Amanda Hesser’s mom’s cheesecake

Everyone loves this cheesecake & now Nabisco has discontinued their Famous Chocolate wafers that is the basis of the crust. Talking to the Nabisco rep at our Hannaford’s he said they “might” be back at the holidays. He said he gets that question all the time & had no equivalent substitutes but I thought the hotline might! Please help!

Julia Grant
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11 Comments

Nicole D.
Nicole D. November 3, 2023
Julia, I'm excited to share the recipe Judy Hesser developed using a new crust that combines Nilla Wafers and cocoa powder:

https://food52.com/recipes/89720-judy-hessers-sour-cream-cheesecake-new-chocolate-crust

Would love to get your thoughts when you have a chance to try it!
 
Lori T.
Lori T. November 3, 2023
I'd kind of hoped she would tweak the recipe to make the wafers. Kind of disappointed that after saying she would not add cocoa to vanilla wafers, that's the fix. I understand that some folks might not want to add a step. But for a celebration special occasion cheesecake, it is definitely worth the extra effort.
 
Nicole D.
Nicole D. July 21, 2023
Update: This comment from Judy Hesser on the story means there is more to come on this front!


"Since I will no longer be able to obtain the chocolate wafers for the crust of my cheesecake, I shall invent something new and will inform you at that time. Very sad that Nabisco discontinued the chocolate wafers but I will not use oreos as a replacement, nor will I add cocoa to vanilla wafers. "
 
Nicole D.
Nicole D. July 21, 2023
I just posted a story about the search for a substitute. Jessie Sheehan makes a compelling suggestion of Oreo Thins as a replacement. Thank you Julia Grant for all your feedback, and to everyone who has made a suggestion between this Hotline post and the original one. https://food52.com/blog/28154-community-download-famous-chocolate-wafers
 
Lori T.
Lori T. July 18, 2023
Found this copycat recipe years ago when I could not find the commercial version in my local stores. https://www.smells-like-home.com/2012/12/homemade-chocolate-wafer-cookies/

I can attest that they work and are YUM.
 
Julia G.
Julia G. July 19, 2023
Thank you for this recipe Lori….looks fast & easy. That you can freeze the logs is a plus if you want to use the cookies in a recipe. Since it is summer I might try them & turn them into ice cream sandwiches as the article suggested!
 
Nancy
Nancy July 18, 2023
Julia Grant -
Here's some news and discussion of alternatives to the Nabisco Chocolate Wafers, from spring 2023:

https://www.thespruceeats.com/nabisco-famous-wafer-cookie-discontinued-7483114

https://food52.com/hotline/51839-what-can-i-use-for-the-crust-instead-of-chocolate-wafers
 
Julia G.
Julia G. July 18, 2023
Thank you for your reply & links Nancy. I am new to the Hotline & didn’t realize someone had beat me to complaining 🤣 And yes New Coke….
 
Nancy
Nancy July 18, 2023
Julia -

Glad to help. It's not a race, but yes sometimes worth checking if the hotline already has some info.

Also, the info can change since earlier posting, so earlier is not necessarily definitive,

Nancy
 
Gammy
Gammy July 18, 2023
I loved those chocolate wafers for baking and have a "killer" peanut butter pie recipe whose crust is based upon those cookies. NABISCO!!!!!! Are you listening out there??? Only an untried idea and not knowing the recipe.... you MIGHT be able to take Oreo cookies apart, scrape out the filling and use the cookie part. Also, I have seen (somewhere) a recipe for making your own chocolate wafers, but that seems so tedious that I have not tried it. Good luck, let us know what you come up with!
 
Julia G.
Julia G. July 18, 2023
Thank you for your reply Gammy. Yes it did cross my mind to buy the “thin” Oreos & scrap out the middle but not sure I would be happy with that… BTW does anyone really want a thin Oreo if you are going to eat an Oreo?
I have read there is a Goya cookie that might work but can’t find that either. Yes making your own seems tedious & defeats the beauty of some of the desserts that this cookie starred in…
 
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