Italian Pizzelle Cookies are light and crisp, made lighter with less butter and sugar for a tasty holiday treat. Also works great with gluten-free flour!
Pizzelle Cookies
My mom always made these Italian Pizzelle Cookies around the holidays when I was growing up, and my family loves them. I decided to play around with my mom’s pizzelle cookie recipe to see if I could make them with less butter and sugar. This lighter take on the traditional was delish and my to be honest you can’t tell! For some more light holiday cookies, try my White Chocolate Oatmeal Lace Cookies and Coconut Cookies.
I love baking during the holidays. To ensure that I don’t eat everything I bake, I love to gift the sweets to neighbors and friends. These pizzelle cookies would make excellent gifts wrapped up in a cute clear bag or holiday tin. I tested them out with Bobs Redmill Gluten-Free flour and they came out just as great, if not better.
How to Make Pizzelle Cookies
What is the difference between Krumkake and Pizzelle?
What does pizzelle mean in Italian?
Pizzelle means “small, flat, round” in Italian, which is exactly what pizzelle cookies are.
Variations and Tips:
- Sub the vanilla extract for anise, orange, lemon or almond extract to switch up the flavor.
- Spread Nutella on a pizzelle and top with another to make a pizzelle cookie sandwich.
- Dip part of the cookie in chocolate and let harden in the refrigerator for a chocolate-covered pizzelle.
- You can also roll them on a dowel to make a cone before they harden.
- Rolled pizzelles can be used as cannoli shells.
- Pizzelle cookies should last up to a month in a well-sealed container.
More Cookie Recipes You’ll Love:
- Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies
- Dark Chocolate Oatmeal Lace Cookies
- 5-Ingredient Nutella Almond Butter Cookies
- Skinny No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
- Peppermint Meringues
Pizzelle Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg white
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons melted salted butter
- 2 tablespoons skim milk or milk of your choice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour or GF flour mix
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- cooking spray
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar for topping
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat egg, egg white and sugar until thick.
- Stir in the melted butter, milk and vanilla.
- Sift together the flour and baking powder, and blend into the batter until smooth.
- Heat the pizzelle iron. Lightly spray iron with oil.
- Drop about one level tablespoon of batter onto each circle on the iron. You may need to experiment with the amount of batter and baking time depending on the iron.
- Bake about 45 to 50 seconds, or until steam is no longer coming out of the iron.
- Carefully remove cookies from the iron and transfer to a cooling rack.
- Repeat with spray and batter.
- Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
- To serve, top with powdered sugar.
How many cookies does your Pizzelle recipe make?
Thank you!
20
Possibly not quite the right look but could you use one of those tiny waffle irons (like a dash waffle maker) to see how they turn out before investing in a specific pizzelle maker?
Dash actually makes a mini Pizzelle maker now!
So glad I tried these. Have not done these in years. This is a terrific recipe and turned out thin crisp and perfect. I use 1 teaspoon almond extract and 1/2 of vanilla, otherwise followed as directed. A Favorite
Is it possible to make these in a waffle maker? I don’t really want to invest in another gadget just to try these out.
No, pizzelles are meant to be very thin. A waffle maker would be way too big. Dash sells a smaller pizzelle maker.
Do you have a cannoli filling? I have a hard time with ricotta… it’s too watery. Help please?!
FYI……..This recipe does not work with Monk Fruit sweetener, the Pizzelle becomes rubbery. Not a good texture.
100% Italian and these were great!!
Question: Has anyone made this recipe with a sugar substitute such as Lakanto Golden Monkfruit Sugar? I’ve tried my traditional recipe using this substitute and the cookies came out hard and shiny. Just wondering if anyone else has had luck with this particular recipe using a sugar substitute?
Does not work with Monk Fruit sweetener
Mine came out like pancake consistency. Used bob red. Mills gluten free 1 to 1 flour. Any suggestions?
I use 2 oz of Sambuca instead of anise and 3 oz of margarine
3 eggs, baking powder, flour ,stick of butter (soft)
You’re welcome I’m 88 , been making pizzels for a lot of years
Hi Gina
Love your recipes and was so excited when I came across your pizelle recipe! However, a few years ago my maker broke and the new ones I’ve tried make soft, not crisp cookies. I’m so glad you listed the maker you use but it seems as though it’s been discontinued as I can’t find it anywhere! Please help! Do you have another recommendation that would ensure a crisp cookie?
Thanks so much!
I got an inexpensive Cuisinart pizzelle maker a few years ago and the exact model (WM-PZ2 Pizzelle Press) is no longer made but the new one is identical except for the temperature (light-to-dark) selection. I just tried this recipe in my maker and it’s every bit as crisp and fabulous as the traditional recipe! I definitely recommend the new version of my Cuisinart pizzelle maker – best of luck!
All I can say is WOW!! I grew up with these and thank you for bringing me back.
These were delicious! This was my first time using my pizzelle press and they turned out great. Thank you for the recipe!
I made these for Christmas and they are absolutely delicious. I also made another batch where I substituted a 1/4 cup of flour with cocoa powder and the vanilla with peppermint and mint extract. An absolute hit especially with my 3 year old son! Thanks again for a great recipe. You never disappoint!
Oh that sounds good!! So glad everyone enjoyed them!