Classic Italian Pizzelle Recipe - Crafting a Family Dinner (2024)

FAQs

What is the original flavor of pizzelles? ›

Although Anise (Black licorice) is the “traditional” flavor of the pizzelle, modern options include vanilla, peppermint, anisette, lemon and chocolate but there are countless recipes and flavor combinations for this humble Italian cookie.

Pizzelles should be crunchy! They're a thin, light, crispy cookie. If your pizelles are soft, it means they have absorbed moisture from the air or they weren't cooked enough.

Pizzelle were originally made in Ortona, in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Many other cultures have developed a pizzelle-type cookie as part of their culture (for example, the Norwegian Krumkake).

Pizzelle batter is very thick and sticky, so it can be hard to transfer off of a spoon onto a waffle maker. Instead, pipe the batter in a swirl with a large open tip (Wilton 1A) so it fills the whole section when pressed.

They can be eaten several ways — plain or with powered sugar, rolled into shells for cannoli when freshly made and still warm or as a sweet sandwich with jelly, ricotta cream or ice cream or gelato between two of the delicate cookies.

Our Top Pick: CucinaPro Pizzelle Baker

This CucinaPro delivers standout features, including a nonstick surface that helps the cookies to lift from the grid with ease and extra-thick baking plates for even heat distribution. For the pizzelle traditionalist, it's also available in a polished stainless steel interior.

A Crispy History

Pizzelles, the oldest known waffle cookies, originated in Italy. The name pizzelle is based on the Italian word 'pizze' meaning round and flat, with the ending 'elle' referring to its small size.

Krumkake is a Norwegian waffle cookie, like an Italian Pizzelle, made with a flat press that is rolled into a cone shape.

pizzelle in American English

(pɪtˈsɛl ; pɪtˈzɛl ; pitˈsɛl ; pitˈzɛl ) noun. an Italian cookie like a thin, crisp waffle, usually flavored with anise.

Oil - it could very well be that modern pizzelle makers are so "nonstick" that you do not need to use any cooking spray. Am noting here that when you research recipes, you may encounter a debate about whether or not to use oil or butter. For years our family uses a light spray of cooking oil as needed - it's just fine.

Is butter or margarine better for pizzelles? ›

As far as the fat used in pizzelle, some recipes will call for oil, others margarine, lard or Crisco. But having tried other fats, I always return to unsalted butter. They crisp up nicely, don't have an oily aftertaste, and cook to perfection in their special pizzelle press.

A: Did you coat the pizzele maker with oil before starting to make a batch? That's the first thing you must do each time. Put a little oil on it, wipe up the excess and heat it up!

Pizzelles of the past were made on irons embossed with the family crest or other symbols of meaning. They were baked individually on these irons which were held over the top of an open flame. Today, as then, pizzelle cookies are still embossed but with a waffle pattern on one side and a floral pattern on the other.

Pizzelles, the oldest known waffle cookies, originated in Italy. The name pizzelle is based on the Italian word 'pizze' meaning round and flat, with the ending 'elle' referring to its small size.

Pizzelles are believed to be the oldest cookie in history, first made in the 8th century in south-central Italy. The traditional pizzelle cookie is made from a sugar/butter-based batter that is pressed between two hot irons, usually sporting a design.