The Best Waffle Cone Makers for a Memorable Ice Cream Party
Updated: Mar. 13, 2023
If you want to make your next ice cream party more special, make the cones from scratch! We hunted down the best waffle cone makers, evaluating each gadget on its ease of use, versatility and more.
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Buying a Waffle Cone Maker
Waffle cone makers aren’t the most common small appliance, so your options are somewhat limited when shopping. However, to ensure you’re getting a product that will suit your needs, consider the following:
- Ease of Use: The best waffle cone makers are easy to use, allowing you to quickly turn the flat waffles into cones for ice cream. You’ll want to look for an appliance with nonstick cooking surfaces, which make it easy to remove the waffle. A temperature dial is another useful feature, as it allows you to adjust the heat as needed.
- Versatility: You might think that waffle cone makers are a one tricky pony, but some are more versatile than others. Depending on the appliance, you may also be able to make waffle bowls, sugar cones and other types of ice cream cones. Some can even cook multiple waffles at once.
- Accessories: Waffle cone makers are designed to cook batter, and you’ll need additional accessories to turn the resulting waffle into an ice cream cone. You’ll want to check to see if the product you select includes a cone roller, which is an essential tool in the process.
- Cleaning: It can be tricky to clean a waffle maker due to the textured design of the cooking plates, so you’ll want to look for a model with a nonstick surface that can simply be wiped down after use.
Evaluation Criteria
We want to make sure every product we recommend is worth the money, so we evaluated each waffle cone maker on the characteristics listed above, reading dozens of user reviews to get a sense of each product’s strengths and weaknesses. We prioritized waffle cone makers that are easy to use and deliver consistent results, and we took each product’s features into account as we sorted them into categories.
If you want to make homemade ice cream to go along with your homemade cones, check out our guide on how to use an ice cream maker.
Best Overall Waffle Cone Maker: MasterChef Waffle Cone Maker
For most people, the MasterChef Waffle Cone Maker is the way to go. This well-priced appliance has nonstick plates that make it easy to operate and clean, and it comes with both a waffle cone roller and a waffle bowl form, allowing you to create multiple shapes with your waffles. It can also be used to make stroopwafels—yum!
When you’re ready to start cooking, all you have to do is plug in the appliance and wait for it to heat up. It will cook the batter in a matter of minutes, and then you can simply remove the waffle with a spatula or tongs and wrap it around the cone form. The resulting cones are large and deliciously crispy, and despite the appliance’s simple design, reviewers say it works perfectly: “The unit maintained consistent temperature throughout, the nonstick plates released everything easily with an offset spatula and the natural weight of the top plate produced the perfect thickness.”
Pros
What we liked about the MasterChef Waffle Cone Maker:
- Nonstick plates
- Includes cone and bowl forms
- Easy to operate and clean
Cons
What to consider before buying:
- No temperature adjustment
Best Waffle Cone Maker for Large Cones: Brentwood Waffle Cone Maker
If you’re hoping to make large, crunchy cones like the ones you’d get in an ice cream shop, the Brentwood Waffle Cone Maker is sure to deliver. It has a large nonstick cooking surface that’s 7 inches in diameter, and the appliance even has a temperature adjustment dial on top, allowing you to select just the right heat level for perfect browning.
This waffle cone maker comes with a cone roller, and it can also be used to make sugar and wafer cones. Power and preheat indicator lights let you know when it’s ready to use, but you’ll want to use caution while cooking, as the small handle can get hot during operation.
“This waffle cone maker is awesome,” writes one reviewer. “The instructions are very clear, and it has a sample recipe. I used the recipe to create my own vegan, gluten-free batter, and it worked out great.”
Pros
What we liked about the Brentwood Waffle Cone Maker:
- Large 7-inch diameter
- Temperature control dial
- Makes multiple cone types
- Cone roller included
Cons
What to consider before buying:
- Handle gets hot during operation
Best Bubble Waffle Cone Maker: Nordic Ware Egg Waffle Pan
The Nordic Ware Egg Waffle Pan offers a fun twist on traditional waffle cones. Instead of thin, flat waffles, this pan creates Chinese egg waffles, also called bubble waffles, which can either be eaten like a regular waffle or wrapped up into a cone shape for your favorite ice cream flavor.
This pan has a simple, manual design—it’s crafted from cast aluminum that’s durable yet lightweight, and it requires an external heating source, such as a stove burner. It will likely take a few tries to get the hang of cooking with this pan, but the end result is worth it.
“I used to live close to New York where the street vendors would sell egg waffles, but I’m not anywhere close now and it was nice to make my own,” writes one reviewer. “They were delicious! The pan works well with my electric stove, and it was very easy to clean.”
Pros
What we liked about the Nordic Ware Egg Waffle Pan:
- Makes fun bubble waffles
- Nonstick coating
- Simple design
Cons
What to consider before buying:
- Takes practice to get the hang of it
Best Waffle Cone Maker for Bowls: Dash Mini Waffle Bowl Maker
You can easily make waffle bowls for desserts, ice cream and savory dishes using the Dash Mini Waffle Bowl Maker. This inexpensive gadget is extremely lightweight and compact, so it won’t take up too much space in your cupboard. It churns out perfect personal-sized waffle bowls in a matter of minutes.
This waffle bowl maker doesn’t require special batter. It works well with store-bought or homemade waffle mix, and all you have to do is plug it in and wait for it to heat up. Its dual nonstick heating surfaces provide even cooking results every time, and they easily wipe clean when you’re done.
“I really liked how efficient and quickly this cooked!” says one reviewer. “I would recommend using only 2 or 2-1/2 tablespoons of batter, so there’s less overflow. The waffle cups were fun to use and delicious!”
Pros
What we liked about the Dash Mini Waffle Bowl Maker:
- Makes waffle bowls for ice cream or other desserts
- Inexpensive
- Compact
- Easy to use
Cons
What to consider before buying:
- Only makes bowls; not the traditional cone shape
If you’re looking for something around the holiday season, we’d recommend this Dash snowflake mini waffle maker, too. Or, if it’s around Easter, check out this egg-shaped waffle maker.
Best Waffle Cone Maker for Crispy Cones: Chef’s Choice Pizzelle Maker
Though it’s not technically a waffle cone maker, the Chef’s Choice Pizzelle Maker can most certainly be used to make deliciously crispy cones. This gadget is designed to bake pizzelle cookies, which can be shaped into cones when they’re still warm. (You’ll likely need to buy a cone roller for this task, though.)
This gadget is able to make two cookies at a time, and they’re typically cooked in around 30 seconds, allowing you to churn out treats quickly. The resulting cones are perfect for a small scoop of ice cream, but you can also use them for savory applications, such as pizza cones.
Plus, reviewers rave about the perfect performance of the appliance: “Perfect pizzelles, and quick and easy to use. I didn’t have to grease the iron, which is a huge plus. The pizzelles come out thin and crispy.”
Pros
What we liked about the Chef’s Choice Pizzelle Maker:
- Creates small, crispy cones
- Cooks quickly
- Upright storage
Cons
What to consider before buying:
- Roller not included
Up Next: More ice cream products that will make your summer extra sweet.
Originally Published: June 22, 2022
