Looking for the best waffle cone makers is definitely ideal for those who enjoy making their own ice cream at home. Or if you enjoy making or eating sorbets.
Moreover, getting one of the best ice cream cone makers is a fantastic idea even if you buy the ice cream.
Instead of serving the scoops plainly into a bowl, you can make things a lot more fun by making your own cones and serving the ice cream like that. With a lot of different toppings.
It will certainly impress your guests. It’s also perfect if your children love having friends over quite often.
Plus, if you don’t serve the ice cream scoops in bowls but in cones, you won’t have to wash off a bunch of bowls and teaspoons afterwards.
You’ll have less mess to clean after and whatever ice cream you buy from the store or make at home will look like the best dessert in the cones made by you using the best waffle cone makers.
Also, check out my reviews for the best pancake makers if you’re ready for even more delicious desserts.
Contents
Best Waffle Cone Makers Reviews
Waffle cones can be delicious all on their own and they add the perfect crunch to the soft texture of ice cream. Eating ice cream scoops from a bowl never has the same appeal as crunching away on waffle cones combined with the most delicious ice cream.
Plus, there’s nothing that can ruin a perfect cold, refreshing, sweet dessert like stale ice cream cones can.
That’s why we need to talk about the best waffle cone makers. Make sure to always serve them fresh and everyone will absolutely love you.
Crisp waffle cones are always a must for maximum enjoyment of our favorite ice cream or sorbet.
1. Chef’s Choice Pizzelle Maker: Best Waffle Cone Maker
I know that you might have expected a more traditional waffle cone maker as my first recommendation.
Instead, I chose to recommend a pizzelle maker for making the most amazing ice cream cones.
Why I like the Chef’s Choice Pizzelle Maker
I am aware that the cones made from pizzelle are quite tiny. Well, these tiny cones can be perfect for parties or for children or just for eating less dessert.
I’m also aware that it doesn’t come with a cone waffle roller so you’ll have to spend extra money on a roller, too.
Plus, this is not exactly the cheapest model that you could be buying.
If all these are serious cons for you, check out my next model. The next maker I review is a traditional maker that comes with all the needed accessories and has a quite affordable price.
I like the Chef’s Choice Pizzelle Maker because it offers versatility.
We can make all kinds of desserts from pizzelle.
We can make cones for ice cream/sorbet scoops, we can use pizzelle for ice cream sandwiches, sandwiched with hazelnut spread, make cannoli shells, we can dip pizzelle into coffee, tea, liqueurs.
Overall, we get to bake two pizzelle at the same time for faster servings of desserts to everyone.
And it’s a very popular machine with only a few negative reviews. The small amount of negative reviews is the thing that really won me over.
There is one user review from the owner of a small ice cream business who mentions that this is the best design and option for home use. That’s the best endorsement.
The same review also mentions that the pizzelle will be cooked in 60-90 second so it’s very fast. If the latch breaks, just press down on the cover for the first 10 second of cooking.
What are pizzelle?
Pizzelle are traditional Italian waffle cookies. The Italian recipe involves flour, eggs, sugar, butter, anise or vanilla extract.
However, if you’re using the Chef’s Choice Pizzelle Maker for ice cream scoops, you can stick to using store-bought waffle mixes or homemade waffle cone batter.
Depending on the batter that you use, pizzelle can be hard and crisp or soft and chewy.
The good news is that these Italian waffles can also be molded in various shapes.
What it lacks
I don’t appreciate the fact that this machine doesn’t come with a waffle cone roller.
Still, I must be completely honest and mention that a pizzelle maker is not expected to come with a waffle cone roller because the machine is used for making pizzelle.
It’s a slightly different thing but it can still be used for serving ice cream and sorbet scoops.
You can choose to buy a set that includes both a waffle cone roller and a waffle bowl shaper. That’s the way we increase versatility if you care about both shapes.
Nevertheless, if you buy this Chef’s Choice Pizzelle Maker and a roller, the final price increases by quite a bit. You must take this into consideration before choosing your favorite best waffle cone maker.
Where to Buy?
Check Price and User Reviews Here
2. Brentwood Appliances Waffle Cone Maker: Best Value
This is a very popular ice cream cone maker. And it has a very decent price. If you get it on sale, I would say that it’s quite cheap.
Thus, we have top popularity and a very good price. Those are the two pros that we can notice at first glance. Let’s see what a second and third glance reveals.
Components
- nonstick plates – they’re really awesome and we get an even baking
- waffle cone roller – it’s awesome that it’s included
- we get to adjust temperature levels between min, mid and max – I love that we get temperature versatility for all tastes
All in all, we can make sugar, wafer and waffle cons.
I really like it a lot.
What it lacks
I can’t say that we can complain about much since it’s a pretty complete set.
