Most Loved And Best Italian Cookie

Can you tell me the name of the world’s oldest cookie? It is one of the best Italian cookies that are treasured all across the world. You got it right. The oldest known cookie in the world is pizzelle and the credit of giving this finest treat to the world goes to the mid-section of Italy. They were first made for the “Feast Day of San Domenico” many years ago. “Feast Day of San Domenico” is the “Festival of the snakes”. People in the village of Colcullo in the Abruzzo region were the first to make these best Italian cookies. The village was overrun with snakes. Villagers chased them out and then celebrated with pizzelle.

Pizzelle cookies are sweet bread pancakes. This name comes from ‘pizze’, an Italian word that means ‘round and flat’. And the ‘elle’ part of the name means small. After they originated in Colcullo, other cultures adopted pizzelle and renamed accordingly.

These light, crispy waffle cookies are traditionally enjoyed around Christmas and Easter time. You can also find them on sweet tables at Italian weddings. They are also very easy to make. All you need is a simple batter of flour, sugar, eggs, oil or butter and flavoring. Though Anise (Black Licorice) has been the traditional flavor, the modern flavor options include peppermint, vanilla, lemon, anisette and chocolate. You can use many other flavor combinations if you are making them at home.

Either the traditional cast metal plates or modern electric version of iron plates is used for making pizzelle.

How To Make Pizzelle Cookies?

Now, as you are practicing social distancing and staying inside, you have time to make some at home. Even when you find your cooking skills questionable, you have time to be a better chef. Pizzelle cookies are very easy to make.

First of all, you have to prepare the batter. After that, press the batter between two iron plates. These plates come with decorative designs on them. The most popular design is a snowflake. Once the design is transferred to the batter, your cookies are cooked into the pizzelle. These decorative plates have always been prized possessions for Italian families.

If you are using traditional iron plates for cooking these best Italian cookies, roll the cookie dough into a rope. Now, form a figure eight and place the rope onto one of the plates. Hold this plate on an open flame and turn and cook each side of the cookies. Your cookies will be hardened once cooled off. However, once your cookies are off the flames, they are soft and malleable. You can easily mold them into any other shapes. You can wrap them around a tube to form sweet, crunchy cylinders used for making cannoli.
You can also shape pizzelle cookies into a cone and then top with ice cream or gelato. Creating a pizzelle ‘bowl’ is also a great idea. You can do this by molding your cookies using the inside of a bowl.

Once it comes to the original shape, they have always been flat and round. You can stack them between ice cream layers. Want to make a decadent Nutella Ice Cream Pizzelle sandwich? You simply need to alternate layers of Nutella, pizzelle and ice cream.

Pizzelle cookies are the best because of their versatility as you can use them in a range of different ways. Thanks to the modern recipe taking on the traditional recipe. You can also use food coloring to tint the cookie. Dipping them into chocolate, icing or sprinkles can make them extra delicious. Dusting with powdered sugar is the simplest style. All delicious versions of these best Italian cookies are easy to make.

If you want to try some other recipes as well then you can make Italian biscotti cookies, or Italian chocolate cookies, or puff pastry cookies.

In the end, practice social distancing, stay inside, stay safe and keep trying. You can make the best pizzelle cookies at home.