Pizzelle Maker - 3 Hints For Using Your Pizzelle Maker

Although they look very ornate, pizzelle are really simple cookies to make. However, a novice can be intimidated since the cookies are not baked in the oven. Instead, they are made in baches on a heated pizzelle maker.

But if you know a few tips and tricks to working a pizzelle maker, it is easy to use. The below tips were written with an electric maker in mind. Some may also apply to handheld stovetop ones.



Oil It Thoroughly -- When new to making pizzelle, many people have problems with how to remove the finished cookies from the iron without them sticking to it. The answer to this is oiling it well before you use it. This will make the finished cookie slide off the iron when it is finished.



Before heating your pizzelle maker, oil it by spraying it with cooking spray or rub a paper towel with cooking oil over the plates. You may be worrying that the cookies will absorb too much oil and taste bad. Only the first set placed in the iron will absorb oil. Consider this first set just prepwork for the real batch of cookies.



Don't Rely On The Indicator Light -- Many of the electric pizzelle makers available have indicator lights. While they can be useful, they are not always very precise. I only take notice of the light that tells me if the maker is fully heated or still heating up between sets. When making the cookies, I pay attention to the steam coming out of the iron instead. When the steam lessens or stops, I check to see if the cookies are finished. But each model of pizzelle maker is a little different. You need to experiment and learn which indicators work best to figure out when the pizzelle in your iron are ready. This is important whether you use the indicator lights, set a timer, or watch the steam.



Don't Worry About Imperfections -- Some people can become annoyed and frustrated if the pizzelle do not turn out perfectly each time. Electric makers tend to make pizzelle with ragged edges that are not unattractive, but do not have the perfectly round look that ones made using handheld stovetop makers have. It is also easy to end up with an off-center cookie from not dropping the dough perfectly in the center, resulting in the grid only showing on part of the cookie. Remember that the batch as a whole will look and taste great. Not every cookie has to be perfect individually.