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Best Pizzelle Makers

Updated March 2024
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
CucinaPro Piccolo Pizzelle Baker
CucinaPro
Piccolo Pizzelle Baker
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Best for Mini Cookies
Bottom Line

This model can make up to 4 smaller-sized cookies at once, each with a diameter of 3.25 inches.

Pros

Electric, lightweight, and compact. Creates convenient, bite-size cookies, cones, or cannoli. Nonstick baking plates for convenient cleanup. Cute griddle design.

Cons

Trial and error involved in order to achieve perfect, round pizzelles. Sometimes cooks unevenly.

Best Bang for the Buck
Cuisinart Pizzelle Press
Cuisinart
Pizzelle Press
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Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

An easy-to-use electric press that features 5 heat settings and includes a manual with handy recipes.

Pros

Designed with 5 different settings for browning control. Nonstick surface. Makes 2 pizzelles, 4 inches across. Indicator lights serve as baking timers. Includes measuring spoon and rolling dowel. Manual provides recipes.

Cons

The handle is short and can burn your hand when it gets too hot.

Dash Mini Pizzelle Maker
Dash
Mini Pizzelle Maker
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Best for Small Spaces
Bottom Line

This simple and compact pizzelle maker is a great choice for those wanting a small, quick treat.

Pros

PFOA-free nonstick surface. Includes 2 different plate patterns for cute cookie imprints. Easily makes small crispy pizzelles in minutes. Simple cleanup. Comes with recipe guide. Feet are non-slip for stability on your countertop.

Cons

It's easy to burn yourself on the handle. Made for small batches; not ideal for large quantities.

CucinaPro Nonstick Electric Pizzelle Baker
CucinaPro
Nonstick Electric Pizzelle Baker
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Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

An electric nonstick pizzelle maker capable of cooking two 5-inch cookies at a time.

Pros

Nonstick surface and thick baking plates with even heat distribution. Equipped with steam guard to protect from burns. Available in black or polished silver. Makes 5-inch cookies with attractive snowflake design.

Cons

Some batches come out too thick and baked unevenly.

Nordic Ware Krumkake Iron
Nordic Ware
Krumkake Iron
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Authentic Choice
Bottom Line

We love this iron for its charming authenticity that makes pizzelles with ease.

Pros

Traditional Norwegian iron with elegant flower and leaf patterns. Made from cast aluminum iron that can be used on electric, gas, and ceramic stoves. Extended well catches batter spills or excess butter and oil.

Cons

Quite small, and the pattern doesn't always imprint very well into the cookies.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

33
Models
Considered
60
Consumers
Consulted
8
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for Best pizzelle makers

If you’re from an Italian family, chances are you’ve enjoyed pizzelle cookies for special occasions. If you want to maintain those holiday traditions, you don’t have to be a professional baker to pull off perfect pizzelle, as long as you have a pizzelle maker to give these crispy treats their classic waffle design.

However, with a plethora of pizzelle makers available, how do you find the right one for you? It’s important to choose the right type, capacity, and plate design to ensure that a pizzelle maker is the best fit for your baking needs.

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Pizzelle originated in Ortona, in the Abruzzo region of southern Italy.

What are pizzelle?

Pizzelle are classic Italian waffle cookies made from flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and usually anise flavoring. Some recipes substitute vanilla or lemon zest for the anise.

Once the batter is mixed, it’s transferred to the plates of a pizzelle maker or iron. Manual irons are held over a hot burner to bake the cookies, while electric pizzelle makers bake the cookies themselves.

The plates of the pizzelle maker traditionally imprint the cookies with a snowflake pattern. Sometimes, two pizzelle cookies are sandwiched together with cannoli cream or hazelnut spread.

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For your safety
For a pizzelle maker with a nonstick finish, always use a nylon brush to clean it. A wire brush can damage the finish.
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Basic pizzelle recipe

Ingredients

  • 3 large eggs

  • ¾ cup sugar

  • ⅜ teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon anise, vanilla, or lemon extract

  • 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • ½ cup melted butter
     

Instructions

  1. Combine the eggs, sugar, salt, and anise, vanilla, or lemon extract in an electric mixer until fully blended.

  2. Mix in the flour and baking powder until smooth.

3.  Stir in the melted butter and mix until combined. You should have a             thick, soft batter.

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Did you know?
Most pizzelle recipes feature anise flavoring, but some substitute vanilla or lemon zest.
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How do you use a pizzelle maker?

Start by properly greasing the pizzelle maker’s plates. Brushing the plates with oil or melted butter usually works well.

