A pizzelle is a traditional Italian waffle cookie made from flour, eggs, sugar, butter or vegetable oil. It is sometimes flavored with vanilla, anise, or lemon zest seasonings. Pizzelle are usually hard and crisp.
Pizzelle were originally made in the Abruzzo region of south-central Italy. The name comes from the Italian word for “round” and “flat” (pizze). This is also the meaning of the word pizza. It is known to be one of the oldest cookies. Pizzelle are known as ferratelle in other regions of Italy such as Lazio and Molise.
The cookie dough or batter is put into a pizzelle iron, which resembles a waffle iron. The pizzelle iron is held by hand over a hot burner on the stovetop, although some models are electric and require no stove. Typically, the iron stamps a snowflake pattern onto both sides of this thin golden-brown cookie, which has a crisp texture once it is cooled. There are also several brands of ready-made pizzelle available in stores.
Pizzelle are popular during Christmas and Easter. In Teramo they are sometimes found at Italian weddings, alongside other traditional pastries such as cannoli.
Pizzelle are served as a dessert or as a snack with coffee or tea in Valle San Giovanni near Teramo in Abruzzo.
