Description
Classic Italian Pizzelle are thin, crisp waffle cookies flavored with fragrant anise and vanilla, made with simple ingredients and cooked in a pizzelle iron. This traditional family recipe delivers delicate and beautifully patterned cookies perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp anise extract (up to 1 tsp for stronger flavor)
- 8 tbsp melted unsalted butter
Dry Ingredients
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, and anise extract until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour, kosher salt, and baking powder to the egg mixture. Stir well until there are no lumps and the batter is smooth.
- Incorporate Butter: Pour in the melted unsalted butter and mix thoroughly to combine it evenly with the batter.
- Preheat Pizzelle Maker: Preheat your pizzelle iron according to the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure it reaches the ideal cooking temperature.
- Cook Pizzelle: Place a heaping tablespoon of batter onto the center of each pizzelle section on the hot iron. Close the lid and cook for 30–45 seconds until the pizzelle turn a light golden color. If needed, close and cook a few more seconds to achieve desired color.
- Cool Pizzelle: Carefully remove the cooked pizzelle from the iron; they will be soft and pliable at this stage. Place them on a cooling rack to crisp up as they cool down.
- Repeat: Continue cooking the remaining batter, repeating the process until all batter is used.
- Optional Finishing Touch: Once fully cooled and crisp, you can gently trim any uneven edges beyond the pizzelle design to give a neater appearance, though this step is optional.
Notes
- Italian pizzelle are traditional thin waffle cookies that have a crisp texture and distinctive anise flavor.
- A pizzelle iron is essential to achieve the signature pattern and texture of these cookies.
- You can adjust the anise extract amount according to your preference for stronger or milder flavor.
- Do not overcook the pizzelle or they may become too dark and brittle.
- These cookies store well in an airtight container, retaining freshness for several days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pizzelle
- Calories: 64
- 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
