Pizzelle

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our affiliate policy.

An easy Pizzelle recipe for the classic Italian cookie, lightly sweetened and flavored with vanilla or anise. All you need are 6 ingredients and 1 pizzelle maker!

Dusting Pizzelle cookies with powdered sugar.


 

I learned about Pizzelle from one of my best childhood friends. Her family made Pizzelle the traditional way, with an iron that had engraved plates and a clamp to hold it together.

Loosely translated, Pizzelle means “small, flat, and round” and that’s exactly what these cookies are.

Recipe ingredients

Labeled ingredients for Pizzelle Italian cookies.

At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.

Equipment and ingredient notes

  • Pizzelle iron: Modern versions of pizzelle makers are just like waffle makers. They’re silvery, shiny, and beautiful, and they also make cookies! We rounded up the best pizzelle makers you can buy, and our top pick is the one I personally own and love – the Cuisinart Pizzelle Press.
  • Anise: Anise (black licorice) is a common flavor, or you can use vanilla or almond extract. For lemon, use 1 teaspoon lemon oil instead of lemon extract (lemon extract doesn’t have enough flavor).

Do you need a pizzelle maker to make pizzelle?

I tested some of the most popular hacks on the Internet to see if you can in fact make pizzelle without a pizzelle iron—and none of them worked! I tried making them in a waffle maker, the oven, and on a stovetop. The waffle maker made pizzelle-flavored waffles, and the oven and stove top both led to pizzelle-flavored pancakes.

We rounded up the best pizzelle makers you can buy, and our top pick is the one I personally own and love – the Cuisinart Pizzelle Press. You can buy it at Walmart for $44.99. If you’re not looking to spend a ton of money, the Dash Mini Pizzelle Maker is a great option, too. It’s so cute—and it’s only $9.99 at Target!

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Preheat pizzelle iron and lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, butter, anise or vanilla extract, baking powder, and eggs.
A mixing bowl full of pizzelle batter.
  1. Drop slightly rounded tablespoons of batter on to pizzelle iron and close.
Pizzele batter in a pizzele maker.
  1. Bake as directed by manufacturer or until golden brown, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Using a nonstick spatula, remove each pizzelle to a cooling rack; repeat with remaining batter.
Pizzelle cookies cooling on a baking rack next to a pizzelle iron.
  1. Cool completely and dust with powdered sugar if desired.
Dusting Pizzelle cookies with powdered sugar.

Recipe tips and variations

  1. Yield: This recipe makes about 36 cookies, 12 servings of 3 cookies each.
  2. Storage: Store Pizzelle at room temperature for up to 2 weeks (for best results, layer the cookies between pieces of parchment paper or wax paper).
  3. Freezer: Pack cooled Pizzelle in a sturdy container between layers of parchment or wax paper (they may get broken if they are just in plastic bags). Label, date, and freeze for up to 2 months.
  4. Rolled: While the pizzelle are still warm from the iron, wrap them around a wooden dowel. You can even fill them with sweetened ricotta for a Mock Cannoli.
  5. Bake sale: Pizzelle are ideal for a bake sale or cookie swap because they are rarer than the usual chocolate chip cookies or brownies, and they look so fantastic wrapped in a small plastic treat bag tied with a pretty bow.
  6. Italian menu: Create your own Italian Feast with a traditional Antipasto Platter or Bruschetta, Spaghetti and Meatballs or Lasagna, Caesar Salad, Garlic Bread, or Panzanella Salad. Finish up the meal with Pizzelle, of course, or thick slabs of Tiramisu.
  7. Drinks with dessert: Looking for a cool Italian cocktail? Try a bright Aperol Spritz, a sweet Bellini, or a classic Negroni or Americano. Or, sip on some Limoncello.
Pizzelle cookies cooling on a baking rack.

Recipe FAQs

Do you really need a pizzelle maker to make pizzelle?

I tested every internet hack I could find to see if you can make pizzelle without a pizzelle iron. None of them worked! I tried making them in a waffle maker, in the oven (between 2 baking sheets), and in a skillet (flattened with something heavy on top). The waffle maker made pizzelle flavored waffles, and the oven and stove-top both led to pizzelle flavored pancakes. If you’re going to make pizzelle, you need a pizzelle iron.

What does pizzelle mean in Italian?

