What Are Chocolate wafer cookies and How Can I Use Them?
Wondering what to do with chocolate wafer cookies? This guide covers how to pick them, cook them, store them, and swap them, plus 45 recipes to put them to work.
Key Points
- Thin, crisp, deep-brown cocoa cookies, not very sweet; the classic icebox-cake and crust cookie.
- Stack with whipped cream and chill overnight for an icebox cake; the wafers soften into cake.
- Crush and bind with butter for a dark, slightly bitter crumb crust under rich fillings.
- Rushing the icebox cake leaves hard, dry cookies; give it a full overnight to soften.
- Scraped-out Oreos or chocolate graham crackers substitute, but both run sweeter than true wafers.
What are chocolate wafer cookies?
Chocolate wafer cookies are thin, crisp, deep-brown cookies with a dry snap and a not-too-sweet cocoa flavor. They are flat and uniform, more like a cracker than a soft bakery cookie. In the United States the iconic brand was Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers, the cookie behind generations of icebox cakes.
The point of a chocolate wafer is its dryness. That dry, porous crumb is what lets it soak up cream and soften into cake, and what lets it grind into clean crumbs for a crust.
They are not very sweet on their own, which is by design. The mild bitterness keeps a cream filling or a cheesecake from going cloying.
How to Use Chocolate Wafer Cookies
The signature use is the icebox cake. You stack the wafers with whipped cream between each one, then frost the whole log and chill it overnight. The wafers drink in the cream and soften into thin chocolate cake layers, no oven required.
They are also the base of countless crumb crusts. Crushed and bound with butter, they make a dark, slightly bitter crust that suits rich fillings, which is why Heath Bar Mocha Cheesecake and the chocolate-wafer crust in Chocolate Bavarian Cream Pie both start here.
Whole or roughly broken, the wafers crumble into ice cream and no-bake desserts. Better Than Oreo Ice Cream folds them through the custard, and Best Kahlua Ice Cream Pie leans on their crunch.
Crusts: See Chocolate Wafer Crumbs
When a recipe calls for the cookies ground up, you are really making chocolate wafer crumbs, and the crust ratios and pressing technique live on that page.
The short version: about one and a half cups of crumbs to a quarter cup of melted butter presses into a 9-inch pie or springform pan. Bake the crust briefly or chill it firm before filling.
Pairing and Common Mistakes
Chocolate wafers pair with cream cheese, whipped cream, coffee, mint, caramel, and most fruit. Their mild bitterness keeps a sweet, rich filling from turning cloying.
The classic icebox-cake mistake is rushing it. The wafers need a full overnight in the fridge to absorb the cream and turn cake-soft. Slice too soon and you hit a hard, dry cookie in the middle of a soft dessert.
When grinding for a crust, the trap is uneven crumbs. Big chunks leave a crust that crumbles when you cut it, so process to a fine, sandy texture before adding the butter.
Substitutes
The closest swap is a thin chocolate snap or a chocolate-flavored graham. For an icebox cake or crust, scraped-out Oreo cookies work well, though the filling makes them sweeter, so cut back on added sugar.
Crushed plain chocolate graham crackers also make a workable crust, just sweeter and a bit softer than true wafers. In a pinch, any crisp, dry chocolate cookie that grinds to a clean crumb will do the job.
Buying and Storing
Look for chocolate wafers in the cookie aisle, though they can be hard to find since the classic Nabisco version was discontinued. Specialty thin chocolate wafers and store brands have stepped in, and many cooks keep a few sleeves on hand once they find a source.
Store them sealed and airtight at room temperature. Like any thin, crisp cookie they go stale and soft as they pick up humidity, so keep the package tightly closed.
Unopened they last for months. Ground crumbs freeze well, so pulse a batch ahead and bag them for the next crust or icebox cake.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 cup, crumbs (112g)Quick facts
Food group: Chocolate wafer cookies are a member of the Baked Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
- In Chinese
- 巧克力饼干片
- British (UK) term
- Chocolate wafer cookies
- en français
- plaquettes de chocolat
- en español
- galletas de la oblea de chocolate
How much do chocolate wafer cookies weigh?
| Amount | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 cup, crumbs | 112 grams |
| 1 ounce | 28 grams |
| 1 wafer | 6 grams |
Related
Baked Products
Recipes using chocolate wafer cookies
There are 45 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Chocolate Cheesecake with Chocolate Nutmeg Crust
Chocolaty, creamy, smooth and rich. This chocolate cheesecake is an ultimate indulgence.
