Pizzelle Cookies Recipe - Healthy Cookie for a Holiday Dessert (2024)

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These pizzelle cookies are such a fun dessert for Christmas or Easter, but they’re easy enough to make any time of year! They stay fresh for several days, so you can keep them on hand for a special treat.

Pizzelles are classic Italian cookies that are especially popular at Christmas and Easter. I married into a pizzelle-loving family, so I ended up with a pizzelle makerearly in our marriage. I’ve grown to crave these slightly sweet, wafer-like cookies all year round.

My sister-in-law found the perfect storage container for pizzelle cookies, and it sits in a cabinet waiting for me to whip up a batch. I love having these Italian waffle cookies on hand for a special treat. They stay crisp for several days, and the flavor is so delicious.

You can also use this recipe to make waffle cone bowls for a fun ice cream treat!

Step by Step Instructions for Pizzelle Cookies

Step One: Mix the Wet Ingredients

In the large bowl of a stand mixer, beat the eggs, pure maple syrup, cooled coconut oil or melted butter, and vanilla extract until well-combined.

Step Two: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a small bowl, mix together the flour and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until all the flour is incorporated. The batter should be sticky and fairly thick. If it’s quite runny, add just a little more flour.

Step Three: Cook the Pizzelle Cookies

Bake the pizzelles according to your machine’s instructions. For my machine, I place 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough on each mold, close the machine, and bake for about 30 seconds (or until it stops steaming).

Step Four: Cool the Cookies

Carefully remove the cookies from the pizzelle iron. Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack before storing them in an airtight container at room temperature.

Tips and Frequently Asked Questions

How do you keep pizzelle cookies crispy?

Make sure the cookies cool completely before storing them at room temperature in an airtight container. These cookies keep very well, so they’re a good choice if you need a cookie that will keep their crispness for several days.

What is the original flavor of pizzelles?

Pizzelle cookies are easy to make, and they can be flavored in a variety of ways. I like this vanilla version, but the classic version is flavored with anise extract. You can also flavor them with lemon extract or almond extract. For chocolate pizzelles, substitute some cocoa powder for a bit of the flour.

Can you freeze homemade pizzelles?

You can freeze these cookies for up to 2 months if you won’t eat them all within a week of making them. Place them carefully in an airtight container in the freezer. I don’t recommend using zipper bags because these cookies will break easily if they’re jostled in a crowded freezer.

What else can you use a pizzelle maker for?

You can shape these cookies into bowls while cooling, then serve them with ice cream. They can also be shaped into cones.

Pizzelle Cookies

Pizzelle cookies are the best healthy cookies for Christmas or Easter!

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Pizzelle Cookies Recipe - Healthy Cookie for a Holiday Dessert (4)

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:20 minutes mins

Total Time:30 minutes mins

Recommended Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs
  • 1 cup pure maple syrup
  • 2/3 cup melted coconut oil or butter
  • 1 tbs vanilla extract
  • 3 cups gluten-free flour (or all-purpose flour)
  • 2 tsp baking powder

Instructions

  • Preheat the pizzelle maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the eggs, pure maple syrup, cooled coconut oil, and vanilla extract until well-combined.

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until all the flour is incorporated. The batter should be sticky and fairly thick. If it’s quite runny, add just a little more flour.

  • Bake the pizzelles according to your machine’s instructions. For my machine, I place 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough on each mold, close the machine, and bake for about 30 seconds (or until it stops steaming).

  • Let the pizzelles cool completely on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container.

Notes

Yields approximately 30 cookies (4 1/2 inch size)

Approximate Nutrition Info

Calories: 121kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 59mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 32IU | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg

Servings: 30

Calories: 121kcal

Author: Annemarie Rossi

Cost: $.25 per serving

This recipe may contain affiliate links. A purchase or click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.

Pizzelle Cookies Price Breakdown

This recipe yields 30 pizzelle cookies and costs a total of $7.60 to make, or $.25 per cookie. Make a batch of these delicate cookies to celebrate a special occasion.

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Pizzelle Cookies Recipe - Healthy Cookie for a Holiday Dessert (2024)

FAQs

Why are my pizzelles not crunchy? ›

Avoid storing them in the refrigerator, as the moisture in the fridge can make them lose their crispness. Over time, pizzelle may become less crisp. If you notice they have lost their desired texture, you can try reheating them in the oven briefly to regain some of their crispness.

