The Best Mini Waffle Makers

A far cry from the age of frozen Eggo treats, waffles these days seem like one of those luxury foods that you only eat when staying in a hotel or having brunch with your extended family. And while many factors contribute to the sad decline of these beloved breakfast bites, one of the biggest ones is surely the weighty inconvenience of those giant, hard-to-clean waffle-making monstrosities that we often find standing forlorn and unused in the average American kitchen. Wouldn't it be nice to enjoy that delicate crunch of a singular waffle every now and then without having to deal with storing and cleaning a big, bulky machine? Well, your breakfast prayers have been answered. Mini waffle makers are all the rage right now, and for good reason. They are small enough to fit in a drawer and make a waffle in minutes with less mess afterward. We've done our homework and came up with a list of our favorite mini waffle makers to help you start your mornings off right.

Dash Mini Maker

Small, Sleek, and Sophisticated

The Dash Mini Maker is the ultimate cute and compact waffle-making contraption.
Best Overall

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Mini waffle makers are the perfect breakfast tool for smaller kitchens with cluttered counters, or for that one waffle lover in a big household who just wants a quick bite on the go. This ultra-compact mini maker by Dash can be stored discretely and securely away when you’re not using it. What’s more, it’s perfectly transportable, making it perfect for when you suspect the desire for waffles might strike on vacation.

The Mini Maker takes only two minutes to heat up and conveniently comes with a handy indicator light that will let you know that it’s ready for your batter. But while the plates are non-stick, we recommend a quick spray of Pam or some equivalent oily alternative to make clean-up a breeze after munching. Once your batter is in, your waffles will be made in a matter of minutes – depending on your desired level of crispness, of course. Then, simply unplug the waffle maker and enjoy your perfectly browned waffle.

Pros:

  • Non-stick design (with no PFOA)
  • 19 design options to choose from
  • Comes with a 1-year warranty, instruction book, and recipe book
  • Great cost value

Cons:

  • Handle is quite small and gets hot so be careful when opening the lid
  • Plates are not removable for easy cleaning

Generies Mini Waffle Maker

Experiment with Ease

From waffles to hash-browns and paninis, cook yourself up some delicious single-serve portions of your favorite snacks with this classic mini waffle maker.
Runner Up

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Every mom knows that when it comes to great appliances, versatility is key. We much prefer having that special 5-in-1 peeler/chopper tool than having a messy assortment of single-use gadgets in our drawers. And if the appliance is both versatile and small? Now, that is a kitchen dream come true. Well, the folks at Generies think it’s time for you wake up and smell the waffles.

The Generies Mini Waffle Maker is compact and easy to store, taking up about a hand’s size of counter space. Yet despite its tiny proportions, this waffle iron can cook so much more than waffles. With two non-stick hot plates, you can make snacks of all varieties, from hash browns and paninis to cookie pizzas and chur-waffles. Just pour any wet batter in and watch as this mini maker churns out perfect waffle-shaped bites in minutes.

Pros:

  • Double non-stick hot plates
  • Comes with 1-year warranty and recipe book
  • Weighs about 1 pound
  • Non-slip feet

Cons:

  • Hard to keep clean as plates don’t detach

CucinaPro Dinosaur Mini Waffle Maker

Modern Tech, Prehistoric-Era Fun

This CucinaPro mini iron makes playing with your food cool again thanks to its assortment of dinosaur-shaped waffle molds.
Best Shaped Waffles

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Even though we all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, sometimes we can’t help but wish that the most important meal would also be the easiest. When you have picky eaters in your family, getting your kids to eat the right things seems like a battle that we aren’t sure we will win every morning. And for those days when we have to wave our white flags, the creative appliance designers at CucinaPro have given us a tasty last resort.

Rather than giving up and serving a brightly colored bowl of sugary cereal to your little one, hold their interest instead with these dinosaur-shaped waffles, which can accompany all kinds of nutritious sides as appropriate Jurassic decor, of course. They get to play with their food (finally) and you get to rest easy knowing exactly what you put into the batter and how much sugar they’re getting.

Pros:

  • 5 fun dinosaur shapes
  • Comes with a recipe book
  • Non-stick interior coating

Cons:

  • No latch to secure the top lid to the bottom
  • Slightly uneven cooking distribution

Babycakes Mini Waffle Stick Maker

Split the Sticks

This Babycakes Waffle Stick Maker serves up perfect bite-size portions for ripping and dipping in no-time.
Best for Waffle Sticks

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They say good things come in small packages. And while we have surely proven the mini waffle maker’s worth to you with all these great models, we’re going to take it one step further with this Babycakes Mini Waffle Stick Maker. How? Easy: by taking the classic waffle and breaking it into four smaller bite-size sections.

Now, what could possibly be the benefit of that, you ask? Moms love it for two main reasons: firstly, waffle sticks are easier to hold in your toddler’s hand (and for that reason much more fun); and secondly, you can coat or dip the sticks in whatever you wish, making perfectly-sized, customizable snacks for kids and adults alike. And you can do all this in less than 10 minutes in a compact, super cute, retro-styled machine. Talk about sticking the landing.

Pros:

  • Makes four 1-inch waffle sticks
  • Non-stick plates
  • Has latching handle, cord wrap, non-slip rubber feet
  • Comes with a recipe and instruction manual

Cons:

  • Doesn’t come with a measuring cup as stated in manual

Disney Mickey Mini Waffle Maker

Mornings with Mickey

Add a bit of Disney magic to every breakfast with this Mickey Mini Waffle Maker that cooks up perfect mouse-shaped treats every time.
Best for Disney Lovers

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On every parent’s to-do list when they take their kids to Walt Disney World – be it the very first time or the fourteenth time – is to get a heaping plate of the iconic Mickey waffles. And while we’ll never truly be able to recreate the magic of the entire experience at home, Disney finally answered the cries of their fans and designed this Mini Waffle Maker to get us as close to the real thing as we can, all within the comfort of our own kitchen.

Some days your kids (and you) just need a little pick-me-up, and what better way to do so than with a wonderfully smelling mouse-shaped waffle that brings back memories of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Space Mountain? We guarantee that from the moment you whip out this well-designed, easily-latched mini iron from its tiny storage spot, the Mickey logo alone will be enough to put a smile on your children’s faces. Oh, boy.

Pros:

  • Perfect shape every time
  • Non-stick plates
  • Power indicator light
  • Comes with a recipe book

Cons:

  • Higher price point than most

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the easiest way to clean one of these if the plates aren’t removable?

Though all of the models we listed boast non-stick plates and say they can be cleaned with a cloth while you’re munching your waffles, some customers still prefer to spray on a bit of oil before cooking just to make this clean-up easier after. But if you’re not into all the extra stuff mixing with your perfectly-mixed batter, then you can also opt to clean the bits out of the mini machine in the sink. Just make sure to turn the iron off and let it cool completely before getting it wet. Then, let it dry properly before turning it on again so none of the electronic parts suffer water damage.

I keep reading about chaffles, chur-waffles, Belgian waffles, etc. What’s the difference between all of these different waffle types?

With all the fun shapes that waffles are made in now, why not apply the same versatile approach to batters? Here are just a few of the popular waffle varieties available these days. Chaffles are the new low-carb, keto-craze waffle made with only cheese and eggs. Chur-waffles are yummy dessert waffles that are a combination of cornbread waffles and churros. And the classic Belgian waffle is distinguished by its deep pockets and lighter, crisper texture (these require different irons in most cases). With all these great options, it’s time to stop waffling about and get cooking.