The fact that it includes a waffle cone roller is just awesome.
Some might care that there’s no waffle bowl shaper but I don’t see it as a con. As long as the machine comes with a cone roller, everything is great.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that the chance of buying a waffle bowl shaper is pretty slim because they’re not that easy to find. Or if you find out it’s going to be outrageously expensive.
Overall, the Brentwood Appliances Waffle Cone Maker is one of the best choices we can make.
Where to Buy?
Check Price and User Reviews Here
3. Brentwood Appliances Double Waffle Bowl Maker
The same manufacturer actually makes a separate machine that bakes waffle bowls. It’s called the Brentwood Appliances Double Waffle Bowl Maker.
It bakes two bowls at the same time.
I would say that the double waffle bowl maker has one major advantage over the Brentwood Appliances Waffle Cone Maker: the batter is baked directly in the form of waffle bowls, all you have to do is just add the scoops.
On the other hand, in order to get the cone shape, we must use the cone roller. Some might have a bit of a hard time until they get the hang of using a cone roller to get that desired shape for our scoops.
However, between eating ice cream/sorbet from a cone or a bowl, I will always pick the cone. That’s my favorite shape.
Well, in the bowls, we can add ice cream, sorbet, fruits or even chicken and gravy. That’s pretty different from what we can serve in a cone.
The prices of these two Brentwood Appliances are pretty similar so there’s no difference there. It’s just a matter of which shape you want.
Where to Buy?
Check Price and User Reviews Here
4. Proctor Silex Waffle Cone and Ice Cream Bowl Maker: Amazing Value for Money
The Proctor Silex Waffle Cone and Ice Cream Bowl Maker with what the MasterChef Waffle Cone and Bowl Maker offers. But it’s definitely better than the one from MasterChef so I will review it first.
Moreover, the difference between the two is that the Proctor Silex Waffle Cone and Ice Cream Bowl Maker is slightly cheaper.
It’s also more highly rated by buyers so it’s definitely a worthy pick of being considered one of the best waffle cone makers.
Overall, I’m quite impressed with what the Proctor Silex Waffle Cone and Ice Cream Bowl Maker offers for the price. It’s among the cheapest we could buy and also very highly rated, which is a winning combination.
Components
We get quite the complete kit:
- waffle bowl press
- cone roller
- 7.5 inch nonstick plates – easy removal, easy cleanup
The Proctor Silex Waffle Cone and Ice Cream Bowl Maker cooks crisp buttery sugar cones and bowls quickly in 2-3 minutes.
The 800 watts of power cook batter fast.
Features
I am so glad to see that there is a temperature dial.
That’s amazing news because everyone can do their waffle cones in whatever shade they want, just like we do for our toast.
This is quite a classic, affordable waffle cone maker, it has a design that quite a lot of brands offer. Besides the one from MasterChef that I reviewed above, CucinaPro has a very similar ice cream cone maker, too.
Thus, what Proctor Silex offers is definitely not a unique appliance to make these cones for ice cream or sorbet.
I guess the difference between these various brands is that the price for the model from Proctor Silex is slightly more affordable.
And it does come with browning control, which I absolutely love. The others usually don’t offer a temperature dial so that makes the Proctor Silex Waffle Cone and Ice Cream Bowl Maker definitely better.
Overall, the Chef’s Choice Pizzelle Maker remains my top picks as one of the best waffle cone makers even if it’s not the classic appliance we might expect to use. But it’s absolutely excellent.
And the Brentwood Appliances Waffle Cone Maker is the affordable alternative. I like that one a lot, too.
Plus, the Proctor Silex Waffle Cone and Ice Cream Bowl Maker can join them among my top picks for some of the best waffle cone makers.
Where to Buy?
Check Price and User Reviews Here
5. MasterChef Waffle Cone and Bowl Maker
This is without a doubt one of the best waffle cone makers. It’s about as expensive as these machines get but it still has one of the best prices considering all that it offers.
Nevertheless, I should definitely warn you that it also has its fair share of negative reviews, just like it happens with most products on the market.
For my short review, I’ll give you both the pros and the cons.
Components
What I absolutely love about the MasterChef Waffle Cone and Bowl Maker is that it’s so incredibly versatile.
It comes with:
- nonstick plates for easy cleanup and perfect removal of one waffle after another
- waffle cone roller – I love that it’s included
- waffle bowl shaper – besides the usual cone shape that we achieve with the waffle cone roller, thanks to the waffle bowl shaper, we can make a bowl shape for our scoops
Once we have our batter, we have all that we need to make our ice cream cones or bowls.
We can make waffle cones, waffle bowls, sugar cones, etc.
Both the roller and the bowl shaper are quite easy to use.
What it lacks
I don’t like that there’s no temperature dial. It’s not a deal breaker but it’s always best to have more than a single temperature level for our cones.
