{{Short description|Italian waffle cookie}} {{Use American English|date=December 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}} {{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| *Abruzzo *Lazio *Molise }} | 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,<ref name=BARRCROCETTI>{{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}}</ref> as ''ferratelle'' in Lazio, and as ''ferratelle'', ''cancelle'' or ''pizzelle'' in Molise.<ref name="prodottitipici"/>
Pizzelle are named ''prodotti agroalimentari tradizionali abruzzesi'' (traditional agri-food product of Abruzzo) by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
==History== Pizzelle are known to be one of the oldest cookies in the world{{Clarify|date=December 2024}} and are thought to have originated from the ancient Roman ''crustulum''.<ref name="prodottitipici">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}}.</ref> Pizzelle were originally made in the ''comune'' (municipality) of Ortona, in the Abruzzo region of Italy, and spread to nearby regions of Molise and Lazio.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|thumb|250px|Pizzelle shaped into a cannoli 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name=BARRCROCETTI /> They are often found at Italian weddings, alongside other traditional pastries such as cannoli and traditional Italian cookies.
==See also== {{Commons category-inline}} {{Portal|Italy|Food}} * List of Italian desserts and pastries
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928065335/http://www.chefschoice.com/page2f_ph.html "Pizzelle Traditions"]. Chef's Choice. 15 Sept. 2006. Edgecraft Organization. 4 December 2006. * Stradley, Linda. [http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/CookieHistory.htm "History of Cookies"]. What's Cooking America. 26 Sept. 2006. 4 December 2006.
{{Waffles}} {{Pastries}}
Category:Anise Category:Christmas food Category:Christmas in Italy Category:Cuisine of Abruzzo Category:Cuisine of Molise Category:Easter food Category:Easter traditions in Italy Category:Italian cookies Category:Waffles Category:Wedding food