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Trader Joe’s Ultimate Vanilla Wafers, reviewed

Trader Joe’s Ultimate Vanilla Wafers

I used to love Nilla Wafers as a kid. It’s not that the cookies themselves were so amazing, though. The thing I liked about them was that they are vanilla flavored and, up until the last couple of years, vanilla wasn’t usually a flavor highlighted in storebought cookies . Most cookies were butter cookies, chocolate cookies or chocolate chip cookies – and for a kid that wasn’t a big fan of chocolate cookies (just storebought, homemade were always good), having a vanilla option was just tops.

Nilla wafers themselves are crunchy and slightly dry, with a mild vanilla flavor. Good, but great. Some of the fun of them has worn off for me since I usually look for a stronger vanilla flavor, but they still give me a feeling of nostalgia and I really want to like them as much as I used to. Fortunately, I recently came across a Nilla Wafer-like cookie at Trader Joe’s and had to give them a try after one of the crew members told me that they were amazing.

Ultimate Vanilla Wafers certainly look like the classic cookie in size and shape, but have tons of vanilla beans specks throughout, as well as a darker ring around the edge that is the telltale sign of a butter-rich cookie. They have a wonderfully strong vanilla flavor and, while crunchy, are not quite as dry as Nilla Wafers are. I like them on their own, with tea/coffee and will definitely opt for them over the “other” cookie in recipes where the cookies are used or a vanilla wafer crust would be good. Yum!

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14 Comments
  • Buster
    June 3, 2008

    wow… i tried these and they were so god-awful sweet i chucked the whole lot into the trash. the “write-up” in t.j.’s was a glowing one, but i think i’ll stick to their cat or letter cookies. p.s. i make your rice pudding all the time. superb!

  • Linda
    June 3, 2008

    I totally disagree with the comment about them being too sweet. Compared to the Nilla wafers, these are wonderful. I too will purchase them over Nilla for my vanilla wafer crumb recipes from this point on. I love the kick of vanilla that is sadly missing in the commercial versions. Trader Joe’s rocks on nearly everything they carry and I love to shop there. Give them kudos whenever possible for a good deal and good products.

  • sharon
    June 3, 2008

    I just tried these over Memorial Day at a friends house. I loved them and thought the vanilla flavor was delicious! I agree these would be great in a recipe.

  • Awh shucks! I just made a Nilla wafer crust today. These would’ve been even better!

  • Linda
    June 5, 2008

    All this talk of the wafers and seeing the picture made me have to buy another container when I went to TJ’s the other day. I tried to be objective and taste “sweet” but I still think they are less sweet in comparison to the standard vanilla wafer and certainly better tasting and I love the vanilla specks.

  • Susan
    June 6, 2008

    WOW! I picked up a tub of these last night and tried them for the first time. They are fabulous! Great buttery vanilla flavor especially compared to Nilla Wafers.

  • Compare Credit Cards
    November 3, 2009

    Vanilla wafers are the best, add a little honey and there are even better.

  • I LOVE LOVE LOVE these cookies! I tried them for the first time about a week or two ago, and totally disagree with the comment that they’re too sweet. I used to love Nilla wafers and sneak them out of the box every chance I got but after trying these, I don’t think I’ll ever go back! The only downside is that there isn’t a Trader Joe’s in my state so I don’t have these on-hand and my box is dwindling! I love the Madagascar vanilla beans and the delicious flavor of the butter cookies adds a nice contrast so they AREN’T sweet. They’re nice and crispy, but not dry. Next time we have a chance to go to Trader Joe’s, I will DEFINITELY stock up on these delicious cookies!

  • Ralanda Bazile
    December 23, 2013

    Would love to know how can I order your ultinate vanilla wafers my entire family love them.

  • Tiffany
    December 12, 2015

    These wafers are absolutely delicious in banana pudding!

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