Better Than Oreo Ice Cream
A rich chocolate taste but surprisingly light chocolate ice cream studded with chunks of chocolate wafers and walnuts.
Halloween Witch Cupcakes
These cute wicked cupcakes will definitely impress your kids and the friends, and they are delicious!
Chocolate Glazed Cheese Cake
Triple-layer cheesecake on a chocolate wafer crust with a chocolate-sour cream base, brown sugar-pecan middle, and almond-vanilla top, all finished with a glossy chocolate glaze.
Super Rich Fudge Truffle Cheesecake
Super rich fudge truffle cheesecake: chocolate wafer crust, two pounds of dark chocolate ganache folded into a vanilla cream cheese filling, and piped truffles on top. A serious chocolate showpiece.
Toffee Ice-Cream Layer Cake
Frozen layer cake with coffee, chocolate, and vanilla ice cream stacked on a cinnamon chocolate wafer crust, loaded with crushed toffee bars and served with homemade hot fudge sauce.
Numbero Uno Cake
No-bake chocolate wafer icebox cake made with whipped topping and chocolate cookies. Just stack, chill, and slice for a creamy layered dessert kids and adults love.
Chocolate Covered White Chocolate Cheesecake
White chocolate cheesecake on a chocolate wafer crust, covered in glossy semi-sweet chocolate ganache. Two kinds of chocolate in one rich, make-ahead showpiece dessert.
Peppermint Fudge Pie
No-bake peppermint fudge pie layered into a chocolate wafer crust, with a creamy marshmallow filling studded with crushed peppermint candy. A holiday classic with cool, minty crunch.
Jack 'O' Lantern Cookies
Jack-o-lantern cookies made from peanut butter sandwich cookies dipped in orange-tinted almond bark with black licorice faces. A fun, no-bake Halloween treat kids love decorating.
Chocolate-Glazed Triple-Layer Cheesecake
Triple-layer cheesecake with a chocolate cookie crust, chocolate cream cheese base, brown sugar pecan middle, and almond-vanilla sour cream top. Showstopper dessert, worth the effort.
Classic Chocolate Cheesecake
Chocolaty, creamy, smooth and absolutely delicious. This chocolate cheesecake is heaven.
Chocolate-Glazed Cheesecake
Triple-layer chocolate-glazed cheesecake with a chocolate cookie crust, a dark chocolate layer, a brown sugar pecan layer, and a classic cream cheese layer, all topped with warm chocolate glaze. A show-stopping celebration dessert.
Vanilla-Limeade Ice Cream Pie
Vanilla-limeade ice cream pie: a chocolate wafer crust ringed with cookies, layered with vanilla ice cream and ribbons of tart green limeade, then frozen firm. A no-bake, make-ahead summer dessert.
Chocolate Wafer Mix Pie Crust
A make-ahead chocolate wafer crumb mix that stores for 6 months. Pull out a cup or two anytime you want a fast no-bake pie crust for cheesecake, mousse pie, or ice cream pie.
Mocha Cheese Chocolate Cake
No-bake frozen mocha cheesecake with a chocolate wafer crust, cream cheese, condensed milk, and instant coffee. Creamy, frozen, and intensely chocolatey.
Fudgy Bat Cookies
Fudgy bat cookies turn chocolate wafer cookies into Halloween treats shaped like flying bats with milk chocolate candy melts. A no-bake project for kids and party trays.
Toffee Ice Cream Pie
Toffee ice cream pie with a cinnamon chocolate-cookie crust, layers of coffee-toffee-crunch ice cream, and a rich espresso ganache sauce. Make-ahead frozen dessert that holds for two weeks.
Instant Chocolate Cream Cake
No-bake chocolate cream cake layered with chocolate wafer cookies, vanilla whipped cream, and fresh strawberries. Refrigerate 8 hours and the cookies soften into cake-like layers.
Chocolate Lover's Cheesecake-Microwave
Creamy chocolate cheesecake made entirely in the microwave in under 30 minutes. A chocolate wafer crust, silky sour cream filling, and drizzled chocolate topping with zero oven time.
Chocolate-Amareto Cheesecake
Lighter chocolate amaretto cheesecake made with reduced-fat cream cheese, cottage cheese, and cocoa. Baked low and slow with mini chocolate chips folded in.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake
Chocolate wafer cheesecake with cookie dough buried beneath the surface. Smooth cream cheese filling hides surprise pockets of cookie dough that stay soft and chewy after baking.
