Growing up Italian. It doesn't get any better. In my family, my grandmother would bring us a tray each Christmas filled with her specialties . There was always a nut bread, fruitcake, homemade crescent rolls, and Pizelle cookies.
Pizelles are actually not as fattening as most cookie recipes. They are beautiful, crispy, and on the lighter-tasting side.
Grandma's were always anise-flavored, but vanilla is another popular flavor.
The beautiful design is created from a Pizelle cookie maker.
You will need:
6 eggs
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
5 cups flour
5 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. anise oil (or pure vanilla extract)
Beat eggs and sugar well. Add melted cooled butter. Add anise oil, then dry ingredients. Mix well with a mixer on med. speed. till smooth.With floured hands, roll dough in ball (2-3 heaping teaspoonfuls). Place dough slightly off center - just a tiny bit back- close lid and cook for about one minute.
*It is okay to open the lid to see if they are done- it will not affect the cookie to check a few times.
They should be slightly golden brown.
They lift very easily off the griddle with spatula.
Cool on a flat surface, then begin stacking them.
These are delicious served just as they are.
They are also great sprinkled with powdered sugar (especially at Christmas time- they'll look like a big snowflake cookie!)
You can also shape them to make a waffle cone for ice cream, but you need the proper form for this. You can form it to the bottom of a cup if let it cool in the cup, then it will be a perfect cup to fill with ice cream, drizzled with chocolate...yummmmm.
Enjoy~ Everything in Moderation
