I have heard about pizzelles -- the crisp, Italian, waffle-like cookie -- for years. My curiosity got the best of me and I decided to buy a grill this year. There are dozens of ads on the Internet and reading them made me even more curious.
Two types of makers are available, stove-top and electric. The stove-top is the maker of the past, a round, metal baker held over a fire or wood stove. I used to have a stove-top waffle maker. Though the heart-shaped waffles were delicious, making them was a chore, and I had to adjust the temperature constantly. This was not what I was looking for in a grill.
What is a pizzelle? According to the Magnia Bene Pasta website, it is a traditional Italian cookie. The name, which is similar to the word "pizza," means round and flat. Many other cultures, including the Chinese, also make flat cookies. "Early pizzelles often were embossed with the family crest or some hint of the village of origin," notes the website.
The Big city, Little Kitchen website describes the cookies as "crisp, lacy nibbles." Warm cookies may be dusted with powdered sugar, or set in muffin tins to make little baskets, or rolled into shapes. "Although it's annoying to buy and store an appliance that only does one job," the website comments, "there are so many ways to reinvent the pizzelle that I think it's worth it to invest in an iron."
Consider these points before you make a purchase.
1. Stove-top or electric? My glass stovetop has already cracked once and a stove-top maker could cause it to crack again. For this reason, I chose electric.
2. Number of cookies. Some grills make two cookies, others make three, and still others make four. Two cookies were fine with me. Even better, the electric makers have a non-stick coating.
3. Storage. Large makers take up more space, so I focused my search on small ones.
4. Reviews and blogs. The Internet has many reviews of makers and recipes. I read reviews about well-known brands only.
5. Extras. All of the makers I read about came with recipes. Some also had a measuring spoon and a wooden cone for rolling warm cookies. The rolled cookies are filled with whipped cream, ice cream, or pudding.
6. Price. Internet and store prices varied greatly. Surprisingly, the large department store in my town (part of a national chain) did not carry the grills. Local discount stores carried them, but they were only available from the Internet. I wanted to see the appiance before I bought it.
Which one did I choose? A Cuisinart. I bought it at a new kitchen store for off the list price. Now I am in cookie production and the house smells wonderful. The grill is stored upright and takes up hardly any room. These cookies taste good at holiday time and all year round. Are you thinking about buying a pizzelle grill? Go for it!
Copyright 2009 by Harriet Hodgson