Pizzelle comes from the word pizze which means round and flat, like a pizza. The elle part of the word means small (the diminutive). So pizzelle are small and flat.

What is the oldest cookie in the world?

The oldest known cookies in the world are Pizzelle, a small, flat cookie from Italy. Centuries ago, a small village called Colcullo was overrun by snakes. They were driven out by a Benedictine monk named San Domenico. The village celebrated with pizzelle and the Festival of the Snakes (or the Feast Day of San Domenico), still held every year on May 1st. Snake lovers, bring your own snake!

More sweet treats

Join Us

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow along on FacebookPinterest, and Instagram for our latest recipes! Tag all your glorious creations #culinaryhill so we can eat vicariously through you.
Pizzelle cookies being dusted with powdered sugar.

Pizzelle

An easy Pizzelle recipe for the classic Italian cookie, lightly sweetened and flavored with vanilla or anise. All you need are 6 ingredients and 1 pizzelle maker!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 12 servings (3 cookies each)
Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Calories 88
5 from 548 votes

Equipment

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Preheat pizzelle iron and lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, butter, eggs, anise or vanilla extract, and baking powder. Drop slightly rounded tablespoons of batter on to pizzelle iron and close.
  • Bake as directed by manufacturer or until golden brown, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Using a nonstick spatula, remove each pizzelle to a cooling rack; repeat with remaining batter.
  • Cool completely and dust with powdered sugar if desired.

Recipe Video

Notes

  1. Pizzelle iron: Modern versions are just like a waffle maker: a silvery, shiny, beautiful waffle maker that makes cookies. I use and recommend the Cuisinart Pizzelle Press, which you can buy for $49.95 on Amazon.
  2. Anise: Anise (black licorice) is a common flavor, or you can use vanilla or almond extract. For lemon, use 1 teaspoon lemon oil instead of lemon extract (lemon extract doesn’t have enough flavor).
  3. Yield: This recipe makes about 36 cookies, 12 servings of 3 cookies each.
  4. Storage: Store Pizzelle at room temperature for up to 2 weeks (for best results, layer the cookies between pieces of parchment paper or wax paper).
  5. Freezer: Pack cooled Pizzelle in a sturdy container between layers of parchment or wax paper (they may get broken if they are just in plastic bags). Label, date, and freeze up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 3cookiesCalories: 88kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 64mgPotassium: 18mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 145IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill
Website | + posts

Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

Quick & Easy Meals in Under 30 Minutes!
15 simple recipes for busy weeknights.

You May Also Like

Questions and Comments

Thank you for your comments! Please allow 1-2 business days for a reply. Our business hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am PST to 5:00 pm PST, excluding holidays. Comments are moderated to prevent spam and profanity.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

    1. Hi Kat, you’re correct, they come from different plants and are not in the same botanical family. They share a similar flavor profile, which is what is important for this recipe. – Meggan

  1. Haven’t made them yet. I’m confused, do you use CucinaPro or Cusinart. The recipe has both listed

    1. Hi Anna, thank you so much for your question! Sorry for the confusion. I love my Cuisinart pizzelle maker, but it’s sometimes not available. I tested several and loved using the CucinaPro (and also the Nordicware one) which is usually available on Amazon. Here is more information on the pizzelle makers if you’re in the market for one: https://www.culinaryhill.com/best-pizzelle-makers/. I hope this helps, take care! – Meggan

    1. Hi Denise, I would caution against using a waffle iron, they come out like pizzelle-flavored waffles, and they resemble pancakes when made in the oven or on the stovetop. Thanks for the question! – Meggan

  2. Meghan
    Your Pizzelle recipe was a winner!!! Our 14 year old granddaughter made them this week and everyone thought they were delicious! Yes, we will be making them again soon!
    Thanks again!

    1. Hi Gin Gin, you’re so welcome! It’s wonderful that your granddaughter made them and they were a hit. Take care! – Meggan

  3. I am a first time pizzelle maker. I was making them for a Senior Bake Sale. They asked me to make more because they were a big hit. I was always afraid to make them but your recipe was easy to follow.I think the big seller was, the ones I didn’t get out in one piece, (first time maker) I used as a taste tester.5 stars

    1. Thank you so much for your comment, Bee! I love your plan, and a great way to taste as you go! I’m so glad it was a hit. Take care! – Meggan

View all comments