It seems that one user burnt its waffles because the person in question kept waiting for the light to turn green, while the light just stayed continuously red. That can be fixed by timing
Another review mentioned that the heating stopped after 3 months.
There are also a few complaints about uneven cooking.
Still, there are so many positive reviews from users who absolutely love the MasterChef Waffle Cone and Bowl Maker and mention that it’s easy to use. Overall, I consider it to be one of the best, too.
Where to Buy?
Check Price and User Reviews Here
6. Nordic Ware Egg Waffle Pan
This Nordic Ware pan is certainly a lot different than the above makers that I recommended.
While those create a quite thin, flat waffle that is then shaped into an ice cream cone, this Nordic Ware pan bakes something quite different.
This pan makes Chinese egg waffles, which are also called bubble waffles.
You can still roll these Chinese egg waffles into a cone and fill it with ice cream scoops or fruits and whipped cream or any other ingredient combinations that you can think of.
Thus, we can still bake our cones at home but we can do that in a much more interesting way if we’re using the Nordic Ware Egg Waffle Pan.
I will admit that I absolutely love the idea, although the rolled Chinese egg waffle can be a bit too big for the hands of a child.
I should also warn you that the price is just a bit higher than the average price for a waffle cone maker. It’s not a big difference but it can be considerable for some buyers.
It’s another reason why I chose not to recommend it among the first models.
Besides the fact that we make Chinese egg waffles, the whole process is pretty much the same.
We don’t need a roller for cone-shaping. We just do it by hand, which is really nice.
Since it’s quite a different maker, you must also take into consideration that it will take a while until you get comfortable using it. But that can be true for any machine. Just practice and enjoy your desserts as you practice more and more.
Where to Buy?
Check Price and User Reviews Here
7. Dash Mini Waffle Bowl
This is absolutely one of the cheapest makers we can buy. Even though it bakes bowl-shaped waffles for our ice cream scoops, it’s still perfect if you don’t want to spend more than $20 on a machine of this kind.
Components
The batter is directly baked in the shape of bowl waffles. We don’t have to shape the flat waffle after it’s baked as we do when we make it into a cone.
Thus, the principle is the same, only the shape of the plates is different. It’s just like the Brentwood Appliances Double Waffle Bowl Maker.
The difference is that this Dash Mini Waffle Bowl bakes just one at a time.
You can use the waffle for desserts, for making crispy tacos or to fill them with hash browns, chicken, ham, sausage, scrambled eggs, etc.
The Dash Mini Waffle Bowl is also good for people who don’t have a lot of free space in their kitchens. It’s certainly a mini version that weighs 1lb+ and has a compact shape.
What it lacks
There’s no temperature control, we only get a single level.
Where to Buy?
Check Price and User Reviews Here
Best Waffle Cone Makers Buying Guide
Let’s see what factors you should pay attention to when you want to get the best waffle cone makers for your household.
Price
Let’s first talk about how much these makers cost so that you can know for sure if you’re ready to buy one or not.
The average price is around $30-$40.
Among the cheapest options is the The Proctor Silex Waffle Cone and Ice Cream Bowl Maker.
Among the most expensive, we have the Chef’s Choice Pizzelle Maker. It’s my top recommendation but if you’re looking for something more affordable, then I recommend The Proctor Silex Waffle Cone and Ice Cream Bowl Maker or the Brentwood Appliances Waffle Cone Maker.
These machines aren’t too expensive. From my point of view, the thing we have to worry about is if we have any free space for another maker in our kitchens. They take up less space than a sandwich maker.
Even baking
The whole purpose of a waffle cone maker is to bake our batter in an even manner all over. The same thing we look for when we look for loaf pans or pizza pans.
If our waffles cook horribly uneven, the maker is useless. We can get overcooked batter on one side and undercooked on the opposite end.
Even cooking is the first thing I checked out when selecting my recommendations for the best waffle cone makers.
This type of machine must heat evenly so that it cooks evenly. That’s how we get beautiful, crispy cones that look perfect.
Ease of use
Obviously, this is one of the most important things we should focus on when buying the best waffle cone makers.
Who wants to use a machine that frustrates us when the whole purpose of using various kitchen machines and appliances is for them to make our lives easier?
The plates must be nonstick. If the batter sticks, it’s ruined. It’s the same when we make crepes (French pancakes).
In order to completely make sure that the batter doesn’t stick to the plates, spray them with nonstick cooking spray or oil them with a paper towel dipped in oil.
Temperature dial/temperature control
Some makers will come with a dial that controls the temperature. It’s helpful because some will like their cones more crispy while others desire a softer texture.
On the other hand, other models will only offer a single temperature level. I don’t find a single temperature level to be a deal breaker if the machine is capable of even baking.
