Mary Anne here. After the spectacular wedding and much-needed vacation for this “M.O.B.,” I’m happy to report that we’re back in full cooking mode and will hopefully make up for the past few weeks of “radio silence.” I can’t wait to try the recipes Mariel has brought back from her honeymoon in South America! She’s working on Empanadas as I write.
Every once in awhile, someone crosses your path and it’s as though they were sent from Heaven–a total surprise and a gift that’s treasured from the very first moment. The following recipe is from my blessing from above. She has only been in my life for about nine months, but she will be in my heart forever. Mrs. A., who asked to remain anonymous, is without hesitation, our biggest “Feast” fan. Even her grown daughters now follow our blog, including one or two that never cook. One of them, Angel, along with her own daughter, actually drove from New England in June just to attend our cooking demo at Bloomies!
Mrs. A. frequently writes to anyone she can think of, including celebrities and CEO’s of major food chains, to promote our little blog! She is incredibly warm and loving and has become like a second mother to me, cheering both Mariel and me on with her support, humor, and endless supply of delicious Italian “takeout” specialties from her kitchen. Mrs. A.’s is a large, extended family and whenever I visit their home, the house is buzzing with activity as children and grandchildren come and go, grabbing pieces of the many cakes and cookies produced in the heart of their home.
She also makes a mean Pomadore Giardinare a la Agnese sauce for her homemade Gnocchi, but I have yet to wrestle either of those recipes from her as she prepares them by instinct rather than the written plan! I managed to wrangle this one though, so I thank you Mrs. A. for the incredible joy you have brought to all the lives you touch. Cheers!

Mrs. A.’s Pizzelle Cookies
Makes approximately 40 cookies
Notes:You will need a Pizzelle Waffle Maker for these treats.There are plenty of variations for these cookies. You might try adding a “handful” of groundnuts, ½ teaspoons of cinnamon, and 1/8 Teaspoon of ground cloves to the batter. Additionally, if it’s chocolate you crave, Mrs. A. adds ¼ cup powdered cocoa with 1 Tablespoon of instant coffee to create a mocha pizzelle.
We’ve been receiving inquiries about freezing these treats, and as noted at the very end — Yes, freeze away! Just be sure that they are tightly sealed in either a container or zip-lock bag.
On another note, you can bake these babies using Splenda instead of sugar to lower the calorie count. I should have mentioned earlier that when any recipe calls for granulated sugar, you can swap out the sugar for Splenda. The measurements are identical, so there’s no calculating. It’s less expensive if you buy it by the bag rather than using the packets made for coffee. You’ll find it in the baking aisle of your local market. I have made my mom’s cheesecake using Splenda and swear I couldn’t tell the difference. Some people say that it leaves a slight aftertaste, but really it’s barely discernible, if at all.
Ingredients:
3 ½ cups flour – stock
1½ cups granulated sugar or Splenda – stock
4 teaspoons baking powder – stock
6 eggs, lightly beaten – stock
1/3 cup Canola oil – stock
2 teaspoons vanilla extract – stock
Cooking spray (“Pam” or generic) – stock
Confectioner’s sugar (optional) – stock
Grand Total Assuming Well-Stocked Pantry: $0!
Directions:
1. Spray the waffle maker with Pam. Preheat – the iron will throw off steam.
2. Sift together the flour and baking powder and set aside.
3. Using a mixer, beat the eggs with the sugar, adding the sugar gradually, 2 Tablespoons at a time.
4. Add the canola/vegetable oil and vanilla, beating until well incorporated.
5. On the lowest speed, gradually add the flour mixture until blended.
6. Drop a large spoonful of the batter into the center of preheated pizzelle maker. Close the lid and hold it down until it stops steaming. Using a fork, peel the cookies from the waffle maker. The cookies will be golden brown. Repeat until all the batter is used. Sprinkle with Confectioner’s sugar, if desired.
7. Store in a sealed container for up to 4 days. These cookies also freeze well.
LOVE pizzelle cookies! My Italian husban introduced me to them…now I cannot get enough… 🙂
They’re the best! If you make this recipe, you’ll have to let me know how it stacks up against your hubby’s
Gorgeous and delicious!
Looks absoutely delicious ..
Laila .. http://lailablogs.com/
Thanks Laila. Last week Mrs. A. made some using Splenda and they’re almost as good! Lo cal and cheap — great combo!
Can you tell me how Mrs. A adapted her recipe using the splenda? I just found out that my husband is diabetic and he loves pizzelles. Thanks
Hi again, Lucy. By now you have received my personal reply, but I thought to respond here as well for anyone else that wonders about sugar vs. Splenda. They are equals in the world of measuring and Splenda can be purchased by the bag as opposed to those packets for coffee and tea. I have had terrific success swapping out sugar for Splenda in baked goods — my mom’s cheesecake most notably. It’s a wonderful alternative as it doesn’t compromise the consistency of cookies/cakes/breads/pies and a God-send for people who are counting calories. There are those who say it leaves somewhat of an aftertaste, but I really don’t experience anything other than an almost guilt-free treat! Enjoy.
Hello Mary Anne & Mariel,
Great job getting a recipe from my Mom! It is so true, she cooks from instinct. Please work on getting her to write down the recipe for her Pomadore Giardinare a la Agnese sauce. It is truly a favorite of mine.
Hi Aggie. So far she’s written down the actual ingredients for me, but I will have to pin her down for the exact (or near exact!) proportions. I think it would be a blast to actually cook with her and watch as she prepares the sauce. She made the sauce for me in August and it truly is the best I’ve ever had. I can see why it’s such a favorite of yours. Will keep you posted!
I am a co-worker of one of Mrs. A’s daughters and she has been holding out on us. The pizzelle cookies look amazing!!! I just might have been inspired to go back into the kitchen or just find a way to get invited over for dinner to Mrs. A’s house. LOL
I’ll bet it won’t be hard to get an invitation from Mrs. A. She has really been cooking up a storm! I’m hoping to get a tutorial from her on making homemade gnocchi! Thanks so much for writing.
HI.. I am a rookie to Pizzelle making & eating. I only ate them for the first time last week and immediately loved them an bought an iron right away. My main reason, at least for the moment, is to make them for my niece and her husband who have both been diagnosed with Diabetes. With this recipe using splenda, what would the serving size be? A friend told me they could have 8 for a snack. That seems like a whole lot, but my niece loved the sound of it. Any help or suggestions would be so appreciated.
Thanks I can hardly wait to start
I have been buying these cookies with 23 calories each and using them with a PUMPKIN DIP that is to die for! It’s so easy:
1 regular size pumpkin,( I use Libby’s, do not use pumpkin pie mix tho)
1- 8 ounce package cream cheese ( I use Philadelphia) Mix well and add
cinnamon, nutmeg and sweetener to taste ( I use splenda)
Warning: it’s addictive
I would love to know what type of pizzelle iron is pictured above making this unique design. Thanks.
Mrs. A’s daughter got back to me about the iron used to make her Pizzelles. She had a VillaWare Pizzelle Baker. Aggie sent me a picture of the box and honestly, it looks like it might be from the 1960’s! I suggest you Google it and see if it is still in production. If not – maybe eBay? Have a wonderful holiday and thanks so much for stopping by! M&M
Thank you.