Pizzelles are a traditional Italian waffle cookie that some say is the “oldest cookie”. It can be made hard and crisp or soft and chewy depending on your personal preferences. It can also be made into different shapes. One popular shape is a cannoli, but they can also be cones.
Typically, the recipe for pizzelle includes flour, eggs, sugar, butter, and flavoring. Usually, the flavoring is anise or anisette traditionally though some people use vanilla or lemon zest. Some people also enjoy making chocolate pizzelles using regular cocoa powder in addition to the other ingredients. If you want another variation, you can use cream to stuff them. Simply put the batter into the maker. When it is done, you can remove it and shape it while it is still warm. It will only become crisp as it cools.
These treats are typically made using a type of pizzelle press or maker. Now, you can make your own pizzelles with ease. You can choose a pizzelle maker that can be used in your home. To help, we have searched to find the top 10 best pizzelle makers
75th Anniversary Thin Pizzelle Iron by Palmer
This very authentic style pizzelle maker measures 15 x 10.3 x 3.9 inches and weighs 5.5 pounds. It makes a cookie that is 5-inches around and 0.18-inch thick. You get a thin, crispy cookie and prepare them two at a time.
Cleaning is easy. Simply wipe it down with a damp rag while it is still warm. It promises to create the perfect pizzelle cookie with every use.
Conclusion: This pizzelle maker is one that many are impressed with. It has the ability to make thin cookies that are crisp. The fact that it does not have a light to tell you the cookie is finished cooking could cause some problems at first, but most people will not mind practicing a little.
Pros
• Easy to Clean
• Easy to Use
• Nice Pizzelle Pattern
• Cookies Come Out Thin
Cons
• No Light Indicator
Pizzelle Maker by CucinaPro
Baking two pizzelles at one time has never been easier. Recipes are included with this pizzelle maker that creates two 5-inch cookies at a time. They are the ideal size for cones or sprinkling toppings over. You can even use it to make perfect cannoli shells.
The maker has a steam guard to protect you from burns. It has extra thick stainless steel and Teflon plates so that you can expect it to heat evenly. The exterior is aluminum to keep its weight down. It measures in at 10.2 x 10 x 5-inches and weighs 3.6 pounds.
Conclusion: This pizzelle maker gets the job done quickly. Depending on the color of the pizzelle you want, you should only bake it for 30-50 seconds. This will give you a cookie that should meet your expectations provided you know a good recipe or don’t mind experimenting.
Pros
• Easy to Use
• Nice Pizzelle Pattern
• Thin and Crispy
• Durable
• Good Temperature Control
Cons
• No Timer Included
• Recipes Aren’t Clear
Chef’sChoice 834 PizzellePro
This Chef’s Choice pizzelle maker doesn’t cool off so you have to adjust cook times constantly. It has an instant temperature recovery feature that makes using it easy. This means you get two 4 3/4-inch pizzelles in less than 30-seconds.
It also features a locking latch to ensure a uniform thickness. Each pizzelle you pour will bake perfectly and there are recipes included in the box. It weighs 5.1-pounds and measures 12.4 x 10.5 x 5-inches.
Conclusion: This is a good, reliable pizzelle maker that can produce consistently good results. The biggest issue is that you have to keep a timer beside it or some other way to ensure you cook the pizzelles the amount of time you want to get them done. On average, they should still cook to perfection, which does make it easier. Some people want the timer though.
Pros
• Easy to Clean
• Easy to Use
• Durable
• Good Temperature Control
Cons
• Will Not Latch with Thick Batters
• No Indicator
Palmer Pizzelle Maker Classic
Palmer is a company that is made in the USA. They have created a pizzelle maker that makes two thin pizzelles that measure 5-inches in diameter using cast aluminum plates.
This maker provides up to 800-watts of power and is fully covered by a 5-year manufacturer warranty to ensure your satisfaction. It weighs in at 5.2-pounds and measures 15 x 10 x 4-inches.
Conclusion: This Palmer pizzelle cooker does exactly what it is supposed to do, quickly. Most say that pizzelles can be done in only 30 seconds, depending on how dark you want them. It does not stick if you season the plates and this makes it easy to clean.
Pros
• Well-Built
• Good Temperature
• Easy to Use
• Useful for Preparing Many Treats
Cons
• No Included Timer
Chef’sChoice 8350000 PizzellePro
This PizzellePro pizzelle maker bakes three 3-inch pizzelles at one time. They cook in about 45-60 seconds. Heat is recovered instantly when you add batter. This maker has an overflow channel, which will lessen the mess. It also stores easily. At 9 x 3-1/4 x 10-inches it can store upright with the cord wrapped around it.
This pizzelle maker also has electronic controls, heat and ready lights. and a dial to make getting the perfect color easier than ever. This makes it one of the easiest pizzelle makers to use according to some.
Conclusion: This pizzelle maker has a lot of useful features. We like the dial and the heating up and ready lights. We feel it will make things easier. However, not everyone shares our opinion. It is a baking iron that does not have a timer feature. You have to decide if it is the best choice for you or not.
