Classic Italian Pizzelle Cookies Traditional Waffle Cookie

Your family will love making perfect pizzelles Italian cookies with this easy pizzelle recipe.  Use a pizzelle maker waffle iron to create a classic Italian cookie that’s crisp, golden brown, and delicious. A true family favorite, pizzelles are a holiday classic that brings everyone together during the holiday season for a warm, nostalgic treat.

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Pizzelles are a holiday classic, and with a pizzelle maker, you can easily make these golden brown, crisp treats at home. This classic Italian cookie recipe is simple and will quickly become a family favorite during the holiday season.

Classic Pizzelle Cookies are a traditional Italian cookie that is perfect for Christmas time. Crisp Pizzelle cookies are thin, buttery, and topped with a dusting of a bit of confectionary sugar sweetness.  

The Story Behind Our Family’s Pizzelle Tradition:

Our family’s love for pizzelle cookies began at Christmas time when I first married my Italian husband. Growing up, I had never tried these thin Italian waffle cookies, but that changed quickly after I joined Jim’s family. 

The first time I tried an Italian pizzelle cookie, it was one purchased from Gust Gallucci’s Italian Food & Market in Cleveland, Ohio—a beloved spot Jim had visited since he was a child. 

It was during the holiday season, and Jim’s family made sure to buy pizzelles every year, making it one of their family favorites. From that first taste, I knew that these golden treats would become a part of my own family’s tradition.

When we started our own family, we knew we wanted to carry on this tradition with our kids making this classic pizzelle recipe. One of my most cherished Christmas gifts from Jim was an electric pizzelle iron from Gallucci’s. This special gift gave us the chance to make our own pizzelles at home, using a classic pizzelle recipe that has become a favorite over the years. 

Whether we’re making vanilla pizzelle or chocolate pizzelle, these thin, crisp pizzelle cookies are always a delight for everyone in our home, especially at Christmas time. Last year, we even experimented with different flavors, but the classic vanilla remains the most popular among the kids.

Making pizzelles at home is incredibly easy, especially with an electric pizzelle maker. The easy recipe requires just a handful of ingredients—flour, eggs, sugar, and butter—all of which blend together to create a smooth batter that cooks into perfect, golden brown pizzelles within seconds. 

Traditionally, the pizzelles are flavored with anise, but when our kids were young, we started using vanilla, which quickly became their favorite. We love making these thin Italian waffle cookies together, and the fun part is shaping them when they come right off the iron. If desired, the soft pizzelles can be rolled into a cone shape or formed into other creative shapes for a fun twist.

These days, making pizzelles has become a central part of our holiday routine. It’s a simple, yet special way to connect with our heritage, and it brings so much joy to share this classic family recipe with our children. The easy recipe and quick cooking time make it the perfect holiday activity, and the smell of vanilla pizzelle wafting through the kitchen fills the air with nostalgia. 

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A Pizzelle Maker can be purchased here at a really reasonable price.  I have had mine for 30 years and we have had 30 years of fun.  I use the recipe in my instruction book, but you can also purchase mixes that make it even quicker.

When the pizzelle comes off the pizzelle iron they are soft and flexible. You can roll them into a cone with a Pizzelle Cone Roller. They can then be filled with chocolate or vanilla whipped cream for a special dessert. I am thinking of ice cream this summer out on the deck with the kids. (just in case there is a mess).

You may also be interested in another Christmas cookie post The Best Easy Christmas Cut Out Cookie Recipe!

Supplies Needed for Classic Italian Pizzelle Recipe:

• Pizzelle Maker
• Pizzelle Cone Roller
• Mixing Bowls
• Sifter for powdered sugar

Creative Ways to Enjoy Pizzelle Cookies: Cones and More: 

• Vanilla Extract
• Anise extract
• almond extract for an almond pizzelle 
• Lemon Extract
• Roll them into cannoli shells with a wooden dowel.
• You can shape them into edible bowls for ice cream.
• Decorate with a bit of confectionary sugar on top.
• top with whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle.

Ingredients For Italian Pizzelle Cookies:

• Large Eggs
• White Sugar
• Melted Butter
• Vanilla Extract
• Anise Extract
• All-Purpose Flour
• Baking Powder
• Confectionary Sugar
• Spray Oil to coat the electric pizzelle maker

How to Make Our Family Favorites Pizzelle Cookie: 

1. Pre-heat your Pizzelle Maker.
2. Put the large eggs in a medium bowl and mix slightly with a fork.
3. Beat together eggs and sugar.
4. Melt the butter and have it cooled.
5. Add the cooled butter and sugar to the egg mixture.
6. Add the vanilla (or anise seed) extract
7. In a separate bowl sift together the all-purpose flour and the baking powder.
8. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture.
9. Mix until just combined.
10. Transfer batter, one tablespoon in each section of your maker. Place the batter slightly to the back of the circle.
11. Close the lid and lock.
12. Set your timer for 30 to 60 seconds until the cookies are golden color. 
13. When the timer is done, open the maker and using a small spatula remove the cookie and set it on a flat surface in a single layer or cooling rack.
14. Place ut the powdered sugar in a strainer and tap the side to make a snow-like layer on each Pizzelle cookie.

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