A pizzelle is light, crispy, and deliciously flavored with vanilla and anise. This old fashioned Italian cookie is a classic and very popular around Easter and Christmas.
Italian Pizzelle Cookies
All you need for this classic pizzelle recipe are a few standard baking ingredients and a pizzelle maker. These Italian waffle cookies are known for their signature flavor that comes from anise extract, however, you can use vanilla or almond extract if preferred.
The cookies are thin, buttery, and crispy, with a subtle sweetness and a delicious aromatic flavor. They’re easy to make, stay fresh for a week, and because they’re so thin, you can make as many as you want and then package up a stack of pizzelles to gift!
Ingredients Notes
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Eggs and butter: Bring the eggs to room temperature and make sure your melted butter has cooled. Having all your ingredients starting at room temperature is key.
- Anise extract: Play around with the extract flavors. Almond extract, vanilla extract, citrus like orange or lemon extract, etc.
Pizzelle Maker
This is what gives the cookies their elegant and intricate pattern!
Like a breakfast waffle maker, a pizzelle maker can be a modern electric one or a more traditional cast-iron maker that is used on the stove top.
You can find them at most big box stores or Amazon. They come in a variety of styles and sizes, so use whichever one you prefer.
Either way, you will need a pizzelle maker to achieve the familiar pattern.
How to Make Pizzelle
Beat eggs and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Then, stir in the butter and anise extract until well combined.
Sift in the flour and baking powder then give it a gentle stir until blended in.
Use a cookie scoop to drop the Pizzelle batter into the sprayed, preheated pizzelle iron, close it, and cook for about 1 1/2 minutes until there is no more steam.
Don’t try and release it too soon, otherwise they might stick.
Transfer the golden brown pizzelle to a cooling rack to cool. Continue with remaining batter. Dust with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.
Tips
- Make sure the iron is hot before adding the batter. This is how you achieve the perfect texture and golden color.
- Since we’re not using additional salt as a separate ingredient, I recommend using salted butter for a nice flavor balance or add a pinch of salt.
- To serve pizzelle cookies, you can roll them like cannoli shells using a wooden dowel then fill with cannoli dip or serve them as a mini waffle cone to hold a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream. You can even sandwich the ice cream between two cookies for a larger than life ice cream sandwich!
More Italian cookies to try include Italian Christmas cookies and ricotta cheese cookies!
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Pizzelle Recipe
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs , at room temperature
- ¾ cup white sugar
- ½ cup salted butter , melted and cooled
- ½ Tablespoon anise extract , see note
- ½ Tablespoon vanilla
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- powdered sugar , for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat: Preheat the Pizzelle iron.
- Beat eggs and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat 3 room temperature eggs and 3/4 cup sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Add wet ingredients: Add the 1/2 cup melted butter and 1 Tablespoon anise extract. Stir well.
- Sift in dry ingredients: Sift in the 1 3/4 cups flour and 2 teaspoons baking powder. Gently stir until incorporated.
- Cook Pizzelles: Using a cookie scoop, drop the Pizzelle batter onto the preheated iron. Close the iron and cook for about 1 1/2 minutes, or until the steam stops escaping. Remove from Pizzelle iron and cool. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
- Cool. Remove from Pizzelle iron and cool. If desired, Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Variations
- Have some fun with extra add-ins. Sprinkle some anise seeds, lemon zest, or colorful sprinkles into the batter.
- Go with less traditional flavor additions like cinnamon or chocolate. Pumpkin might be great during the fall.
- Add a crepe filling or stabilized whipped cream on top or rolled in.
- Dip your cookies, half in melted chocolate. White chocolate works too.
Storage
Keep pizzelle stored in an airtight container for up to a week at room temperature. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. I recommend layering them with parchment paper so they don’t stick to each other.
Categorized as: Christmas, Cookies, Desserts, Easter, Holiday Cookies, Italian, Nut-Free, Reader Favorites
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
These cookies turned out so beautiful. The anise gives the perfect hint of licorice flavor while balanced out by the vanilla. They were the biggest hit with family and neighbors, and I will definitely be making them often! I think serving them with ice cream or a sherbet will be another delicious way to enjoy them. – recipe tester
So happy you and your family loved these pizzelle!