Versatility
Some of these machines will help us make a variety of products for our desserts: waffle cones, waffle bowls, sugar cones, etc.
We also have a pizzelle maker that is very versatile.
Accessories
The most helpful accessory for these machines that bake ice creams is a waffle cone roller.
The roller helps us roll the baked flat waffle around until we get the cone form.
Otherwise, you’ll have to buy a roller separately. Unfortunately, it’s an essential tool for the whole process.
You won’t need a roller if you end up buying the Nordic Ware Egg Waffle Pan. You can just use your hands since the end product is so different.
How a waffle cone maker works
It works pretty much the same as a tortilla maker. The thickness is about the same, too. Waffle and sandwich makers work on the same principle, only the plates are different according to the purpose of each machine.
A couple tablespoons of waffle cone batter is put in the center.
The two plates are shut one on top of the other, which spreads out the batter all over the plates.
Then, the batter is baked and we get a flat waffle.
In order to transform it into a cone, we need a waffle cone roller to obtain that perfect shape.
How to Make Waffles at Home in a Waffle Cone Maker
We’ve talked about finding and buying the best waffle cone makers but what else should we know about making waffles at home?
Are there certain steps we must follow, a certain cone recipe we must make? Let’s talk about that so that we can say for certain if making ice cream cones at home is something we really want to do.
Homemade waffle cones recipe
This recipe is inspired from this website here. Check it out if you want to read their full instructions because I will shorten it a bit. The author of that article also mentions that their recipe is adapted from David Lebovitz’s The Perfect Scoop.
Ingredients
- egg whites from 2 large eggs
- 7 tablespoons sugar (I prefer brown sugar or cane sugar)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract – read my article on what you can use as substitutes for vanilla extract if you want a replacement
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup (90 grams) all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons (30 grams) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 24 chocolate chips (optional)
This recipe should make 8 cones.
Instructions
Preheat your waffle cone maker at a color setting/temperature level that you prefer.
Brush both sides with oil before adding the batter. You can use cooking spray or a paper towel dipped in oil.
Beat together egg white, sugar and vanilla extract. Add salt and half of the flour. Beat these ingredients together.
Add the melted butter and the other half of the flour. Beat until smooth.
Next, pour 2 tablespoons of batter onto the center of the hot waffle cone maker.
Close the maker and bake for 1 minute and a half. However, check the time because each machine might be different.
Remove the waffle from the machine with a wooden fork. Or use a spatula.
Place the waffle onto a clean cloth towel. Use the cloth and a waffle cone roller to roll the waffle around until you get the cone form.
Some of the best waffle cone makers will come with a cone roller so you can use that tool for achieving the absolutely perfect cone shape. Otherwise, I recommend buying a waffle cone roller.
Drop 3 chocolate chips per cone and push them down with the handle of a spool. You’ll be happy when you’re reaching that end of the waffle cone.
You can also watch this video if you want to see how waffle cones are rolled.
Can you use a regular waffle maker for waffle cones?
Waffle cones made in a specifically designed machine are almost as thin as crepes.
The waffles made in a waffle maker are very thick.
That’s why we need a waffle cone maker if we want to make our own ice cream cones at home. In a waffle maker, we make waffles, that’s about how it goes.
If you make waffles you can fill them with ice cream but it won’t resemble an ice cream cone at all. It will be an ice cream filled waffle. Koreans love it but I think it’s way too overwhelming. I prefer the classic cones.
Delicious alternatives to waffle cons
If you decide that paying money to buy an ice cream cone maker is not the right thing for you, I have a couple suggestions as alternatives.
Cookie ice cream sandwich
Bake your favorite cookies, cool them really well and use the cookies to make ice cream sandwiches. You need 2 cookies per sandwich.
The flavor of my favorite cookies combined with delicious ice creams is something that makes my mouth water every time without fail.
If you don’t have any time to bake the cookies, just buy some, although it’s more expensive to buy them than to make them at home.
Get a cookie mix if you don’t want to follow a cookie recipe step by step with everything that it entails.
You can still use store-bought ice cream or you can make your own. Either way, a cookie ice cream sandwich can be one of the best desserts you’ve ever tasted and it will be done by you the way you like it.
Ice cream filled waffles
Another option is to go the Korean route.
If you have a waffle maker, you can skip on buying the best waffle cone maker by making waffles and filling them with ice cream, whipped cream, fresh fruits, crushed Oreos, M&Ms and whatever else you want.
The only problem I have with Korean waffles with ice cream and other toppings is that they’re not the easiest thing to eat. Adults can handle them but they can certainly pose a challenge for children.
In the end, waffle cones still remain the classic and best way to serve ice cream. The best waffle cone makers can easily help you make your own cones at home whenever you crave one of the best desserts on the planet.
