Pizzelle

A pizzelle is a traditional Italian cookie made from flour, eggs, sugar, butter (or vegetable oil), and flavoring (often vanilla, anise, or lemon zest). The cookie dough or batter is put into a pizzelle iron, which resembles a waffle iron. The iron is held by hand over a hot burner on the stovetop, or some models of iron are electric and require no stove. Typically, the iron stamps a snowflake pattern onto both sides of this light-brown cookie, which has a crisp texture once it is cooled. Pizzelles are popular during Christmas and Easter.

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Pizzelle recipe. Melt 2 sticks of butter in a small saucepan. Beat 6 eggs in a large bowl and add 2 tablespoons of vanilla (or anise) flavoring. Add 1-1/2 cups sugar to the egg mixture and beat well. After butter has melted, allow to cool slightly and then add to egg and sugar mixture. Sift in 3-1/2 cups flour and 2 teaspoons baking powder into the wet mixture, making sure all flour is completely mixed into a stiff batter. Bake using pizzelle iron. Makes approx. 60 cookies.