Pizzelle (Ferratelle)
- 340g 00 flour – see note in step 2
- 3 eggs
- 150g sugar
- 100g unsalted butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons Italian baking powder, such as Lievito Bertolini
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or ½ teaspoon anise extract)
- Non-stick spray oil for greasing pizzelle maker, such as canola (alternatively, use butter)
- Icing (confectioners') sugar or Nutella, to serve
Requires: Pizzelle maker. If you don’t already own one, you can buy an authentic iron from Amazon - see Essential Equipment below.
Preheat Pizzelle maker. Lightly spray the Pizzelle maker plates with non-stick spray such as canola (alternatively use butter however spray oil does a better job at greasing the iron).
To make the Pizzelle mixture, place the flour into a bowl. Add the eggs, sugar, butter, baking powder, and extract (1 tablespoons vanilla or ½ tablespoon anise) . Use a wooden spoon to combine. When it becomes too hard to stir, use your hands to work the dough until smooth. The mixture should be thick (almost like gnocchi).
Note: 00 is a powder-fine Italian type of flour. It is made from soft wheat varieties and is frequently used in Italian desserts and pastas. 00 flour is available in most supermarkets, Italian food stores and gourmet delicatessens. Finely crushed aniseed seeds provide a more savoury flavour.
Carefully place about 1 tablespoon of the Pizzelle mixture onto each of the hot Pizzelle maker plates (or as indicated by the Pizzelle maker instructions). Close the lid and cook until crisp and golden (approximately for 50-60 seconds however refer to pizzelle maker for cooking time). Use a small spatula to remove the cooked Pizzelle, then transfer to a wire rack to cool. Repeat using the remaining Pizzelle mixture. If the Pizzelle start to stick, spray with extra non-stick spray oil in between cooking.
Serve Pizzelle with sifted icing sugar on top or the ultimate topping which is none other than Nutella – buon appetito!
Note: Pizzelle are also known as Ferratelle, Cancellate and Nevole. The quantity of Pizzelle for this recipe will vary depending on the size of the Pizzelle maker plates.
Essential Equipment
If you don’t own a pizzelle maker, read our blog post Pizzelle makers: Which one to buy in 2021/22.
