pizzelle

{{Infobox food

| name = Pizzelle

| image = Pizzelle in a loose stack, April 2010.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| caption =

| alternate_name = Ferratelle, nevole, catarrette, cancelle

| country = Italy

| region = {{plainlist|

}}

| creator =

| course = Dessert

| type =

| served =

| main_ingredient = Flour, butter/oil, sugar

| variations =

}}

Pizzelle ({{IPA|it|pitˈtsɛlle|lang}}; {{singular}}: pizzella) are Italian waffle cookies made with flour, eggs, sugar, butter or vegetable oil, and flavoring (usually anise or anisette, or vanilla or lemon zest). Pizzelle are also known as ferratelle, nevole or catarrette in some parts of Abruzzo,{{Cite web|url=https://italoamericano.org/pizzelle-holiday-waffles/|title=Pizzelle, the Italian way for waffle cookies| first=Adri| last=Barr Crocetti| date=December 12, 2016 |website=L'Italo Americano}} as ferratelle in Lazio, and as ferratelle, cancelle or pizzelle in Molise.

Pizzelle are named prodotti agroalimentari tradizionali abruzzesi (traditional agri-food product of Abruzzo) by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests.{{cite web| url=https://www.regione.abruzzo.it/system/files/sviluppo-economico/marchio-ristorante-tipico/prodotti_agroalimentari_tradizionali_Abruzzo.pdf| title=Elenco nazionale dei prodotti agroalimentari tradizionali: Regione Abruzzo| website=Regione Abruzzo| access-date=12 December 2024}}

History

Pizzelle are known to be one of the oldest cookies{{Clarify|date=December 2024}} and are thought to have originated from the ancient Roman crustulum.Prodottitipici.com, [http://www.prodottitipici.com/prodotto/5073/Ferratelle.htm Molise - Dolci e Gelati - Torte e Ciambelle: Ferratelle (Cancelle, Pizzelle)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233841/http://www.prodottitipici.com/prodotto/5073/Ferratelle.htm |date=2018-07-19 }} {{in lang|it}}. Pizzelle were originally made in the comune (municipality) of Ortona, in the Abruzzo region of Italy, and spread to nearby regions of Molise and Lazio. Many other cultures have developed a pizzelle-type cookie as part of their culture (for example, the Norwegian krumkake).

Production

File:Pizzelle filled with orange-almond creme, April 2011.jpg and filled with an orange-almond creme]]

The cookie dough or batter is put into a pizzelle iron, which resembles a small variant of the popular waffle iron.{{Cite web |last=Melissa |date=2020-12-01 |title=Classic Italian Pizzelle: My family recipe |url=https://www.keepingitsimpleblog.com/food/italian-pizzelle-cookies/ |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=Keeping It Simple Blog |language=en-US}} Originally, the long-handled pizzelle iron was held by hand over a hot burner on the stovetop, although today most pizzelle are made using electric models and require no stove.{{Cite web|url=https://www.biscuitpeople.com/magazine/post/pizzelle-traditional-biscuit|title=Pizzelle: traditional biscuit with a long history|date=2017-11-10|website=Biscuit people|access-date=2019-10-12}} Typically, the iron stamps a snowflake pattern onto both sides of the thin golden-brown cookie, which has a crisp texture once cooled, although some pizzelle irons feature family crests, special dates, or other decorative designs.{{Cite web |title=Recipe: Pizzelle - The Italian Christmas Cookie and Its History |url=http://www.grandvoyageitaly.com/1/post/2016/11/recipe-pizzelle-the-italian-christmas-cookie-and-its-history.html |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=GRAND VOYAGE ITALY |language=en}} Store-bought pizzelle are now commonly available in Italy, and other areas with a large Italian population.

It is also common to sandwich two pizzelle with cannoli cream (ricotta blended with sugar) or hazelnut spread. Pizzelle, while still warm, can also be rolled into a tubular shape using a wooden dowel to create cannoli shells.

Pizzelle are popular during Christmas and Easter. They are often found at Italian weddings, alongside other traditional pastries such as cannoli and traditional Italian cookies.

pizzelle

History

Production

See also

References

Further reading