Buying guide for Best ice cream cone makers
A box of store-bought ice cream cones isn’t always the best choice, as anyone who’s experienced the deep disappointment of biting into a stale ice cream cone can attest. An ice cream cone maker solves this problem by offering up fresh ice cream cones any time you want.
Most home ice cream cone makers look and work a lot like waffle makers: two heated plates imprinted with a pattern close like a clamshell to cook a thin batter into a round disc, which is then rolled around a shaping accessory while it’s still warm to create a cone. If your mouth isn’t watering yet, we predict it will be soon. If you’re considering throwing an ice cream social or party, an ice cream cone maker is the perfect accessory to make your get-together one to remember.
Key considerations
There are a few questions to ask yourself as you browse the ice cream cone maker market.
How many people are you serving?
An ice cream party with lots of guests may have you hovering over the cone maker longer than you want to be if the unit is slow to heat up or slow to cook. When examining products, check out the specs. How long does it take to prepare each cone?
How big or small do you want the cones to be?
Ice cream cone makers have cooking plates on which you spread the batter. A cooking plate with a larger diameter will make a larger cone.
Do you want a patterned cone or a smooth cone?
If you love waffle cones, look for a cone maker with heating plates that have an imprinted pattern. Smooth plates will create a flat, smooth cone disc.
Expert Tip
Avoid using pan spray on nonstick surfaces because it just gets gummy and yellow over time. Instead, use real butter or shortening.
BestReviews Cooking and Baking Expert
Features
The build of an ice cream cone maker is pretty simple, yet the quality of the components can make the difference between consistently great cones and an error-ridden, frustrating experience. Interestingly, not all ice cream cone makers are electric: there is a handheld version that allows users to make cones on a stovetop. This is ideal for kitchens with limited counter and storage space.
Electric
This is the most popular type of ice cream cone maker because of its ability to hold its temperature so several cones can be made in quick succession. This appliance is usually a few inches smaller than a waffle iron and has nearly the same features from model to model, including the following.
- Nonstick heating plates: These are situated opposite each other. Each round plate has a heating element underneath. Most are imprinted with a pattern, such as a waffle pattern.
- Indicator light: Many ice cream cone makers have an indicator light that changes color to indicate when the appliance is ready to bake and when the cone is done.
- Temperature control: This usually isn’t a precise temperature control, but users can use it to make lighter or darker cones.
- Electrical cord and storage: A grounded plug and heat-resistant electrical cord are essential to safe operation.
- Handle: These vary in size and shape from model to model. Some handles are small extensions of the cover that are difficult to safely grip, requiring oven mitts. Others extend well out from the unit.
Handheld
Handheld ice cream cone makers are simply built and can be used on a stovetop. The results may be mixed until you’ve had enough practice with this type of cone maker. Features include the following.
- Long handles: Each heating plate has a handle extending several inches with a heat-proof grip on each end.
- Dual plates: Like their electric counterparts, handheld cone makers have two plates in a clamshell design that press together to cook the batter.
- Hinge: A sturdy hinge that holds up to frequent opening and closing is ideal.
Expert Tip
Move quickly when shaping your piping hot flat waffle or sugar cone. If it’s too hot, consider using rubber gloves for protection.
BestReviews Cooking and Baking Expert
Extras
As mentioned, you need a cone shaper (or bowl shaper) to create your ice cream vessel when the cooked product is still warm. Cone shapers and bowl shapers aren’t available with all models, but they are frequently included with ice cream cone makers.
Accessories
Nonstick tongs: Aqua Sky Silicone Cooking Tongs
Silicone-coated tongs make it much easier to lift freshly made discs off the heating plates and shape them around a roller without burning your fingers. This set of three tongs contains different lengths for your convenience. The silicone-coated tips prevent heat from transferring to the handles.
Cream horn roller: Eurica 5-Inch Cream Horn Molds
If you want to create smaller cones that hold less ice cream, these smaller-diameter stainless steel molds will do the trick. The rollers can also be used to shape cream horns and croissants.
Ice cream cone rack: Ailelan Cone Holder
Stand your freshly made cones in this rack. It holds six freshly made ice cream cones at once.
Ice cream cone maker prices
Inexpensive
Handheld ice cream cone makers are among the lowest-priced of the bunch. In most cases, these cost between $19 and $26.
Expert Tip
Store your cones in a large storage container with paper towel “bumpers” so they don’t roll and collide. Broken cones are no fun.
BestReviews Cooking and Baking Expert
Mid-range
Electric cone makers tend to cost a bit more. Those with simple operating controls rule the mid-price point, ranging from $26 to $49.
Expert
Serious ice cream cone aficionados will find higher-performing commercial-grade models, as well as multi-plate makers, ranging from $53 to $99.
Tips
- Brush the top and bottom plates of your ice cream cone maker with a thin coat of oil before making each cone.
- Wear oven mitts when opening or closing a clamshell waffle maker.
- An ice cream cone maker gets hot during use. Always pick up your freshly made waffles with a heat-proof utensil, like tongs.
- Rather than draping your hot waffle over a rolling/shaping tool, place the waffle disc on a clean, flat surface and roll it around the tool.
- Clean your ice cream cone maker after each use according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- If an ice cream cone maker’s included shaping accessory is too wide for your liking, consider using a cream horn pastry shaper, which has a smaller diameter.
FAQ
Q. The cone discs I make always stick to the heating plates and tear when I try to remove them. Why is this happening?
A. Make sure the heating plates are fully heated and ready to use before pouring the batter over them. You may need to brush the plates with a thin layer of oil between making each cone. Make sure there are no crumbs left behind from the last cone, which can adhere to the plates and cause a tear. Also, use exactly the amount of batter for each cone that is specified in the instructions. Use too much batter, and the cone won’t cook thoroughly; too little batter, and it will be brittle.
Q. The cone disc is way too hot for me to even try to roll it on a flat surface. Is there any other way to do it?
A. Try transferring the disc to a clean, dry cloth or piece of parchment paper. Place the cone shaper atop the disc. Then, lift one side of the cloth or paper to start rolling the disc into a cone shape.
Q. My ice cream cone maker doesn’t have an indicator when the cone is done cooking. How can I figure out when it’s done?
A. The lack of an indicator light is not unusual for lower-priced electric cone makers. The best way to find out when a cone (or disc, really) is done in this case is to wait about 60 seconds and quickly lift the clamshell lid to peek at the batter. If it’s still very light, close the clamshell and wait another 30 seconds before checking again. You’ll probably sacrifice a few cones initially as you figure out how long it takes for a disc to cook in your specific maker.
