Introduction

These Nilla Holiday Cake Bites are a festive and delightful treat perfect for the holiday season. Combining raspberry jam and crisp wafers, then coated in creamy vanilla candy, they’re as fun to make as they are to eat.

The image shows a small cake with three layers of light yellow sponge separated by thin layers of cream. The outside is covered with smooth white frosting, topped with green sugar crystals that look like small cubes, and three shiny red candy-coated chocolates placed in the center on top. The cake sits on a white marbled surface with other similar cakes blurred in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

36 Nilla Wafers
2 Tbsp orange juice
1/4 cup raspberry jam
8 oz vanilla candy wafers (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
Assorted decorations

Instructions

Step 1: Brush the flat sides of 24 Nilla Wafers with orange juice, then spread each with raspberry jam.
Step 2: Place the remaining wafers on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper, rounded sides up. Top each with two jam-covered wafers, jam sides down. Refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight to set.
Step 3: Melt the vanilla candy wafers according to package instructions. Stir in the vegetable oil until smooth and well blended.
Step 4: Dip each wafer stack into the melted candy coating, turning to coat evenly. Reheat the candy mixture as needed to maintain smoothness. Place coated stacks back on the baking sheet and immediately decorate.
Step 5: Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until the candy coating is firm. Store refrigerated until serving.

Tips & Variations

Substitute white baking chocolate for the candy wafers, omitting vegetable oil for a smoother coating.
Keep the stacked wafers chilled and work with just a few at a time to make dipping easier and maintain firmness.

Storage

Store the cake bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Allow them to come to room temperature briefly before serving for the best flavor and texture.

How to Serve

The image shows a small round cake with two layers covered in smooth white frosting. The top layer is decorated with small round colorful sprinkles in red, green, black, and white, with a small white dollop of frosting in the center. In the background, there are more similar frosted cakes, all on a soft green surface. The texture of the frosting looks creamy and light, giving the cake a festive appearance. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of jam?

Yes, you can substitute raspberry jam with any fruit jam or preserves you prefer, such as strawberry or apricot, to customize the flavor.

What if I don’t have vanilla candy wafers?

You can use white baking chocolate as an alternative. Melt it carefully and skip the vegetable oil, as the chocolate melts smoothly on its own.

Nilla Holiday Cake Bites Recipe

Print Recipe

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Nilla Holiday Cake Bites are a festive, bite-sized treat featuring layers of NILLA Wafers spread with raspberry jam, dipped in creamy vanilla candy coating, and decorated for the holidays. These easy-to-make no-bake dessert bites are perfect for parties and holiday gatherings, combining sweet citrus and berry flavors with a crunchy exterior and smooth candy shell.

Author: Ella
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes (melting and dipping)
Total Time: 6 hours 25 minutes (including chilling time)
Yield: 24 cake bites 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Assembly Ingredients

36 NILLA Wafers
2 Tbsp orange juice
1/4 cup raspberry jam

Candy Coating

8 oz vanilla candy wafers (about 1–1/2 cups)
1 Tbsp vegetable oil

Decorations

Assorted decorations (sprinkles, colored sugar, edible glitter, etc.)

Instructions

Prepare wafers: Brush the flat sides of 24 NILLA Wafers with orange juice, then evenly spread raspberry jam over them to add a sweet and tangy flavor layer.
Assemble stacks: On a waxed paper-lined baking sheet, place the remaining 12 wafers with rounded sides up. Top each with two jam-spread wafers, jam side down, creating little sandwich stacks. Refrigerate these stacks for at least 6 hours or overnight to set.
Melt candy wafers: Following the package instructions, melt the vanilla candy wafers. Stir in 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to improve the coating’s fluidity and shine.
Dip stacks: One at a time, dip the refrigerated wafer stacks into the melted candy wafers, turning to coat all sides evenly. If needed, reheat the candy mixture to keep it smooth and easy to coat. After dipping, place each coated stack back on the baking sheet.
Add decorations: Immediately decorate the coated cake bites with assorted festive decorations to resemble holiday designs before the candy coating sets.
Chill to set: Refrigerate the dipped cake bites for 30 minutes or until the candy coating is firm and fully set. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Optional substitute: For an alternative coating, melt 2 packages (4 oz each) of white baking chocolate as directed, omitting the vegetable oil, and use this for dipping instead of the candy wafers.

Notes

Keep the stacked wafers refrigerated until you are ready to dip to prevent them from becoming too soft and falling apart.
Dip a few cake bites at a time to ensure they remain firm, making the dipping process easier and neater.
You can customize the decoration with holiday-themed sprinkles or edible glitter to make them festive.
Store the finished cake bites refrigerated to maintain the candy coating’s firmness and freshness.

Keywords: Nilla wafers, holiday cake bites, raspberry jam, vanilla candy wafers, no bake dessert, festive treats, party appetizer, holiday snacks