Heat up the pizzelle maker. For an electric model, plug in the pizzelle maker and turn it on to preheat. A light will let you know when the pizzelle maker is hot. For a handheld model, hold the plates over medium heat on your stove until water beads immediately when sprinkled on the plates.

Drop a ball of dough that’s roughly the size of a golf ball onto the hot pizzelle plates. Close the plates, and allow the dough to cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Usually it takes 45 seconds to two-and-a-half minutes for the pizzelle to brown. With a handheld pizzelle maker, heat both sides of the pizzelle maker over the stove according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Once the pizzelle are finished cooking, carefully remove them from the pizzelle maker and place them on a wire rack to cool. When cool, dust the pizzelle with powdered sugar if you like.

"A handheld, cast-iron pizzelle maker is the traditional way to bake pizzelle, but electric models are often easier to use."
STAFF
BestReviews

What to look for when choosing a pizzelle maker

Type

There are two types of pizzelle makers: electric and handheld.

  • Electric: An electric pizzelle maker has a built-in heating element. It bakes the cookies when the unit is plugged in and turned on. An electric pizzelle maker is easier to use than a handheld model and requires less hands-on work.

  • Handheld: A handheld pizzelle maker is cast-iron and has a handle. You hold the plates over a burner on your stove to bake the cookies. A handheld model is more durable and will last longer than an electric pizzelle maker.

Temperature control

If you choose an electric pizzelle maker, look for one that offers temperature control. A precise temperature setting means the pizzelle will bake more evenly, and you won’t wind up with burnt edges.

Overflow allowance

Because of the texture of pizzelle batter, it’s easy for a pizzelle maker to overflow when you close the plates. To avoid a mess, look for a model that has higher edges or a large lip along the edge to accommodate any potential overflow.

Plate design

Pizzelle makers traditionally have plates with a snowflake design. However, some pizzelle makers have interchangeable plates with a variety of designs that allow you to switch up the look of the cookies.

Ease of cleaning

The residue left behind by pizzelle batter can be difficult to wash off. To ensure that your pizzelle maker is easy to clean, opt for a model with a nonstick surface. That way, you can simply wipe the pizzelle maker clean with soap and water. You can also find pizzelle makers with removable plates, so you can bring the plates right to the sink for cleaning.

Capacity

Some pizzelle makers only allow you to make one cookie at a time, which means it can take a long time to make an entire batch. Other models allow you to make two or more cookies at a time, so you can prepare a batch more quickly.

Price

Pizzelle makers vary in price based on type and size, but you can typically expect to pay between $40 and $75.

For an electric pizzelle maker, you’ll usually pay between $40 and $60.

For a handheld pizzelle maker, you’ll usually pay between $50 and $75.

Tips and tricks for using a pizzelle maker

  • To avoid overflow when you’re making pizzelle, drop the batter as close to the center of the plates as possible.

  • If you want to decorate the pizzelle, roll the batter into a ball and then in a bowl of sprinkles before adding it to the pizzelle maker.

  • Powdered sugar is a common topping for pizzelle, but you shouldn’t sprinkle it on the cookies until right before you’re going to eat them.

  • Even if you have a nonstick pizzelle maker, grease the plates lightly before adding the batter.

  • A teaspoon cookie scoop works wells for measuring out pizzelle batter. Dip it in water between each scoop, so the dough doesn’t stick.

  • All the finished pizzelle won’t have perfect edges. You can trim misshapen ones with kitchen scissors while they’re still warm.

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If you want your pizzelle to last longer, you can freeze them. Place the cookies in a freezer bag, carefully squeeze out the air, and store them in the freezer for up to three months.

FAQ

Q. I bake pizzelle frequently. Which type of pizzelle maker is best?

A. If you make pizzelle often, a handheld pizzelle maker is often the best bet. Handheld pizzelle makers tend to be more durable, so they hold up better to heavy use. However, if you make large batches, an electric model with a greater capacity may be a better option because you can prepare batches more quickly.

Q. What features should I look for in a pizzelle maker if I’m new to making pizzelle?

A. An electric pizzelle maker is best for beginners because it takes out all the guesswork. Look for a machine that offers precise temperature control and lights up to alert you when the cookies are finished.

Q. What else can I do with a pizzelle maker?

A. Some pizzelle makers also function as waffle makers. If you get a wooden dowel for rolling cannoli shells, you can use your pizzelle maker to make cannoli. You can also roll up your waffles to form waffle cones.