If you live in the US, you are probably quite familiar with pizzelle.
However as an Australian of Italian heritage, I had never heard of these cookies. When I starting blogging almost 8 years ago (yep, that’s a long time ago!), pizzelle appeared everywhere and I wanted them too!
What do you need to make pizzelle?
These little pizzelle came in lots of different flavours and seemed to be such a light crunchy cookie I knew they would be popular. I just had to get my hands on a pizzella iron. And after much searching and googling, I found an importer in Melbourne who could help me out. A telephone call to Costante Imports and my very own electric pizzella iron was being shipped to my door. Today Cosante Imports have a fantastic online store.
A single use electric kitchen appliance can make the endangered list in most kitchens but this is one that I would never be without. This pizzella iron is now about 6 years old and has churned out many pizzelle. Within minutes the batter is quickly mixed and cooking them in the iron is the easiest task. If you can get your hands on one of these appliances, you won’t regret it. I’ll be getting myself another one next time I’m down in Melbourne.
The Pizzelle tradition
There is a beautiful tradition in Italy of family pizzelle irons having their own special designs. Maybe made especially for a bride and groom as a wedding gift and handed down from generation to generation.
While these are a tradition of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise apparently they are not common in other parts of Italy. That probably explains why these never appeared in my childhood with my Calabrese mum and my dad from Emilia Romagna but I could be wrong.
Pizzelle can be varied in so many ways.
Meanwhile I’ve set about creating my own tradition of pizzelle. I make these delicious Pizzelle for gifts, parties and anytime I need a sweet treat that’s not going to take too much time. These Gingerbread Pizzelle have been a hit at Christmas. While an electric pizzelle iron is a single use appliance I have also made Norwegian krumkake with it with great results.
Let me know if your family has a pizzelle tradition? Or if you know this cookie by another name? Would you buy a single use kitchen appliance?
Baci,
Pizzelle
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 6 tablespoons castor sugar superfine
- 6 tablespoons light olive oil
- grated lemon rind or a few drops of lemon oil
- 200 gram plain flour
- pinch salt
- icing sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat pizzelle iron.
- In a medium bowl lightly whisk together eggs, sugar, oil and lemon rind/oil until combined. Stir in flour and salt.
- Cook ferratelle/pizzelle according to instruction supplied with your ferratelle/pizzelle iron.
- Allow to cool and dust with icing sugar if desired. Store in airtight container.
I have made both the plain and gingerbread pizzelle and love both! So simple but so tasty! I didn’t have molasses so I substituted with maple syrup when I made the gingerbread version and they were amazing. Will definitely be making another batch for Christmas as they have disappeared already!
Thankyou for the amazing recipes.
Hi there Marcellina my in-laws were from Pescara Abruzzo and my MIL had a manual iron she would make her pizzelle with over a gas burner turning manually. She made them regularly. I wish she was able to see these new electric machines like the one I purchased from Costante. My family were from Calabria and we never heard of them Now I make them for my family (husband) and they are devoured.
Ciao xx
Sarina Melchiorre xx
Hi Sarina! How lovely to hear from you. My mum was from Calabria too! I only heard of pizzelle from US websites about 10 years ago. Once I got my machine, I couldn’t stop making them. You’ll be the same, for sure! I’d love to see a photo of your pizzelle. It’s so easy with the electric machine but I would love to see a manual one in action. It must be such an art to cooking the pizzelle just right and not burning them. Do you still have the manual iron? Thanks for your message. I really love hearing from my readers xx
Sadly I don’t have the manual pizzelle maker. I was young and didnt appreciate the tradition. At the time I remember thinking how on earth can you be bothered to make these cookies one by one and standing over the the gas cooker cooking them individually.
She would have loved these fancy electric makers that are out now. Now my kids and husband get to enjoy them like the old days.
Ciao bella xx
i LIVE IN ARIZONA AND MY IRON IS 40 YEARS OLD AND IF IT EVER STOPS WORKING I WANT ANOTHER ONE LIKE THE ONE I HAVE. IT BRAKES I WIOUK TO KNOW WHER I CAN FIND ONE. THANKS INES TILGHMAN
Hello Ines! I’m not sure which iron you have. Here in Australia I get mine from Costante Imports a business which imports Italian products. I would think you should be able to get an iron from Amazon. Good luck but I hope your iron keeps working for many years! xx
Hi Marcellina,
As an Italo Australian I never heard of them until a few weeks ago on the italian American Facebook page. I would like ot buy a pizzelle maker and found them at the place you recommended in Melbourne.
As this appliance doesn’t seem to be a non stick opne, my question is, do you just put abit of butter on the pan to ensure that the pizzelle don’t stick to the mould?
Hi Mina! Welcome to Marcellina in Cucina, I’m so glad you dropped by! I’m in the same boat as you – my family never made them. In fact, even my cousins in Italy don’t make them. Pizzelle are very particular to a couple of areas of Italy.
Don’t worry about the iron not being non-stick. I usually use a little bit of oil and brush the pizzelle iron however that’s just precautionary. If you use my recipe, you’ll find the oil in the batter ensure nothing gets stuck. Don’t wash the cooking surface when you are finished. Just wipe well with paper towel and the outside of the appliance with a damp cloth once it has cooled. I store my pizzelle iron with a sheet of paper towel between the cooking surface to absorb any oil that I may have missed.
Enjoy your pizzelle iron and and enjoy eating lots of pizzelle! If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.
I do hope to see you back here soon!
Marcellina xx
Hello Marcelina: my husbands family is from Cozenza, Calabria. My mother in law made these and taught me how to make them as well as many other yummy dishes. So glad I found your website. We still have cousins in the Colac area outside of Melbourne! Happy holidays!
Hello Barbara! I am so happy to hear from you! I have friends who are from Cosenza though I have never been there. Calabria is intriguing and I would love to get back to explore further. That’s wonderful that your mother-in-law taught you so many of her recipes. I’ve been lucky with my mother-in-law as well (she is from Piedmont). My daughter lives in Melbourne! What a coincidence! Happy holidays to you and your family!
I love Pizzelle but admit to only buying them, as I don’t have the equipment needed to make them.
Love this version with olive oil. It’s now my new baking oil! 🙂
Yumm these look so tasty and pretty – that iron is gorgeous too 🙂
I must say I don’t have one of those irons, but now I want one. Those wafers looks beautiful.
Frank, this iron is one of my favourite kitchen appliances! And yes, these are delicious! Thank you for your kind comment!