Description
Classic Italian Pizzelle are traditional thin waffle cookies that are crisp and delicately flavored with anise and vanilla. This family recipe uses simple ingredients and a pizzelle iron to create beautiful, light golden cookies perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
Wet Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp anise extract (or up to 1 tsp for stronger flavor)
- 8 tbsp melted unsalted butter
Instructions
- Combine wet ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, and anise extract until well blended and smooth.
- Add dry ingredients: Gradually incorporate the flour, kosher salt, and baking powder into the wet mixture. Mix thoroughly until the batter is smooth and has no lumps.
- Mix in butter: Stir in the melted unsalted butter until fully integrated into the batter.
- Preheat pizzelle maker: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to preheat your pizzelle iron until ready for cooking.
- Cook pizzelle: Place a heaping tablespoon of batter in the center of each section on the pizzelle iron. Close the iron and cook for 30-45 seconds or until the pizzelle turn a light golden color. If needed, continue cooking for a few more seconds to reach desired crispness.
- Cool pizzelle: Remove the cooked pizzelle from the iron and place them on a cooling rack. They will be soft initially but will crisp up as they cool.
- Repeat: Continue cooking the remaining batter in the same manner until all the dough is used.
- Optional finishing: Once fully cooled, you may gently trim any uneven edges for a cleaner look, though this step is completely optional.
Notes
- Italian pizzelle are thin, crisp waffle cookies traditionally flavored with anise.
- A pizzelle iron is essential for this recipe to achieve the delicate texture and design.
- If you prefer a stronger anise flavor, you can increase the anise extract up to 1 tsp.
- The cookies will be soft right after cooking but will crisp as they cool completely on a rack.
- These cookies make a wonderful treat for holidays and special gatherings.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pizzelle cookie
- Calories: 64 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 65 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
