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Pizzelle were originally made in the comune (municipality) of Ortona, in the Abruzzo region of Italy.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

*Tip: Make sure you fully cool your pizzelles and do not cover for several hours as they will get mushy and soft – you want them to stay crispy! That's why I love my metal tin or glass containers – they keep them nice and fresh! I never close the lid too tight – they need to breathe!

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.

pizzelle in American English

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

Our Top Pick: CucinaPro Pizzelle Baker

For the pizzelle traditionalist, it's also available in a polished stainless steel interior. We love that it has a steam guard and cool-touch handles, so you don't have to worry about burning your hands. There is also a clamp on the end of the handles to keep the batter level.

If you have access to an oven, preheat it to 300 degrees. Stack the cookies on a sheet pan and place in the oven, then turn the oven off. Let cookies remain in warm oven for an hour or longer to dry out. This should help return some of the crispiness to the pizzelles.

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.

Pizzelles are the oldest known cookie and originated in the mid-section of Italy. They were made many years ago for the “Festival of the Snakes” also known as the “Feast Day of San Domenico”.

What is the Norwegian version of pizzelle? ›

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

Krumkake batter is thinner than pizzelle batter, which is what allows it to roll so easily, and while krumkake is more versatile when it comes to flavors and fillings, pizelles are more likely to be flavored by directly adding ingredients to the batter.

Preheating causes the teflon to expand a bit, closing up pores and micro-scratches in the surface. It is also common for oils from the past to form a polymerized layer on top of the teflon, making the pan more sticky.

How to Store Pizzelles. Make sure the cookies are completely cool before storage. Place them in an airtight container or zip-top storage bag and store at room temperature for up to two weeks.

Heat your pizzelle maker, grease it with a little olive oil and add a generous spoon of your batter. Remove the excess batter with a fork (and remember like Nonna to always clean the stove when you finish!).

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.