The Best Waffle Iron to Give as a Gift

The holidays are just around the corner and you wonder what to get that special person? Waffle irons can make the best holiday gifts. I don't think I don't know anyone who doesn't love waffles. They are really easy to make at home; just like the ones you get at the restaurant. All it takes is the best waffle iron that you can buy.

There are a lot choices when it comes to waffle irons, but they are not all created equal. I hope I can recommend the best waffle iron options that will help you choose the best one for your gift recipient this holiday season.

My favorite waffle is the classic style waffle like the frozen waffles you find at the grocery store. Other styles include Belgian, Scandinavian heart waffles, pizzelle cookie style, kid's character designed irons and even one that makes waffle cones. Owning a waffle iron allows you to whip up gourmet waffles at home without the expense of eating out at a restaurant.

You may want to include a recipe book or a favorite recipe with your gift. I have a favorite family recipe we use from my grandmother's Pillsbury Baking Book printed in 1956. It has been in our family a long time and the recipe has never let us down! I shared this one with you and you are welcome to share it as well.

Photo courtesy of Nancia

The Presto FlipSide Belgian Waffle Maker

A great Belgian waffle iron for the price, the Presto 3510 FlipSide Belgian Waffle Maker is worth every penny you spend on it. With 1100 watts of power, this Presto waffle maker bakes delicious 1" thick Belgian waffles in minutes. The design of the hinge creates even coating of the batter to make a perfect 7" Belgian waffle every time. It's timer "beeps" to alert you as to when the waffle is baked so you don't have to rely on the "guess" method as with other cheap waffle irons.

In my opinion this is the best Belgian waffle iron to own. It's nonstick surface never fails allowing the cooked waffles to just pop right out and clean up is a breeze with just taking a clean damp cloth and wipe the griddle clean. This is a great feature of the modern day waffle irons. I owned my grandmother's vintage electric waffle iron when I was first married and boy did those waffles stick! I like the non-stick surfaces they have today.

If you happen to have limited storage space in your kitchen as I do, then you will love the slim design of this waffle Iron. It can be stored upright on its side for those really tight spaces. If you need to buy a nice gift for someone who loves Belgian waffles, then this is my first choice to recommend to you.

The price is right, the quality is great and consumers rate this as one the best waffle irons you can buy. My daughter-in-law put this waffle iron on her wish list and received one as a gift for her birthday. My grandsons LOVE waffles and eat them quite often. This is a great waffle iron that is ready to use at a minutes notice.

You will find great tips here on making the best Belgian waffles at home using a professional style waffle iron. Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside! Watch Phyllis Stokes's tips on making the best waffles at home!

Best Selling and Priced Right!

The flip-style waffle irons are popular today. They are known to bake evenly using this flip method. One of the drawbacks of this style of waffle iron is that they are large and difficult to store especially if you have a small kitchen. But if the person you are buying this for has the place to store it when not in use then this is a good choice.

One of the top selling flip-style waffle irons include the Oster brand waffle maker. Oster makes a selection of styles such as the round Belgian, square classic style waffles and the flip style Belgian waffle maker. There are several choices in the look or material such stainless steel, brushed stainless steel and chrome.

Priced just right for any budget and a great gift idea, the rotary Belgian waffle iron makes delicious Belgian waffles just like the waffle irons you find at hotel breakfast bars. Now you can have restaurant style Belgian waffles at home without breaking the bank.

They all come with a nonstick surface that has not failed, adjustable browning control so each person can have their waffle as light or dark as they want. I would recommend the flip style waffle over the round waffle iron by Oster. The flip style cooks the Belgian waffles evenly on both sides compared to the other non-flip style that can get too brown on the bottom. Get a 1 year warranty from Oster on the Belgian waffle makers.

Reasonable to Buy and Compact to Store

The best waffle iron that is inexpensive and reliable is the Cuisinart WMR-CA Round Classic Waffle Maker. This compact waffle iron by Cuisinart is more than worth what you pay for it. As the name says, however, this waffle iron makes the classic style waffles which are thinner than a Belgian waffle. But does it make nice waffles every time! If you like the thinner, crispy waffles as I do, then you will love this Cuisinart waffle iron.

This Cuisinart waffle iron is simple to use with basic indicator lights to tell you when the waffle maker is ready to use and then again when the waffle is done. The 5 browning control lets you adjust the level so everyone can have their waffle as brown as they like it. The large 7" waffle comes out easily with the nonstick surface; just don't overfill it with batter or it might spill over causing a bit of a mess. This compact waffle iron also can store in small spaces by standing up on its side.

Cuisinart stands behind this waffle iron by offering a 3 year warranty on their product.

Retro Look and Design

Do you remember the waffle iron that your grandmother had? Well now you can have one just like it with this Black & Decker G48TD Grill and Waffle Baker. The retro look of the square chrome housing with black trip brings the memories of cooking waffles at home right back to you. But this updated version, has a nice nonstick surface and a variable heat control which your grandmother's original electric waffle iron did not .

This traditional style waffle iron also turns into a griddle or grill creating 3 appliances in 1 great baker. The waffle plates are removable to turn over into a grill to make a sandwich or grill meat. Then fold the top back to create the griddle to cook eggs or pancakes. What could be better than this all in one appliance?

You would think that this waffle iron would cost a lot of money, but you will be surprised at the price. It also is available online with free shipping which is another wonderful feature. This Black and Decker Grill and Waffle Baker would make a great engagement or wedding gift for newlyweds.

My absolute favorite waffle recipe comes from my mother's Ann Pillsbury Baking Book originally published in paperback in 1950. Waffles only need a few basic ingredients and with these few basic tips, you will have delicious waffles every time. The first tip is to separate the eggs, which the egg yolks will be combined with the other ingredients and the egg whites will be beat until stiff to fold gently into the batter. This gives you the fluffy center.

The second tip is to heat your waffle iron hot before baking the waffle. I recommend waiting just a minute or two after the ready light or beep to make sure your waffle iron is as hot as it can be. Even though the modern waffle irons of today are coated with a nonstick surface, I still add a little grease to coat the waffle griddle to make sure the waffles do not stick. Also, recipes with oil in the batter are the best to use for waffles.