Go Back
Stacked golden pizzelle abruzzesi cookies with lacy waffle pattern and lemon zest on a rustic wooden board

Crisp Pizzelle Abruzzesi with Anise and Lemon Zest

Thin, anise-and-lemon waffle cookies pressed on a hot iron until golden, then cooled flat until crisp.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 13 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Regional (Le Marche, Abruzzo)
Calories: 140
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 large eggs room temperature
  • 150 g granulated sugar (3/4 cup)
  • 115 g unsalted butter (1/2 cup); melted and cooled
  • 220 g all-purpose flour (1 3/4 cups); spooned and leveled
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp anise seeds or 1 tbsp anise extract, or 2 tbsp anisette liqueur
  • 1 lemon zest lemon; finely grated

Method
 

Batter
  1. Whisk eggs and sugar in a large bowl for 2 minutes until pale and slightly thickened.
  2. Whisk in melted butter, anise seeds (or extract or liqueur), and lemon zest until combined.
  3. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt over the bowl, then fold in until you have a smooth, thick batter that falls off the spoon in ribbons.
Cooking the Pizzelle
  1. Heat the pizzelle iron until the indicator light shows ready, about 5 minutes, then let it heat 2 more minutes past that.
  2. Drop 1 rounded tablespoon of batter onto the center of each mold, close the iron, and press the handles together.
  3. Cook for 30 to 45 seconds until the cookie is golden and lifts cleanly off the plates with a fork.
  4. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool flat, they crisp fully within a minute or two as they cool.
  5. Repeat with remaining batter, stacking cooled pizzelle abruzzesi loosely so they don't trap steam.

Notes

  • Batter thickens as it sits, thin with a teaspoon of milk if it stops falling off the spoon.
  • The first cookie off a cold iron is often a test piece, don't judge doneness by it.
  • Anisette liqueur gives a rounder anise flavor than dried seeds alone.
  • The iron's indicator light usually undersells readiness, give it 2 extra minutes before the first cookie.