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Pizzelles are a lightly sweet, crisp and delicious anise flavored Italian wafer cookie.
There are a lot of options available for electric pizzelle cookie irons.
Back in the day pizzelle irons usually produced 5-inch cookies, but now we have choices. A larger pizzelle cookie may be a little easier to cook, but once you make a few little ones and figure out how much batter to add to the iron, you’ll be knocking them out in no time. Remember, perfection is not necessary with these cookies.
My best tip for making pizzelles is to put the batter in the absolute center of each cookie mold. If it’s off center, the cookies will not be perfectly round. Again, this is okay because they cook beautifully anyway, and still taste fantastic. You can see from the photos that none of my cookies are perfect, but nobody cares!
There are many delicious ways to shape, serve and enjoy these light little pizzelles.
- One of our favorite ways to serve pizzelles is with a bowl of ice cream. For an exceptional treat, try serving these pizzelles with our favorite homemade Chai Gelato. The flavor combination is wonderful!
- Scoop your favorite flavor of ice cream between two cookies and freeze until set. Instant ice cream sandwiches!
- Dip or drizzle the cookies in melted chocolate and garnish with chopped nuts, sprinkles or mini chocolate chips.
- Dust with powdered sugar and serve!
- Form the pizzelles into small edible bowls to serve fruit, ice cream, mousse or even yogurt! Turn a small heatproof bowl over and use the back as a mold. While the pizzelles are hot from the iron, lay them over the back of the bowl pressing to mold into the desired shape. Allow the pizzelles to cool then store in an airtight container until needed. You can also press the pizzelles into a muffin tin to form edible bowls.
- Make cannolis! Carefully roll a hot pizzelle around a dowel rod or wooden spoon handle. Fill with your favorite cannoli filling and sprinkle the ends with nuts or mini chocolate chips.
- Have you ever had a Choco Taco? These are my son’s favorites! Form the hot pizzelles into a taco shape and let cool. Fill with ice cream, then cover the top with homemade Magic Shell and chopped nuts. Freeze until firm and enjoy like a taco!
The possibilities are endless!
Recipes for pizzelles are numerous and can vary greatly.
Thanks for PINNING!
Pizzelles
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
- 8 tablespoons margarine melted and slightly cooled
- 5 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- pinch of salt
- 2 teaspoons Anise extract
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
Instructions
- Cream the butter, margarine and sugar together. Add the eggs and Anise and beat until the mixture is creamy.
- Sift the flour and baking powder into the batter and mix until blended. If the batter is too thick you can add a tablespoons of water, or a little flour if it's too thin.
- Bake the Pizzelles according to the manufactures directions. Store in an airtight container.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Here are a few more delicious pizzelle recipes you might also enjoy:
Pumpkin Spiced Pizzelles ~ pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice flavor this simple little easy-to-make cookie. Great served with a bowl of ice cream or as an ice cream sandwich. Roll the hot cookie into a cannoli shape then fill with mousse or dip in white chocolate for a special treat. Click HERE to get the recipe.
Chocolate Pizzelles dipped in white chocolate with peppermint, walnuts, chocolate chips, coconut and pistachios for a special holiday treat. Click HERE to get the recipe.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Tricia
Originally published September 2013, updated August 2019
Kathy
My recipe was my mom and I use crisco it’s better then batter this recipe going back generation and keeps for long time
Jeanne
Hi! When it comes to the batter will it pour like pancake batter or a make a ball in put in the iron? Thanks , Happy Holidays! ?
Tricia Buice
Hi Jeanne. This Pizzelle batter is more like a ball and not as thin as pancake batter. Happy holidays to you and yours! Enjoy
Karly
These are gorgeous! I love the idea of the chocolate ones dipped in chocolate.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Karly! They are so good and pretty too 🙂
Jannine
You I don’t like using Margarine in my recipes can you suggest anything else to get a thin crispy cookie
Tricia Buice
I’m not crazy about margarine either Jannine. I would use all butter and make sure you bake them enough for a good crisp. Good luck.
Sheila
First time every making Pezzells and Inused Kerry Gold Butter, they came out fantastic, sprinkled with powder sugar. Thank you!
Tricia Buice
So glad to read your comment Sheila. Thank you for trying the recipe and for commenting!
sue
Perfect for end of summer berries and whipped cream, pinned!
Tricia Buice
Yes! Thanks Sue 🙂
Abbe@This is How I Cook
You always make the prettiest cookies. And these look pretty perfect to me! Love the ice cream sandwich idea!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Abbe!
Nasreen
Can one substitute butter for margarine ? We don’t eat margarine. Thanku. Such pretty cookies
Tricia Buice
Hi Nasreen. Yes you can substitute butter for the margarine. I think they crisp up a little better with margarine but we don’t cook with it much either. Our chocolate pizzelles are made with all butter and they turn out fine. Good luck and let us know how they turn out for you 🙂
Mary Anne Campos
Wow can’t wait to make it thank you so much for the recipe!!
Tricia Buice
Thank you Mary Anne! Let us know how they turn out for you 🙂
Liz
I’m sad to say I’ve never even tasted pizzelles before! They need to be on my holiday baking list and thankfully, I now have the perfect recipe!
Tricia Buice
Oh I bet you’re going to LOVE them Liz! Enjoy
Paty
Could I bake some and refrigerate or freeze the rest of the dough to bake more each day?
Tricia Buice
Hi Paty – I don’t think that would work since there is baking powder in the batter. I know it is a lot of batter that makes a lot of cookies but it really goes quickly once the iron is hot. Hope this helps. We love these cookies!