "Shopping? It's Smart To Be Suspicious". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 2017-10-07.
  4. ^ Hermann, Andrew (1997-09-16). "New, improved – or just different". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 2017-10-07. Nilla wafers no longer have any vanilla in them.
  5. ^ Bomgardner, Melody M. (2016-09-12). "The problem with vanilla". Chemical & Engineering News. 94 (36).
  6. ^ "'Sinkies' Get Serious". Post-Tribune (IN). 1992-11-25. Archived from the original on 2017-10-08.