Grandma's recipe for Italian pizzelle waffle cookies goes back 100's years and this recipe remains the best one to use year after year without fail.
Back in the 1970s around Christmas time (sometimes Easter), Grandma, mom and I would makeover 50 to 60 waffle pizzelle cookies and give them away to family and friends.
The waffles are made on a pizzelle maker and can be so many different flavors or just plain vanilla, depending on what you prefer, I will give you many suggestions below.
These are very thin crispy waffle cookies that can be made in many flavors, anisette being the most popular.
I love making these they are the perfect cookie with a cup of coffee or hot cocoa, for snacking on, and are just an addictive holiday delight.
If you love crispy cookies, these will be a new favorite in your home and they are super simple to make.
We make many memories during the holiday season with foods like our Christmas Eve Italian Recipes, Christmas Day Recipes and we have around 24 Assorted Kinds of Cookie Recipes we love we make every year.
Don't miss my tips and suggestions below before making these for the best results.
Just scroll down to my printable recipe card for this delicious pizzelle waffle cookie recipe.
Italian Waffle Cookies
Pizzelle were originally made in Ortona, in the Abruzzo region of Southern Italy in the 18th century.
Through the years Grandma only made them anisette flavored with powdered sugar then we started experimenting with other flavors.
Lemon, almond, and anisette remain our favorites.
Dusted with powdered sugar and the perfect thin cookie perfect with a cup of espresso and snacking on but really addicting.
This is the first cookie that vanishes during the holiday and the one we give out the most as gifts, so start saving those coffee cans which are perfect to store them in!
Tips
- cool these on wax paper in between each one on a flat hard surface
- to store them use clean coffee cans and stack them with the wax paper in between
- these do not freeze well as they become soft and don't stay crispy
- for best results do not overcook them unless you like them super hard
- use a gravy ladle for or 1/4 cup size for same-sized pizzelle
- for several different flavors separate a small amount a batter in little bowls and add a little bit of any flavor assortments you like (be careful with anisette less is better it's very strong!)
- add a teaspoon of cocoa powder to the powdered sugar to dust with when making vanilla cookies
- always spray the pizzelle makers with cooking oil in between making each waffle cookie
Tool You Will Need
- Pizzelle waffle makers found in most specialty baking stores
- bowl
- measuring spoons
- measuring cups
- spatula
- electric mixer
- wax paper
- storage containers like coffee cans
Other Extract Flavors to Try
- Lemon
- Almond
- Orange
- Maple
- Vanilla
- Anisette
- Coconut
- Cinnamon
Here are more of our favorite cookie recipes:
Italian Almond Pasta Cookies
Italian Wedding Cookies
Cucidati Fig Sicilian Cookies
24 One-Stop Cookie Shop
Fried Bow Tie Cookies
25 Holiday Cookies
Italian Pizzelle Waffle Cookie Pin for later
Homemade is the Best!
I am sure you have seen these cookies in many major bakeries and grocery stores.
I assure you that using a pizzelle maker these are super simple to make in no time and taste 100 times better not to mention in so many assorted flavors.
These are perfect for gift-giving in pretty holiday tins and stay fresh a very long time up to a month.
You can even dust them with cocoa powder for a different flavored topping added to the powdered sugar.
For gift-giving also add some candy to your tin for the perfect holiday gift.
Italian Pizzelle Waffle Cookie
Yield: 30
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 4 MinTotal time: 14 Min
Italian Pizzelle Waffle Cookie is a light crisp waffle cookie that has various flavors anywhere from anisette to lemon flavorings dusted with powdered sugar.
Ingredients
- Batter:
- 6 eggs
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup oil
- 1/4 shortening
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon anise extract or any other flavors you like: lemon, almond, coconut, orange, mint, maple, cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- Cooking spray
- wax paper
- Holiday or coffee tins
Instructions
- Beat the eggs on medium speed until thick.
- Add the oil, shortening, sugar, and softened butter and mix until combined well.
- Add the extracts, ( you can add any flavor you want, anisette, vanilla, orange, maple, peppermint, lemon or coconut can be used, however, traditionally anisette is the flavor.
- Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the flour, and mix till well incorporated.
- Preheat the electric pizzelle iron according to the manufacturer’s directions (which can be found online).
- Note: Always spray each waffle area between making cookies even with nonstick.
- When ready, drop batter by a heaping tablespoon or use a gravy ladle, again follow the pizzelle manual.
- When ready, open the waffle iron and remove the pizzelle.
- Stack on wax paper in between till cooled.
- Repeat until all batter is used.
- Store in airtight containers like coffee cans so they stack easily or holiday tins for gift giving.
Calories
139.67Fat (grams)
5.41Sat. Fat (grams)
2.22Carbs (grams)
20.62Fiber (grams)
0.80Net carbs
19.82Sugar (grams)
11.62Protein (grams)
2.54Sodium (milligrams)
72.20Cholesterol (grams)
41.33Italian Pizzelle Waffle Cookie Pin for later
More Cookies We Love
Italian Chocolate Fudge RollsCinnamon Butter Cookies
Best Snickerdoodles
Best Cowboy Cookies
Peanut Butter Reindeers
Best Peanut Butter Chocolate Chips
Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2009. It was edited and re-published in 2020.