Grandma Ruffes's Pizzelles: Italian Wafer Cookies


I lost my grandmother on New Year's Day. We were always close, and she taught me many things, including recipes. In honor of Grandma Ruffes, I wanted to share the first recipe she ever showed me: Her pizzelles. I love you, grandma! I'll always think of you when I make these sweet treats.

Yields about 2 dozen cookies
(You will need a special pizzelle iron to make these.)

Ingredients:
-3 large eggs
-3/4 cup granulated sugar
-1/2 cup butter, melted
-1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
-2 tsp. baking powder
-1 tsp. vanilla extract
-1 tbs. anise extract
-Powdered sugar, for dusting after

Directions:
1. Plug in pizzelle iron, and allow it to heat up.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine eggs, sugar, vanilla, and anise. Add melted butter (make sure butter is cool first, so you don't get scrambled eggs!) and mix.
3. Sift in flour and baking powder and mix until batter is smooth.
4. Spoon batter onto each round of the iron (the amount of batter depends on the diameter of each round, but start with a tablespoon of batter per round, and adjust the amount until batter spreads to the edge of each circle.)
5. Close the iron and allow cookies to cook about 45 seconds-1 minute. When they're ready, the steam coming from the iron will taper off and the cookies will be golden brown.
6. Using a fork, gently remove the cookies and allow them to cool on a flat surface.
7. Dust with powdered sugar before serving!

Notes:
-Store cookies in an airtight container or zip-top bag to prevent them from getting soft.
-There are different variations on pizzelle flavors. Feel free to experiment! For vanilla, leave out anise extract and increase vanilla extract to 1 tbs. For chocolate, leave out anise extract and sift 1/4 cup of cocoa powder in with the flour and baking powder, and increase granulated sugar to 1 cup.

Comments

Vicki Vendetta said…
Great recipe! I grew up with these holiday treats in South Philly as a child & make them whenever I can.
FYI-here in Florida it is best to make on a "dry" day as the humidity we usually have makes it longer to cook and pizzelles go limp instead of crisp.
I'm a foodie-love your "cooking" segment on Fox!
Unknown said…
What is a pizzelle iron? Can you use a waffle iron instead? What are these cookies like? I want to try them but don't want to purchase a item that I won't use.