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 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.
Pizzelles are popular during Christmas and Easter.
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.
History
Pizzelles origined in Abruzze, an area of Italy, centuries ago. The name of pizzelle comes from the Italian for round and flat, which is pizze. This is also used in the word pizza. Many other cultures have developed the pizelle as part of their culture. It is known to be on of the oldest cookies.