One of our favorite cookies are pizzelles. They are an Italian cookie that is almost waffle-like. If you love them as well, you will want to give my gluten free pizzelle recipe a try. I made chocolate, but there are also directions for plain flavored!
Enjoy these delicious gluten free chocolate pizzelle cookies in about 10 minutes!
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Get ready for cookie bliss with my new gluten free pizzelles cookie recipe. This recipe can be made chocolate as shown, or use one of my fun swaps to make lots of different flavors.
These cookies look like little waffles, hence why they are often called Italian waffle cookies, are great anytime, but make beautiful holiday cookies for a cookie exchange party or gift giving too!
Why these pizzelle cookies are great:
Not only are these cookies easy to make, but you can also bend them while they are warm to make taco shells and edible cookie bowls too. You can make them in lots of different flavors! This recipe is quick and easy and you can make these cookies in under 10 minutes!
For this recipe I made chocolate flavored pizzelle cookies. If you love chocolate as much as we do, check out all of my easy Gluten Free Chocolate Dessert recipes!
What you need to make these:
Ingredient notes:
- Gluten free flour blend - I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
- Xanthan gum - If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain Xanthan Gum or Guar Gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
- Butter - to make these cookies dairy-free, use vegan butter.
- Flavors like vanilla, cocoa powder, peppermint, etc.
Recipe step by step directions:
Step 1: Add the dry ingredients to a bowl and whisk to blend.
Step 2: Add your wet ingredients to a bowl and whisk.
Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
Step 4: Mix the ingredients until they form a batter.
Step 5: Heat your pizzelle maker. I used the CucinaPro brand that I found at Bed, Bath, & Beyond. Add a little batter to each side.
TIP: Add the batter a bit off-center, adding it closer to the clamps. That way when you close the lid, the batter moves towards the handle to fill in the whole area.
*Very LIGHTLY spray a light oil over the hot pizzelle maker. Wipe it off with a paper towel. You will only need to do this once, but it really helps keep the cookies from sticking.
Step 6: Cook in the pizzelle maker for 1 minute and lift the lid. If you are going to bend the pizzelle cookie, you have a very short time to do this so move quickly while the pizzelle is still hot.
How to shape your pizzelles:
You can bend it over a knife to make a taco shell, or pull around the base of a glass to make a bowl.
These homemade gluten free chocolate pizzelles are perfect for chocolate lovers!
What flavors of pizzelles can you make?
The sky is the limit to flavoring pizzelle cookies! Here are some of my favorite flavors:
- To make plain gluten free vanilla pizzelle cookies pictured above, omit the cocoa powder in the recipe below.
- For peppermint, add 1 teaspoon peppermint extract.
- To make citrus pizzelles - add 1 tablespoon orange zest.
If you love making holiday cookies, try my buttery Gluten Free Spritz Cookies too!
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:
Pizzelle means round and flat, which is the perfect description of these cookies.
Pizzelles tend to absorb moisture and lose their crispiness. Store the pizzelle cookies wrapped in foil and store in a paper bag to keep moisture out.
You an either dust them in powdered sugar, or drizzle with melted chocolate.
These cookies will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
More gluten free cookie recipes:
- Homemade Coconut Macaroons
- Gluten Free Lemon Madeleines
- Raspberry Macarons
- Gluten Free Vanillekipferl Crescent Cookies
📖 Recipe
Gluten Free Pizzelles Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups gluten free flour blend * see note
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- dash salt
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup butter melted
- 3 eggs large
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
To Make Chocolate Flavor:
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoons additional sugar
To Make Citrus Flavor:
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
To Make Almond Flavor:
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
Topping Ideas
- Dust with powdered sugar
- Dip in or drizzle with chococlate
Instructions
- Spray your pizzelle maker very lightly with spray oil. I used coconut oil. Wipe it off with a paper towel.
- Plug in your Pizzelle maker so it can preheat. Choose what flavor pizzelle cookies you want to make.
- In a large bowl, add your dry ingredients and whisk to blend.
- In a smaller bowl, add the wet ingredients and whisk to blend.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix.
- Put about 1 ½ to 2 tablespoons batter on each pizzelle cookie section of the pizzelle cooker. Tip: try to put the batter a little off-center towards the brackets. This way, when you close the lid, it pushes the batter toward the handle and fills the shaped area better.
- Cook for one minute then open the lid and remove the pizzelles.
- If you plan to shape them, you need to be quick while they are hot. You can bend them around a knife to make "taco shells" or press around a glass to make a bowl shape.
- Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle/dip in melted chocolate.
Notes
- I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
- If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain Xanthan Gum or Guar Gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
- To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter.
- These cookies will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
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Tami
These are fantastic!! I was worried that I'd not get to enjoy pizzelles this year as a new Gluten Free person, but i found your recipe and they are so good even my family declared them better than the regular (non GF) versions. We then decided to make the chocolate ones and whoa, game changer - even better!! This just made my holiday - you have no idea!! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! Now onto your spritz recipe!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you loved the pizzelles. I adore the chocolate ones too! Have a wonderful holiday!
Carolyn Churchill
One is pizzella (plural pizzelle or pizzellas)
Sandi Gaertner
I had no idea, thank you so much Carolyn for letting me know.
Lisha
These are amazing! So easy to make and so tasty. Thanks for sharing!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you loved them, Lisha. Thank you!
JOY
My family's flavor of choice is Anise (with anise seeds in the pizzelle, too) Have you made this traditional flavor? How much extract and seeds did you use, please?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Joy, I have not made this flavor yet. I would say it is a personal preference how much extract to use. Some like a strong flavor while others like more mild flavor. Sub 1/2 to 1 teaspoon.