Italian Vanilla Bean Pizzelles: #CreativeCookieExchange

This Christmas cookie is one my family has been making for years. The recipe came with my great grandmother when she immigrated to the United States from Sicily. Most people have at least heard of or recognize what a pizzelle is- they are found in most grocery store bakeries with a little looking. However, like in most circumstances, the homemade tastes nothing like the store bought.

You do need a special iron to make these- they’re scattered all over my family and I got my own last year finally. Also a lot of table space, they are soft out of the iron and need to dry out to crispy before eating.

Everyone loves cookies at the holidays–no matter what holidays you are celebrating. And there are so many wonderful traditional cookies all over the world that we have decided to revisit this theme. Check out December 2014 for other choices from our first time doing it. And get inspired to get into the kitchen!

You can also use us as a great resource for cookie recipes. Be sure to check out our Pinterest Board and our monthly posts (you can find all of them here at The Spiced Life). You will be able to find them the first Tuesday after the 15th of each month! If you are a blogger and want to join in the fun, contact Laura at thespicedlife AT gmail DOT com and she will get you added to our Facebook group, where we discuss our cookies and share links.

If you are looking for inspiration to get in the kitchen and start baking, check out what all of the hosting bloggers have made:

• Winter Spice Soetkoekies from All That’s Left Are The Crumbs
• Italian Ring Cookies from What Smells So Good?
• Lebkuchen from 2 Cookin Mamas
• Peppermint Pinwheels from Queen Bee Baker
• Noche Buena Chocolate Sandwich Cookies from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Italian Vanilla Bean Pizzelles from Cream and Butter Baking
• Alfajores from The Spiced Life

---

Vanilla Bean Pizzelles
recipe from my great grandmother Vella

6 eggs
1 cup butter, melted
3 tablespoons vanilla extract or scrapings from one vanilla bean
1 1/2 cup sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder

Whip eggs, gradually adding sugar until creamy and trebled in volume. Add cooled melted butter, vanilla, flour and baking powder and fold into eggs.

This dough will be very sticky. Portion by tablespoon onto hot iron and press for 20-25 seconds each. Lay in a single layer after cooking.