Italian Pizzelle Cookies - A Holiday Tradition

Grandma Santelli's recipe for Italian Pizzelle Cookies are a light, crisp, slightly sweet Italian cookie made with a special waffle iron.

It wouldn't be Christmas without these cookies on our dessert table or in our cookie gift boxes.

If you're looking for something new to try this holiday season, try my grandmother's classic recipe below.

Don't miss our full list of family-favorite Christmas Cookies – there's something for everyone!

Pizzelle cookies, a cherished Italian holiday tradition, are made using a special iron to imprint intricate designs.

They can be flavored with anise or lemon, and hold a special place in many holiday celebrations.

What I love most about pizzelles is their versatility. You can make them in a variety of flavors, including chocolate, vanilla, and even pumpkin spice.

Looking for more easy cookie recipes for the holidays? Try my Chocolate Christmas Cookies, Reindeer Desserts or my Christmas Refrigerator Cookies.

Table of Contents

• Christmas Pizzelles
• What is a Pizzelle Cookie?
• What does pizzelle mean in English?
• What is a Pizzelle Iron?
• Limited-Time Offer: 2 Holiday Digital Cookbooks for $7.99!
• Helpful Kitchen Tools
• Main Ingredients Needed
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Cooking Instructions
• Cooling Tips
• Before You Begin!
• Recipe FAQ's
• Storing, Freezing and Thawing Tips
• 📖 Recipe Card
• 💬 Comments

Christmas Pizzelles

When I was a little girl, my grandmother would send us a box filled with the most delicious and beautiful cookies. This box always arrived about a week before Christmas and Grandma always included a huge cookie tin filled with her pizzelle cookies.

One year, as my mom was unpacking the cookies, she found a pizzelle iron at the bottom of the box. There was a note with it, suggesting she start making pizzelles for our family. So, the next year, she did, and she's been making them ever since!

And now I make them with my daughter and my sister makes them with her children as well.

What is a Pizzelle Cookie?

Pizzelle cookies, with their delicate, crispy texture, have been a cherished Italian tradition since the Middle Ages. Originally a simple combination of flour, water, and salt, today's cookies have eggs, butter, and sugar added to the batter.

These waffle-like cookies are created using a special electric iron. A staple in Italian households, they're served for special occasions and celebrations like weddings.

It's not uncommon to find a variety of pizzelle cookies on the sweets table at a wedding or bridal shower. We served them for my daughter's bridal shower luncheon.

What does pizzelle mean in English?

Pizzelle comes from the Italian word for flat and round. Just like the word pizza.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

Watkins Pure Anise Extract, 2 oz. Bottles, Pack of 6 (Packaging May Vary)Badia Anise Seed, 1.75 ozMasterChef Pizzelle Maker - Non-stick Electric Cookie Baker Press, Make Two Homemade 5-Inch Italian Waffle Cookies at Once for Breakfast, Dessert, Birthday GiftCuisinart WM-PZ2 Pizzelle Press

 

Main Ingredients Needed

• Butter
• Flour
• Sugar
• Eggs
• Baking Powder
• Anise Extract or Anise Seeds - you could use pure vanilla extract, but my grandmother and my mother always used either anise extract or anise seeds. Only use one flavoring. Do not combine the anise extract with the anise seeds.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: In a bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the melted and cooled butter with the sugar. This step ensures the butter and sugar are thoroughly blended for a smooth batter.

Step 2: Add the eggs to the butter and sugar mixture. Then, stir in your preferred flavoring: anise flavoring, vanilla extract, or anise seeds.

Step 3: In another bowl, mix the baking powder with the flour. Gradually blend the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.

Cooking Instructions

Step 4: Begin by preheating the pizzelle iron. Once it's hot, grease the iron with melted butter or non-stick cooking spray.

Step 5: Place approximately one tablespoon of batter in the center of the iron, avoiding overfilling as you would with a traditional breakfast waffle iron.

Step 6: Close the iron lid. Many pizzelle makers are equipped with a sensor to indicate when baking is complete. Use a small spatula or fork to remove the baked pizzelles from the iron.

Cooling Tips

Lay the pizzelle cookies out on a piece of parchment paper or waxed paper as you take them off the iron. 

Allow them to cool completely before stacking and storing in an airtight container.

Storing, Freezing and Thawing Tips

Pantry: These cookies store very well in an airtight container for a few weeks. Keep them in a cool, dark area of your kitchen. My mother always stored them on our enclosed back porch that was not heated.

Mailing: Pack them in a well-cushioned, airtight container inside a larger box with plenty of filler. Opt for expedited shipping with a reliable carrier, and clearly label the box as fragile.

Freezer: After the cookies cool, stack them in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers, label with the date, and freeze.

Thawing Tips: When ready to enjoy, simply thaw the cookies at room temperature or briefly reheat them in the oven for a crispy texture.

📖 Recipe Card

This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2013 with new photos, information and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!