Pros
• Light Indicators
• Temperature Dial
• Bakes 3 at One Time
• Easy to Use and Clean
Cons
• Requires Trial and Error to Get It Right
CucinaPro Mini Italian Pizzelle Waffle Maker Iron
This pizzelle waffle maker cooks four at once. They are small pizzelles at only 3.25-inches each. This makes them the perfect, bite-sized treat for most people. In short, they are cute pizzelles that work well for holidays and simply snacking on a tasty treat.
The non-stick baking grid is easy to clean. It also browns evenly and cleans up fast. It is the perfect way to prepare Italian cannolis and more. As a bonus, it is also lightweight at 3.85-pounds.
Conclusion: As stated, this pizzelle maker is designed to make bite-sized pizzelles. Therefore, rather than using tablespoons to measure out the batter, you will be much better off to use teaspoons. You may need to expect overflow until you adjust to the smaller amount. In the end, though, most people agree it is totally worth it.
Pros
• Cooks 4 Mini Pizzelles at One Time
• Non-Stick
• Cleans Easily
• Simple to Use
• Makes Pretty Pizzelles
Cons
• Hard to Judge Proper Batter Amount
Palmer 1000T Electric Pizzelle Iron
This electric pizzelle maker makes two high ribbed 5″ pizzelles at a time. It promises to make them in half the time of other irons. This is due to its 800-watts of power. The maker itself is made of chrome and cast aluminum to ensure it is lightweight and easy to work with.
It weighs in at 5.5-pounds and measures 10.6 x 3.7 x 14.9-inches. It is backed by a Palmer warranty and if you have any issues with it, you are encouraged to contact them.
Conclusion: This pizzelle maker is the perfect option for some people. However, you should know that it does get very hot and cooks in about 30 seconds, it simply does not tell you that it is done. You have to keep checking it or counting seconds until you get it right.
Pros
• Easy to Use
• Good Temperature Control
• Easy to Clean
• Cookies are Thin and Crisp
Cons
• No Indicator Lights
• Thick for Some
CucinaPro Polished Pizzelle Maker
This is perhaps one of the prettiest pizzelle makers available. It has a black coating and bright silver plates. It has plates that are made of aluminum. This prevents the batter from ever getting stuck to the griddle.
As to size, this pizzelle maker is 10.7 x 10.7 x 5.4-inches. It weighs 4.65-pounds. It does have an indicator light, but most people say that it is kind of hard to see.
Conclusion: This griddle is a very nice one. Even people who have family and friends that are Italian find the results of it impressive. However, there is a risk of it leaking batter out from overflow. This likely isn’t something that would make you avoid it, but you should know it is possible.
Pros
• Easy to Use
• Good Temperature
• Cookies are Perfectly Colored
Cons
• The Latch is Difficult to Open
Cuisinart WM-PZ2FR Brushed Stainless Pizzelle Press
This pizzelle press bakes two thin cookies at one time. They measure 4-inches each. It has the decorative patterns that we associate with pizzelles in a press that measures 9.7 x 9.4 x 4.7-inches. It weighs only 4.13-pounds.
You pour in the batter using a measuring spoon and, in a few seconds, you have pizzelles that are ready to eat, roll, or fill. A locking lid ensures that they brown evenly. It does have a temperature slider to ensure you are in control of it. Indicator lights further ensure you’re happy with your pizzelle.
Conclusion: This press makes small pizzelles, which some people are not happy with. This does not change that the pizzelles it produces are awesome in taste and consistently colored. Therefore, you have to choose if it is right for you.
Pros
• Lightweight
• Locking Lid
• Browning Slider
• Consistent Color
• Bakes Quickly
Cons
• Small Pizzelle Size
MT Dist M&T Nonstick Pizzelle Maker
This pizzelle maker makes the traditional 5″ round pizzelles. It creates two at a time. The maker is designed for one-handed opening and closing. It features nonstick griddles that are covered by a non-stick coating. This also makes cleanup easy.
If the size concerns you, it can store upright. When in use, it will take up approximately 10 x 10 x 6-inches of counter space. It weighs only 4.15-pounds, so it isn’t troublesome to use.
Conclusion: This pizzelle maker is great according to most people. However, the instructions say that you should use two tablespoons of batter and most people say this is too much. This means you may have to toy with your recipe at first, but it should ultimately be worth it.
Pros
• Easy to Use
• Easy to Clean
• Works as It Should
Cons
• Difficult to Measure Batter
Final Words: When choosing a pizzelle maker, you will notice that most are basically the same. They may come in different sizes. They may or may not have light indicators to tell you when they are heated or ready. Most people can tell you that the trick to creating the perfect pizzelle is knowing when to remove it. In most cases, you should be able to count to 30 and it will be at least very close to done. This is easy enough for most people, but not all. If you don’t want to count, a timer can work almost as well.
The pizzelle makers on our top 10 best pizzelle makers list are all solid choices for anyone who wants a maker. They have various features including locking lids, non-stick griddles, and more. Which one to choose is a big decision. Are you content to have smaller thinner pizzelles or do you want traditional ones? The choice is yours and no one, but you can know which one is the right choice for you.
In our opinion, any of these could be a great option for anyone, even people who feel that the best makers are those in Italy. Though these may not be the same, they all measure up quite well. Which one will you choose?
