Description
Make traditional, crispy Italian pizzelle cookies using this straightforward recipe featuring classic vanilla and anise flavors. Perfect for holidays or any time you want a delicate, buttery waffle cookie.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 large eggs
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon anise extract (optional)
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients and preheat your pizzelle iron according to the manufacturer’s directions.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar together until the mixture is light yellow and slightly thickened.
- Whisk in the cooled melted butter, vanilla extract, and anise extract, if using.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix the batter. The batter will be thick.
- Lightly grease the pizzelle iron if your model requires it.
- Drop one teaspoon of batter onto the center of the hot iron. Close the lid immediately.
- Cook for 30 to 60 seconds, or until the steam stops escaping and the cookie is golden brown. Cooking time varies by iron.
- Carefully remove the cookie using a thin spatula. It will be soft.
- Immediately shape the cookie. You can leave it flat for a crisp texture or quickly wrap it around a cannoli form or dowel to create a cone or tube shape before it cools completely.
- Place shaped cookies on a wire rack to cool and crisp up fully.
- Repeat with the remaining batter, adding more butter to the iron as needed.
Notes
- For a strong anise flavor, use the full 1/2 teaspoon. For a milder taste, reduce to 1/4 teaspoon or omit.
- If you prefer a vanilla-only cookie, substitute the anise extract with an extra 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- To achieve the crispiest texture, let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack away from humidity.
- For chocolate pizzelles, substitute 1/4 cup of the flour with 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder.
- For lemon pizzelles, add the zest of one lemon to the wet ingredients and use only vanilla extract.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Waffle Iron
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 85
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 35
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 2.5
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 11
- Fiber: 0.2
- Protein: 1.5
- Cholesterol: 30