Do pizzelles have a lot of calories? ›

Pizzelle Calories: Pizzelle cookies have between 60-80 calories per cookie. They're very light, thin, and crispy!

How do you keep pizzelle cookies crisp? ›

The best way to keep pizzelle cookies nice and crisp is to make sure they are cooled completely before storing or stacking. They're best stored wrapped in aluminum foil but you can also use plastic bags, containers, or cookie tins once cooled.

How many calories are in homemade pizzelles? ›

Pizzelle cookies, homemade (1 each - approx 4 1/2" diameter) contains 9.5g total carbs, 9.3g net carbs, 3.9g fat, 1.2g protein, and 78 calories.

How do I make my cookies chewy instead of crunchy? ›

How To Make Cookies Chewy Without Cornstarch
  1. Go heavy on brown sugar. It has more moisture than its granulated counterpart, which means the cookie comes out less crispy. ...
  2. Choose margarine or shortening instead of butter. ...
  3. Use baking powder instead of baking soda. ...
  4. Rest your dough. ...
  5. Shorten baking time.
May 14, 2023

Is butter or margarine better for pizzelles? ›

As far as the fat used in pizzelle, some recipes will call for oil, others margarine, lard or Crisco. But having tried other fats, I always return to unsalted butter. They crisp up nicely, don't have an oily aftertaste, and cook to perfection in their special pizzelle press.

What is another name for pizzelle cookies? ›

Also known by the names ferratelle or cancelle, pizzelle means little pizza and comes from the Italian word “pizze,” meaning round or flat.

What is the best pizzelle maker to buy? ›

Our Top Pick: CucinaPro Pizzelle Baker

There is also a clamp on the end of the handles to keep the batter level. Apart from producing two 5-inch cookies at once in two different designs, it's also easy to clean thanks to the high-quality nonstick coating.

How long are pizzelles good for? ›

They will easily keep well for at least 1 month. To freeze the pizzelle, make sure they are completely cool, then store them in an airtight container or resealable freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

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.

What is the best container for pizzelles? ›

*Tip: Make sure you fully cool your pizzelles and do not cover for several hours as they will get mushy and soft – you want them to stay crispy! That's why I love my metal tin or glass containers – they keep them nice and fresh!

What is the best container to store pizzelles in? ›

fine in a tin can (it doesn't even have to be airtight)... popcorn tins!! cardboard box. They keep well for months.

How much sugar is in a Pizzelle? ›

Region: US
ServingIngredientCalories
3.16 gsugar12
0.05 gvanilla extract0.1
4.6 gall purpose flour17
0.02 glemon zest0.0
3 more rows

What is the difference between Krumkake and Pizzelle? ›

Krumkake batter is thinner than pizzelle batter, which is what allows it to roll so easily, and while krumkake is more versatile when it comes to flavors and fillings, pizelles are more likely to be flavored by directly adding ingredients to the batter.

Do Pizzelles freeze well? ›

Yes, you can freeze pizzelles. While they won't be quite as crisp as freshly baked cookies, they'll still be delicious! Arrange the cooled cookies on a baking sheet, cover, and flash freeze for a few hours or up to overnight. Transfer them to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bags and freeze for up to three months.

Why are my cookies soft instead of crunchy? ›

Soft cookies have a water concentration of 6% or higher – moisture being the variable in texture. To make cookies crispy, add less liquid or bake it in the oven for longer to dry out the dough.

Why aren t my cookies crinkling? ›

The signature crinkle effect happens when the cookies spread and crack as they bake. If your cookies aren't crinkling, it might be because the dough is too warm (try chilling it for longer before baking), or the oven temperature might be too low (ensure your oven is correctly preheated).

Why did my cookies come out flat and crunchy? ›

Adding too little flour can cause cookies to be flat, greasy, and crispy. Most recipes assume you'll use all-purpose, but if you want a lighter, crumblier cookie texture, choose one with a lower protein content such as cake-and-pastry flour. Baking soda helps cookies spread outward and upward while cooking.

Why are my crinkle cookies not crinkling? ›

Why are my crinkle cookies not crinkling? If the dough is too wet, then it will dissolve the sugar and the crinkle will get lost. In order for a defined crinkle to form, the surface of the dough needs to be dry. If your cookies are not crinkling then there is too much free water in the dough.

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