"I am so happy to be able to pass along Raphael's Pizzelles name to everyone who asks me where to find a good cookie! Except, that then I have to let them know that the list of my favorites just keeps growing! I own the Kasmer Insurance Agency in Canfield, OH and we have been sharing treats from Raphael's Pizzelles for over 18 months now and we've incorporated these yummy treats into our marketing and customer appreciation events. Whenever I order, everything is packaged so ...nicely and the tins are just perfect for a small gift. I love the creative packaging - the affordable pricing - the quality of the product and mostly the ease with which I can do my seasonal gift giving. The citrus pizzelles are my absolute favorite and the wedding cookies put my own Mom's to the test - which trust me, says a lot! I've also ordered trays which included the brownies and biscotti and nothing ever fails to impress me. Keep up the great work -- I plan to be a customer for a long time! Thank you for being dependable and making things so easy!"

"Marcie, we just wanted to let you know your cookies were a HUGE hit at the wedding on Saturday! The guests were raving about them, and filling their boxes to take home (even the folks from Youngstown, who know their cookies!) The only issue was we probably didn't order enough for the demand! Thanks again for your baking talents, and for helping make the reception a memorable event for our guests."

"Thanks, Marcie, for supplying our customers at Titan Mechanical Solutions with some of the tastiest treats ever! We appreciate your willingness to customize our orders from the containers to the goodies put into them such as your famous pizzelles, buckeyes, wedding cookies and filled brownies to name just a few! Plus, with the affordable prices, we love surprising our customers with containers of your baked items throughout the year and not just at Christmas!"

"So excited to discover your products at the Lakota East jazz event this morning. I am filling my cannoli shells tonight! Can't wait. Delicious, authentic, fresh."

"I purchased the Italian Wedding Cookies from the Miamisburg farmers market, which are my favorite cookies! They were awesome!! I loved them!"

"My husband and I are crazy for the chocolate brownie cookies with oreos/peanut butter cups in the middle. Its our must buy weekly treat at the farmers market. Thanks for always helping with our sweet tooths!"

OMG! Bought Almond Pizzelles and Italian Wedding Cookies from Raphael's at Paws-a-Palooza! Both are so fresh and taste amazing!!! I will be a life long customer!! 

Marcie made a beautiful assortment of Italian Christmas cookies and buckeyes for my friend who was 9 months pregnant and unable to fly home for the holidays. The platter was filled with all of her favorites and I taste tested one of each kind to make sure they were ok. :) Absolutely delicious! I’m so glad I found this local gem and look forward to ordering in the future!

The name pizzelles (the correct pronunciation of the word is PEE zelles but our family has always pronounced it PIT zelles) comes from the Italian word for "round" and "flat" (pizze). The main ingredients include flour, eggs, sugar, oil, and flavorings (vanilla, anise, orange, etc.). While many other cultures have developed similar types of cookies, pizzelles are believed to be one of the oldest cookies with history tracing back to ancient Roman times.

Pizzelles originated in the south-central region of Abruzzo, Italy during the 8th century. The two small towns claiming to have invented the cookies showcase them in their annual festivals. The citizens of Salle, in the Province of Pescara, celebrate the festival of Beato Roberto, a 12th century monk, every mid-July. Celebrants walk down the street and carry them on tree branches as an offering. In Colcullo, in the Province of L'Aquila, villagers celebrate their patron Saint Domenico every May during the "Snake Festival" by covering his statue with snakes to carry around town. It was believed that he saved the town from being overrun with snakes. Once the town was safe, the villagers celebrated and feasted on pizzelles.

In the beginning, pizzelles were made by pressing the cookie batter into individual irons held over an open flame. These irons were embossed with some symbol of meaning, usually the family crest. Nowadays, the cookies are still imprinted but usually with a basket weave pattern on one side and a floral pattern on the other. My pizzelles, like most, are now made in an electric iron.

Pizzelles have a remained an important part of celebrations throughout Italy and other countries with large Italian populations such as Australia, Canada, and the United States. They are dessert staples at Christmas and Easter. It would not be an Italian wedding if there weren't pizzelles on the cookie table! The simplicity of these delicate cookies makes them perfect for formal occasions, casual get-togethers, or a pairing with a cup of coffee for breakfast!