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Closeup view of a pile of pizzelles, some with flowers and some with waffle patterns
5 from 4 votes

Pizzelle Cookies

A classic Italian tradition, Pizzelle cookies are easy to make with a handful of common ingredients and a Pizzelle iron.
Author Diana
Servings 24 cookies
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 stick (½ cup) butter melted
  • cup (134g) granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract see note 2
  • 1 ¾ cups (224g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine the butter with sugar and whisk until combined. Add in the eggs and extract if using and whisk again until well combined.
  • Add flour and baking powder, and stir until just combined.
  • Preheat and grease your pizzelle iron if needed. (see note 1)
  • Drop 1 heaping tbsp of batter onto the iron for each pizzelle cookie, and cook for 45-60 seconds or until done (when it stops steaming, it means your cookies are done).
  • Remove onto a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Notes

  1. Follow the instructions for your Pizzelle maker to know if you need to grease it or not. Non stick models generally don't need to be greased. Keep in mind that different irons may cook differently than mine, so adjust the cooking time and amount of batter if needed. 
  2. Use any flavoring you like. Anise is traditional, but I've made these with vanilla extract to keep them simple. Add 1 teaspoon of anise extract instead of vanilla, or try lemon, almond, or your favorite baking extract. 
  3. This recipe makes about 24 pizzelle cookies that use 1 heaping tablespoon of batter each. You may get more or less depending on your machine.
  4. Avoid overfilling the iron or you'll end up with a mess. I underfill mine so that the cookies come out naturally round. 
  5. Trim the Edges. Only if you want to, you can use kitchen scissors to trim any uneven edges from the pizzelle while they are still warm and soft. 
  6. Roll Pizzelle. While the pizzelle are still warm, you can wrap them around a dowel or spoon handle to create cannoli-like shells. Fill them with sweetened ricotta, ice cream, or frosting.
  7. To Store: Keep cooked pizzelle in an airtight container at room temperature. They can stay fresh for up to 2 weeks as long as they aren't exposed to moisture. 
  8. To Freeze: Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Enjoy right away after defrosting for the best texture. 
  9. Give them as gifts: If it's Christmas time, people love getting homemade pizzelle as gifts. Tie up a stack of these cookies with a pretty ribbon and seal in a box for a beautiful presentation.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 99kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 61mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg