One of our favorite cookies is pizzelles. They are an Italian cookie that is almost waffle-like. If you also love them, you will want to try my gluten-free pizzelle recipe. 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 many different flavors.
These cookies look like little waffles, so 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; 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.
🔑 Sandi says: 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 only need to do this once, but it 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 it 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 of 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 perfectly describes 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 can either dust them in powdered sugar or drizzle with melted chocolate.
These cookies will last up to 4 days in an airtight 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.
Fearless Dining
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Cosimina
Hi. Can you use a neutral oil instead of the butter?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Cosimina, yes, you can use a neutral oil instead of butter. I used coconut oil in this recipe when I made the pizzelles into dessert taco shells. https://www.fearlessdining.com/gluten-free-dessert-tacos/
Chris
Is the cocoa powder sweetened or unsweetened? Thank you!
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Chris, I used unsweetened cocoa powder. If you notice your cocoa powder has chunks, it is worth sifting it to get them out before making the cookie batter.
Carrie
Just wondering if I could use egg replacer, flax egg, etc? I cannot have eggs…
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Carrie, I haven't tested egg replacer in this recipe. If you try one, please let me know how it worked. Thank you.
Ann
Hi do you think Robin Hood GF flour will work for this recipe.
Thanks in advance
Ann
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Ann, I have never heard of this blend. What are the ingredients listed in order on the back of the bag?
Rose
Batter was too thick so I added an extra egg and an egg yolk with a little coconut milk to the recipe. I prefer them thin and crispy. They are soo good! Thank you for the hint of where to place the batter.
Sandi Gaertner
I am glad you liked them. Batter thickness and moisture come down to what gluten free flour blend is used as many have high starch ratios.
Renee Goerger
Thank you so much for this gluten-free version of pizzelles. This is a delicious recipe, and I adore the citrus version.
Sandi Gaertner
You are so welcome Renee 🙂
Katie
Looks so good. Can't wait to try this one!
Sandi Gaertner
Enjoy Katie :-).
Jenni
My MIL used to make anise flavored pizelles. Since I'm not an Anise Fan, I didn't like her pizelles. But this chocolate version I can definitely get behind! Yum!
Sandi Gaertner
LOL I am not a fan of anise either so I left it out :-).
Susan
I followed the recipe for chocolate pizzelles and used Bobs Red Mill 1 to 1 flour. They came out great. I guess the salton pizzelle maker I found at goodwill is smaller. It only needed a scant tablespoon per cookie and 40 seconds to cook. Love it. Next I will have to make them with anise flavor in memory of my grandma!
Sandi Gaertner
I am glad you loved the recipe, Susan. I haven't seen that pizzelle maker, but I am glad it worked well!