Classic Italian Pizzelle Cookies | Walking on Sunshine Recipes (2024)

Published: Dec 9, 2021 · Modified: Mar 5, 2024 by Lois · As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This site contains affiliate links · 27 Comments

Grandma Santelli's recipe for Italian Pizzelle Cookies are a light, crisp, slightly sweet Italian cookie made with a special waffle iron.

It wouldn't be Christmas without these cookies on our dessert table or in our cookie gift boxes.

If you're looking for something new to try this holiday season, try my grandmother's classic recipe below.

Be sure to check out the complete list of my family's favorite Christmas Cookies.

When I was a little girl, my grandmother would send us a box filled with the most delicious and beautiful cookies. This box always arrived about a week before Christmas and Grandma always included a huge cookie tin filled with her pizzelle cookies.

Pizzelle cookies, a cherished Italian holiday tradition, are made using a special iron to imprint intricate designs. They can be flavored with anise or lemon, and hold a special place in many holiday celebrations.

What I love most about pizzelles is their versatility. You can make them in a variety of flavors, including chocolate, vanilla, and even pumpkin spice.

What is a Pizzelle Cookie?

Pizzelles are not only delicious, but they also have a long history. The cookies date back to the Middle Ages, when they were made with flour, water and salt. Today, the dough is typically made with eggs, butter and sugar.

PIzzelle Cookies are thin, crispy,waffle-type cookies made by pouring batter between the two plates of a special electric iron. They're a very common cookie in an Italian household and are often served for special occasions, such as weddings.

It's not uncommon to find a variety of pizzelle cookies on the sweets table at a wedding or bridal shower. We served them for my daughter's bridal shower luncheon.

Whether you eat them plain or topped with chocolate or fruit, pizzelle cookies are a delicious way to celebrate the holidays.

What is a Pizzelle Iron?

These cookies are closely associated with family; in fact, pizzelle irons have been fashioned with the pattern of a family’s crest. I don't have a family crest pizzelle iron...but how fun would that be?

One year, as my mother was opening the box of goodies,at the very bottom of the box was a brand new pizzelle iron with a note informingmy mother that she would now be making pizzelles for her own family and my mother began making pizzelles the next year andhas been making them every since.

See Also

Italian Ricotta Cookies RecipeGlazed Egg Taralli Recipe: How to Make Taralli all'UovoGrandma's Pot Roast Recipe | MantitlementBugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina

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Main Ingredients Needed

This is an overview of the ingredients and instructions. Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact quantities, detailed instructions and special notes.

• Butter
• Flour
• Sugar
• Eggs
• Baking Powder
• Anise Extract or Anise Seeds - you could use pure vanilla extract, but my grandmother and my mother always used either anise extract or anise seeds. Only use one flavoring. Do not combine the anise extract with the anise seeds.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Using an electric mixer in a bowl, combine the melted and cooled butter with the sugar.

Step 2: Add the eggs and the choice of anise flavoring, vanilla extract, or anise seeds.

Step 3: In another bowl, mix the baking powder with the flour. Gradually blend the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.

Baking Instructions

Step 4: Begin by preheating the pizzelle iron. Once it's hot, grease the iron with melted butter or non-stick cooking spray.

Step 5: Place approximately one tablespoon of batter in the center of the iron, avoiding overfilling as you would with a traditional breakfast waffle iron.

Step 6: Close the iron lid. Many pizzelle makers are equipped with a sensor to indicate when baking is complete. Use a small spatula or fork to remove the baked pizzelles from the iron.

Cooling Tips

Lay the pizzelle cookies out on a piece of parchment paper or waxed paper as you take them off the iron.

Allow them to cool completely before stacking and storing in an airtight container.

🍶Storage Tips

These cookies store very well in an airtight container for a few weeks.

Keep them in a cool, dark area of your kitchen. My mother always stored them on our enclosed back porch that was not heated.

You can package these cookies and send them in the mail to family. They make great gifts.

❄️Freezing Tips

To freeze pizzelle cookies, allow them to cool completely first. Then, stack the cookies in a single layer with parchment paper between each layer to prevent sticking.

Place the stacked cookies in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag, ensuring they are tightly sealed to prevent freezer burn. Label the container with the date and store them in the freezer.

🔁 Thawing Tips

When ready to enjoy, simply thaw the cookies at room temperature or briefly reheat them in the oven for a crispy texture.

Christmas Cookie Digital Cookbook BUNDLE with FREE Cookie Exchange Printables BonusMore Information

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Italian Pizzelle Cookies - A Holiday Tradition

Yield: 40 cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Grandma Santelli's recipe for Pizzelle Cookies are a light, crisp, slightly sweet Italian cookie made with a special waffle iron.

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter; melted and cooled
• ⅔ cups white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon anise extract or anise seeds

Instructions

1. In the bowl with an electric mixer, blend the melted and cooled butter and sugar together.
2. Add the eggs and the anise flavoring or anise seeds.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the baking powder with the flour.
4. Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients.
5. Preheat the pizzelle iron.
6. Once it is hot, brush the iron with melted butter or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
7. Add about a tablespoon of batter to the center of the iron. You do not want to fill it like you would a traditional breakfast waffle iron.
8. Close the iron lid. Most pizzelle makers come with a sensor that lets you know when the baking is finished.
9. Remove the baked pizzelles from the iron using either a small spatula or a fork.

Notes

Lay the pizzelle cookies out on a piece of parchment paper or waxed paper as you take them off the iron.

Allow them to cool completely before stacking and storing in an air-tight container.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 40Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 62Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 36mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 0gSugar: 3gProtein: 1g

The nutrition information is calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you, please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator.

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This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2013 with new photos, information and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!