I can't stop eating waffles for every. single. meal. And you know what? Life is "butter" than ever before.
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When I think back to my college days, there’s one memory that sticks with me. It isn’t making friends or learning profound life lessons (though I’m pretty sure I did both). It’s making waffles in the self-serve waffle maker in the dorm dining hall. Over four years of schooling, I must have made more than 500 waffles. The day I walked away from that waffle maker for good was one of the hardest days of my life. What can I say? I’m a gal who loves waffles.
Now, as a food writer, I’ve moved on to other culinary obsessions like mushroom cocktails and Jeni’s ice cream. However, your first love has a way of sticking with you. When I learned about the Presto Stuffler—a waffle maker designed to fill waffles with sweet and savory surprises—it felt like the perfect way to reignite the waffle-loving spark within my soul.
Naturally, the Stuffler also proved to be the essential next step in my waffle-eating evolution.
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I'm Obsessed
Presto Stuffler
Don't waffle around. This easy gadget makes delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners and desserts in minutes.
What is the Presto Stuffler?
The Presto Stuffler, at its core, is a user-friendly waffle iron. There aren’t any buttons or complex settings, nor will you run into any ambiguous instructions in your pursuit of perfectly stuffed waffles. In fact, I completed my first run with the waffle iron without even cracking open the manual. Each Stuffler comprises of just two parts: the nonstick waffle iron and the claw-like set of tongs that nestles around the waffle mold.
The iron itself is a thing of beauty. While it’s lightweight and easy to maneuver, it’s also sturdy and looks absolutely stunning on the counter. It’s made from nonstick materials, so it’s typically pretty easy to wipe clean after use—more on that later. The mold’s shape is also thoughtfully designed. An X-shaped center creates four clearly designated quadrants that simplify splitting or sharing your creations.
Its tong-like middle portion (which helps create thicker waffles fit for stuffing) is removable, much like a springform pan. This is super useful, especially since you can use the attached tongs to securely relocate your waffle from the iron to a plate. I even tested the tongs’ security by lifting one of my clamped waffles into the air (not recommended), and didn’t end up with a floor waffle.
Bonus: the Stuffler even flips back and forth like my beloved collegiate waffle iron! Despite this fun addition, it’s still petite enough to tuck away into a cabinet, requiring about as much room as a panini press.
Why I’m Obsessed
As Dane Cook’s waffle-inspired superhero iconically says in the cult classic comedy Mystery Men, “I’m the Waffler! Gold and crispy, bad guys are history.”
Leaving the crime-fighting aspect of the quote on the table, let’s focus on the first part: gold and crispy. That’s exactly what the Presto Stuffler delivers. It’s deceptively simple to get perfect waffles from this thing. I use a basic Belgian waffle recipe for my Stuffler creations, but any favorite batter recipe will do. You can even sub out waffle batter for cake batter for a fun dessert or add shredded cheese or chives for a savory spin.
Here’s my method for making these stuffed creations:
- As a precursor, you’re going to want to wipe down the interior of the waffle iron to clear away any dust or debris. If this isn’t something you normally do with a new appliance, I’m begging you to start now.
- For the first official step, plug in the Stuffler and let it preheat for around 10 minutes. I usually do this while I prepare my filling.
- Once the iron is nice and hot, fill the bottom part of the mold with a thin (yet thorough) layer of batter. No nonstick spray needed here—the nonstick surface is sufficient.
- Then, plop down about a half cup of toppings into the center of the waffle. For solid additions, you can get away with spreading the ingredients nearly to the edge of the iron. For creamier ingredients (like melty cheese or pie filling), leave about an inch of space between the filling and the edge of the iron.
- Next, top the fillings with more batter, ensuring that the interior edge comes in contact with batter. This creates a sort of blanket over the filling. I like to fill the iron until the divots on the middle portion of the mold are covered. Again, make sure none of the filling, only batter, is touching the edge.
- Lastly, close and flip the iron to the other side and let the waffle cook for about seven to eight minutes.
- Once that time is up, flip the iron back to the original position and open it to reveal a perfect waffle.
From there, you can use the tongs to move the waffle from the iron to a plate. Release your grip on the tongs to plop down your waffle. Voila—culinary perfection! The best part is that you can use almost any waffle recipe you like. There’s no limit to the Stuffler’s possible combinations, but I can attest to a few favorite discoveries.
Chicken and Waffles
My husband, bless him, is a chicken and waffle fanatic. If it’s on the menu, it’s his go-to order. I simply had to surprise him with a spin on his favorite. This is also a great introductory recipe for the Stuffler—I just chopped up some boneless wings and tossed them into the batter, following with another layer of batter on top.
The result? “Mmm,” according to my husband. You can’t get a better approval rating than that!
Roast Beef and Cheddar Waffles
This was an idea I dreamed up as I waited for my Stuffler to arrive. I love the beef and cheddar sandos from Arby’s, but I also knew waffles would elevate the whole dish to another level. For this attempt, I used my favorite sliced beef (that’s something we all have, right?) and chopped it into smaller pieces. If you like the Dagwood sandwich aesthetic, you can certainly go the layered lunch meat route instead. Then, I topped the beef with a slice of cheddar and enveloped all that deliciousness in another layer of batter.
Whatever wariness I had about savory waffles was immediately squashed upon my first bite. Dipped in horseradish, the waffle was a savory and slightly sweet masterpiece. I especially love that the cheese melted into the batter a bit, forming a center that is equal parts gooey and tender. The result is almost like a muffaletta, but better. Because it’s waffles.
Cherry Cheesecake Waffles
You can’t go wrong with this classic combo. To channel my favorite dessert, I first whipped up a simple no-bake cheesecake filling and cracked open a can of cherry pie filling. As before, I filled the bottom of the iron with batter, then a (in hindsight, perhaps too generous) dollop of cheesecake filling, and finally a spoonful of cherry pie filling.
On my first attempt, I noticed batter leaking out from between the tongs. Not good. While the waffle was still delicious—albeit a bit sloppy looking—I made a bit of a mess of the Stuffler. My second attempt was much better. I adjusted the filling-to-batter ratio a bit (which took a lot of willpower), yielding a cleaner result.
I think it goes without saying that this attempt was a roaring success, even despite the initial mishap.
Is the Presto Stuffler messy?
I’ll be real here: I’ve never used a non-messy waffle maker. Even with my college’s fancy machine, there was always the risk of adding too much batter (or, in this case, too much filling), which is more of a user-error issue. Luckily, much of the mess is mitigated by using the correct amount of filling. It’s also crucial that the top and bottom layers of batter make their way to the edges, effectively creating a seal. After you master that balance, leaks occur far less often.
I will also admit that, like most waffle makers, the Stuffler requires a little scrubbing if the batter gets into any nooks or crannies. I recommend investing in a straw brush to help loosen debris from the corners and crevices. However, none of these inconveniences can stop me from my waffle-making destiny. I especially love that the silicone grips on the tongs are removable, making cleaning that portion so much easier.
Where to Buy the Presto Stuffler
On Sale
I'm Obsessed
Presto Stuffler
This handy gadget makes hundreds of different waffle combinations. That's waffle-y cool in our book.
After trying our the Presto Stuffler myself, I can safely say it’s a worthy addition (or upgrade) for breakfast-lovers the world over. Even if you’re not into the idea of stuffed waffles all the time, this is a fantastic waffle iron for traditional, thick Belgian waffles. Those who are ready for a “batter” waffle experience can snag their own Stuffler for around $50 on Amazon, Walmart or Target. If you need me, I’ll be stuffing my next batch of waffles with cookie butter.
