snowflake cookies

with not very much snow outside, i decided to create my own snowflakes this week and made old fashioned pizzelle cookies.  i often call these snowflake cookies, since they remind me of snowflakes covered in powdered sugar.

i have a Cuisinart pizzelle maker which works very nicely to create these cookies in a matter of minutes.  i was able to make 24 cookies in less then one hour with the non stick maker.  these classic Italian cookies can be flavored with lemon zest, anise, or just vanilla.  here is a lovely selection of vanillas that was given to me by a friend which offers a delicious variety of tastes for these cookies.

the maker resembles a waffle iron with the snowflake stamp being pressed into both sides of the cookie at the same time. along with the pizzelle maker comes a wooden dowel so that the cookies can be shaped, while still warm, into cones for ice cream or other cream filled desserts. a recipe booklet is included with the pizzelle maker, and many recipes can also be found online for these classic cookies.

once the cookies are pressed, i cool them on waxed paper sheets and dust them with powdered sugar on both sides.  next, the cookies can be trimmed with a sharp knife to even up the edges.

these cookies are wonderful for tea as they crisp up when cooled to create a delicate crunch when eating.  the cookies can be stored with waxed paper between the layers in a sealed container for several days.

for more information on the Cuisinart pizzelle maker, follow this link:  http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-WM-PZ2-Pizzelle-Press/dp/B00006F2ME