Almond Filled Cheesecake
This almond filled cheesecake is creamy, nutty, and absolutely delicious. A all-time popular dessert at any occasion.
Chocolate Mousse Pie
Showstopping chocolate mousse pie with brandy-soaked chocolate-dipped cherries, a cookie crust, and a filling loaded with 12 oz of chocolate, coffee, and whipped cream.
French Silk Chocolate Pie2
French silk chocolate pie with whipped butter-sugar-chocolate filling and a buttery Oreo cookie crust. Classic no-bake filling that sets into a silky mousse-like slice in the fridge.
Turtle Pie Deluxe
Turtle pie deluxe, a no-bake frozen ice cream pie with chocolate cookie crust, fudge layer, pecan-praline ice cream, butterscotch sauce, and toasted pecans. A make-ahead dessert showpiece.
Mud Pie
No-bake mud pie with coffee ice cream in a chocolate wafer cookie crust, drizzled with fudge sauce and topped with whipped cream and toasted almonds. Frozen and foolproof.
Chocolate Toffee Icebox Cake
Chocolate toffee icebox cake layers crisp chocolate wafers with vanilla pudding cream and crunchy Heath bar bits. A no-bake make-ahead dessert that slices into striking dark and creamy ribbons.
Super Rich Black Forest Cheesecake
Super rich Black Forest cheesecake: a dense chocolate cheesecake on a chocolate-cookie crust, topped with kirsch-soaked cherries and kirsch whipped cream. The German classic reborn as a decadent cheesecake.
Crust Variations--Cheesecake
Four cheesecake crust recipes in one: classic graham cracker, chocolate wafer, spicy gingersnap, and toasted nut. Pick your base and build your dream cheesecake.
Low-Fat Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
A rich and delicious cheesecake that's simple to make and easy to enjoy!
Turtle Swirl Cheesecake
Turtle swirl cheesecake on a chocolate wafer crust with semi-sweet chocolate ribbons, butterscotch drizzle, and toasted pecans. Marbled, dense, and unapologetically rich.
Cuban Lunch
No-bake chocolate peanut butter cups with crushed potato chips and peanuts. A sweet-salty Canadian prairie candy that makes 75 bite-sized treats for holiday platters.
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Cheesecake
Reese's peanut butter cup cheesecake on a chocolate cookie crust with chunks of candy folded into the filling and a sour cream topping. Make-ahead dessert for any crowd.
Creme De Menthe Cheesecake Squares
Mint cheesecake squares on a chocolate wafer crust topped with sour cream chocolate ganache. Cool, creamy, and loaded with creme de menthe flavor.
Snickers Bar Cheesecake
Snickers bar cheesecake on a chocolate wafer crust, loaded with chopped Snickers throughout, topped with fudge sauce and whipped cream. A candy bar lover's dream dessert.
Super Double-Cream Cheesecake
Ultra-rich New York-style cheesecake with a chocolate cookie crust, three cups of sour cream, and a splash of bourbon. Silky, dense, and crack-free thanks to a slow oven cool-down.
Chocolate Bavarian Cream Pie
Silky chocolate Bavarian cream pie with a crunchy chocolate wafer crust, billowy whipped cream, and a cloud-light custard set with gelatin. No-bake elegance for any occasion.
Chocolate Orange Cheesecake with Cinnamon Chocolate Wafer Crust
Chocolate Orange Cheesecake with Cinnamon Chocolate Wafer Crust recipe
Decadent Triple Chocolate Cheesecake
Triple chocolate cheesecake with three distinct stripes of milk, white, and bittersweet chocolate over a chocolate wafer crust. Topped with a glossy ganache glaze and toasted almonds. A water-bath bake gives it that crack-free, silky texture.
Eli's Turtle Cheesecake
Turtle cheesecake with a chocolate wafer and walnut crust, studded with chocolate-caramel-pecan turtle candies. A rich Chicago-deli classic from the Eli's Cheesecake family.
Best Kahlua Ice Cream Pie
This decadent ice cream pie is made with kahlua, both vanilla and chocolate ice cream, and a chocolate wafer crust. It's creamy, smooth, rich and absolutely irresistible.
Heath Bar Mocha Cheesecake
Heath bar mocha cheesecake: a coffee-spiked cream cheese filling on a chocolate cookie crust loaded with toffee bits, crowned with chocolate ganache and more crushed Heath bars. Coffee, toffee, and chocolate in one slice.
