These Nilla Wafer sandwich cookies are a play on alfajores, but way easier to make! They’re filled with creamy dulce de leche caramel and rolled in shredded coconut for a delicious sweet treat!
Why I love these sandwich cookies:
This sandwich cookie recipe is so easy, it doesn’t even require any baking! It’s the perfect accompaniment to your morning coffee or a cold glass of milk!
Ingredients you’ll need for this easy recipe:
- Dulce de leche (homemade or store-bought)
- Vanilla wafer cookies
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Coconut oil
- Sweetened shredded coconut
What are Nilla Wafers vanilla wafer cookies?
Nilla wafers are light and crisp vanilla flavored cookies that melt in your mouth! They’re used in many delicious dessert recipes but the most commonly known one is banana pudding (which is also one of my favorites)!
How to make your own dulce de leche:
It’s not required, but making your own dulce de leche caramel is easier than you may think! All you need to do is remove the label from a 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk and add it to a pot of gently simmering water (make sure it’s fully submerged in the water). Let it simmer on very low heat for 2.5-3 hours, adding more water to the pot as needed to keep the can covered. Let it cool and you now have homemade dulce de leche!
Tips for making Nilla Wafer sandwich cookies:
- Don’t overfill the cookies. About a teaspoon of dulce de leche is all you need for each sandwich cookie. If you overfill them, the dulce de leche will squish out of the edges when you coat the cookies in chocolate!
- Add a little coconut oil to your chocolate before melting. This will thin out the chocolate and make it much easier to let the excess drip off when coating the cookies.
- Place the coated cookies on parchment of wax paper. This ensures that nothing will stick and makes for an easy clean up!
- Refrigerate the sandwich cookies. This is the best way to get the chocolate and coconut exterior to harden and set up.
FAQ:
You could really use any cooke you like but shortbread cookies will be most similar to Nilla Wafers. You could also use animal crackers!
Sure! I like coconut oil because it goes with the coconut theme of these sandwich cookies but butter will work as well, just be sure you’re using unsalted.
Nestle makes cans of pre-made dulce de leche that can be found at most mass grocery stores. Be sure to not mistake it for sweetened condensed milk though, the cans look very similar! If you’re interested in making homemade dulce de leche, I’ve explained how to above.
Transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the fridge! They’ll keep for up to a week!
Nilla Wafer Sandwich Cookies
Equipment
- 2 mixing bowls
- parchment or wax paper
- 1 offset spatula, spoon or knife (for spreading dulce de leche)
Ingredients
- 48 Nilla Wafer cookies
- 1/2 cup dulce de leche
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
Instructions
- Working one by one, spread about a teaspoon of dulce de leche on the flat side of a Nilla Wafer, then sandwich with another one on top.
- In a small bowl, combine the semi-sweet chocolate chips with coconut oil. Melt in the microwave. Start with 30 seconds on low power, then mix and repeat until the mixture is melted and smooth.
- Add the shredded coconut to another bowl and set aside.
- Working one by one, coat the sandwiched cookies in melted chocolate, then in the shredded coconut.
- Transfer the coated cookies to a parchment or wax paper prepared baking sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes (if you're impatient like me, set them in the freezer for 15 minutes) before enjoying!
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