Pizzelle: Traditional Biscuit With a Long History (2024)

FAQs

What does pizzelle mean in Italian? ›

A Crispy History

Pizzelles, the oldest known waffle cookies, originated in Italy. The name pizzelle is based on the Italian word 'pizze' meaning round and flat, with the ending 'elle' referring to its small size.

Pizzelle (Italian: [pitˈtsɛlle]; sg. : pizzella) are traditional Italian waffle cookies made from flour, eggs, sugar, butter or vegetable oil, and flavoring (usually anise or anisette, less commonly vanilla or lemon zest).

Although Anise (Black licorice) is the “traditional” flavor of the pizzelle, modern options include vanilla, peppermint, anisette, lemon and chocolate but there are countless recipes and flavor combinations for this humble Italian cookie.

It is believed pizzelles were first used in the Italian village of Colcullo, Italy to celebrate the driving out of the snakes to prevent them from overtaking the town.

The first cookies are thought to be test cakes bakers used to test the oven temperature. They date back as early as 7th Century A.D. Persia which is now Iran. They were one of the first countries to grow and harvest sugar cane.

They can be eaten several ways — plain or with powered sugar, rolled into shells for cannoli when freshly made and still warm or as a sweet sandwich with jelly, ricotta cream or ice cream or gelato between two of the delicate cookies.

The closest relative of the pizzelle on record is the ancient Roman crustulum, a flatbread cooked in a pancake pan and on top of a craticula… which is reminiscent of a barbecue grate cooker. Similar variations go by the name ferratelle in the Lazio region and cancelle in Molise too.

Pizzelles should be crunchy! They're a thin, light, crispy cookie. If your pizelles are soft, it means they have absorbed moisture from the air or they weren't cooked enough.

Pizzelle are made using a batter similar to that of a pancake or waffle and cooked in a pizzelle maker, a type of specialized waffle iron. The iron imprints a design onto the cookies, which can be anything from traditional Italian patterns to more modern designs.

Krumkake is a Norwegian waffle cookie, like an Italian Pizzelle, made with a flat press that is rolled into a cone shape.

What is the most popular Italian cookie? ›

Preheat the pizzelle iron. Mine has a sort of non-stick coating, but it has seen better days – so I spray a bit of "cooking spray" at the beginning and at various moments throughout only as needed (and usually it's not needed).

pizzelle in American English

(pɪtˈsɛl ; pɪtˈzɛl ; pitˈsɛl ; pitˈzɛl ) noun. an Italian cookie like a thin, crisp waffle, usually flavored with anise.

Pizzelle's full name is Pizzelle "Suzette" Theodore, this is confirmed in the game's carrd. She was formerly named "Pizzelle Suzette". Former nicknames include "Twiggy", and curiously, "Pizzano."

Pizzelle's are a traditional Italian waffle cookie that are still made using the old-fashioned pizzelle irons that our founders used. These anise flavored cookies are made with anise seed and natural anise oil.

Pizzelle are a specialty of the Italian region of Abruzzo, and their popularity in the U.S. is strong! Traditionally, pizzelle are made with anise extract or anise oil, and that is my preferred flavor, but they can also be made with vanilla, lemon or orange extracts.

2) Anise: Anise is the traditional flavor used for pizzelle. It tastes like black licorice (though I don't find it to be over-bearing, I don't personally like black licorice but I do love pizzelle). You can leave this out entirely or you can substitute your favorite flavor.

This is the proper name for the biscuit we know as biscotti, which in Italian just means “cookies.” Twice-baked and sliced, these ultra-crunchy, not-too-sweet biscuits are usually studded with nuts and simply beg to be dipped in coffee, tea, or a glass of vin santo.