photo credit: badlyricpolice
There are many traditional Italian cookies, but it is believed that the lovely pizzelles are the oldest. The name comes from the Italian word pizze for round and flat. Pizzelles are thin, waffle-type cookies made with a special pizzelle machine. Long ago, a family would have an iron with their family crest on it that was held over the fire to bake. How glad they would have been to have a pizzelle machine where you can make one in under a minute. Today’s machines usually have two different designs for the front and back – usually a floral pattern for the top and a waffle pattern for the bottom.
Every year in the Abruzzo region of Italy, pizzelles are a big part of the “Feast Day of San Domenico” – also known as the “Festival of the snakes”. The story goes that back around 700 B.C. the area was so infested with snakes that the people banded together and rid the area of the snakes. When the task was completed they all ate pizzelles at their celebration.
Traditional Italian pizzelles are sometimes referred to as wedding cookies, since the bride and groom would pass them out to the guests at their wedding. Although this tradition still exists in some areas, you will most often see pizzelles at Easter and Christmas time.
Traditional Italian pizzelles are not overly sweet. There are many varied recipes, but the anise ones seem to be most favored. Here is a recipe that will give you lovely pizzelles. Beat 3 eggs with 3/4 cup fo sugar. Add 1/2 cup of melted, cooled butter and a tablespoon of vanilla or anise extract. Sift in 1 3/4 cups of flour and 2 teaspoons of baking powder.
That’s all there is to it. Just place a heaping tablespoon full in the middle of your hot pizzelle machine, close the lid, and in under a minute you will have a gorgeous pizzelle. I sometimes make chocolate ones that my friends just love.
These are very pretty wrapped in colored plastic wrap with a festive bow – makes a terrific gift! Maybe you would like to try these traditional Italian cookies this holiday season! Watch Dede make these on CBS! Click here! Mangia Bene!
