I have distinct childhood memories of going to Waffle House for breakfast. The sizzling sounds and delicious smells… But the best part of Waffle House? It’s in the name. The waffles.
Unlike Belgian waffles, which have fewer deep pockets, Waffle House waffles are American-style. They have more pockets that are smaller and shallower.
You may be wondering what makes Waffle House waffles so tasty. Is it the batter? (Yes.) The waffle machine they use? (Yes.) Is it magical fairy dust? (Probably not.)
If you find yourself hankering for some Waffle House waffles, the good news is that you can make them from the comfort of your own home with the right waffle iron.
I like the Cuisinart Round Classic Waffle Maker. It’s manufactured by a trusted brand and has excellent reviews. It’s also quite affordable and can help you achieve Waffle House waffles in no time.
But other waffle makers can do the job, as well. Price is often a consideration, as well as features like an on/off switch, a timer alert, and more. I’ve broken down the specifications, pros, and cons of these waffle makers so you can decide.
Ready to make some Waffle House waffles? Let’s dive in.
Contents
At a Glance
What Waffle Maker Does Waffle House Use?
From my research, I found Waffle House’s official waffle maker to be the Wells WB-2E Double Round Waffle Baker. This powerhouse features double, heavy-duty aluminum grid plates and a stainless steel housing and drip tray.
It has nickel-plated, open-coil handles that minimize heat transfer and maximize safety. The operator-controlled, programmable digital timers and temperature controls allow operators to precisely establish the perfect bake times and temperatures.
The timers are adjustable from 1 second to 10 minutes, while temperatures are adjustable from 250°–425° F (121°–218°C). And on/off rocker switches allow independent operation of each waffle grid.
Sounds great, right? Well, not so fast.
This is a commercial-grade waffle maker, which means it’s designed for commercial kitchens. Not home kitchens.
It’s difficult to store, coming in at 19.8 inches wide with double plates and no way to fold or store it upright.
Not only is this waffle maker a pain to store, but it’s also difficult to find. Commercial-grade products are generally sold wholesale, so they’re not readily available in stores.
You might be able to score one for sale on eBay, but the unit will most likely be used. Thus, the quality might vary widely among eBay sellers.
If that’s not enough, this waffle maker has a power wattage of 1800W. That means you’ll be using almost twice as much energy to operate it as you would a typical waffle maker designed for home cooks.
Lastly, the Wells Waffle Maker has an exorbitant cost. Wells is primarily selling to restaurants that need to crank out large volumes on a daily basis. It makes little sense to spend that kind of money on a waffle iron that will get used a few times a week.
Fortunately, several alternatives are specifically designed with the home cook in mind. If you need help finding a waffle maker for your home that can get similar results to Waffle House, you’ve come to the right place.
Waffle House Style Waffle Makers Reviews
Cuisinart Round Classic Waffle Maker: Best Overall Waffle Maker
From Cuisinart comes this round classic waffle maker. It brings professional quality, like what you’d find at Waffle House, straight to your home.
Cook one traditional-style waffle at a time in this waffle maker. The product description incorrectly says this maker does Belgian waffles. But the waffles are thinner, with smaller pockets.
The Cuisinart is easy to use. Simply pour 1/2 cup of batter into the waffle maker once it’s preheated and bake until crispy and golden brown.
This waffle maker is easy to use. It features dual indicator lights and adjustable browning control with five settings. The red and green lights let you know when the waffle maker is ready to bake and when your waffle is ready to eat.
The nonstick plates easily release waffles and make cleanup a breeze. If you need to save counter space, you can easily store this waffle maker. It stands on end for compact storage.
The Cuisinart comes with an instruction manual and a recipe book to help get you started cooking waffles right away. Cuisinart also offers a limited 3-year warranty on the waffle maker.
The Cuisinart Classic Waffle Maker had excellent reviews. Buyers were pleased with the baking performance and thickness of the waffles. They said most waffles cook in 2-3 minutes, depending on how brown you like them.
Some users felt the quality of some parts was lacking. For instance, there were reports of a broken front handle, and others said the hinge on their waffle makers broke.
Is this waffle maker going to last a lifetime? Probably not. Can it satisfy your cravings for delicious waffles? Yes.
And at one of the most affordable price points, this Cuisinart waffle maker holds a lot of value. If you want Waffle House-type waffles at home, this is one of your best options.
To see the Cuisinart waffle maker in action, watch this review:
Pros
- Easy to use
- Excellent cooking performance
- Indicator lights
- Easy clean nonstick plates
- Stands on end for easy storing
- Affordable
Cons
- Reports of broken hinge, front handle
CucinaPro Non-Stick Waffle Iron: Best Compact Waffle Iron
Next up on our list is the CucinaPro Non-Stick Waffle Iron. It features a brushed stainless steel housing and makes 7-inch (17.8 cm) waffles.
These round, American-style waffles are thinner than traditional Belgian waffles. In other words, the waffles resemble the ones you find at Waffle House.
The CucinaPro has non-stick plates for easy cleanup. You can’t remove the plates for cleaning, however. Some buyers were disappointed it didn’t have that feature.
This waffle maker also features adjustable browning control, with a dial that goes from 1-6. The indicator lights let you know when the waffle maker is on or preheated, while the beep signals when the waffle is done.
User reviews did say that the lights were pretty much useless. Although the red and green lights work and light up, they don’t appear to have any correlation with the heating or cooking process.
This round classic waffle maker stands upright and has a cord wrap for easy storage.
Buyers were pleased with the Waffle House-style waffles this Cucina Pro makes. They liked the size and round shape, along with the smaller dents. They used it for breakfast on the weekends, and some even used it to make dessert waffles topped with fruit and Nutella.
However, there were a lot of complaints about insufficient or uneven browning. They said the maker didn’t get hot enough to properly cook the waffles.
The ones that were able to achieve a crispy waffle said they had to leave the unit on the max setting and cook for a longer time than indicated.
Customers were not fond of the loud beep, either. That was the most common complaint. They hated the alarm. Just be forewarned.
This CucinaPro is an affordable waffle maker, though. So if you’re willing to tinker with the timing, and you don’t mind suffering through the loud alarm, you should be just fine.
Pros
- Makes thin, American-style waffles
- Easy to use
- Non-stick plates
- Stores easily
- Affordable
Cons
- Loud beep alarm
- Can’t remove plates
- Reports of uneven browning
- Indicator lights aren’t helpful
Auertech Classic Waffle Maker: Best Budget Waffle Maker
If you need waffles on a budget, you can turn that hope into a reality. The Auertech Classic Waffle Maker can make cooking waffles a fun and inexpensive experience.
The Auertech Waffle Maker is versatile. It can cook golden waffles, paninis, hash browns, and even biscuit pizzas. The cooking plates feature non-stick surfaces with a diameter of 8 inches (20.32 cm).
The high-quality non-stick plates are easy to clean. Simply wipe down with a damp cloth after letting the waffle iron cool.
Auertech does caution that there might be some smoking and a slight odor with the first use. This is common for non-stick appliances and should go away after the first use or two.
This waffle maker features temperature browning control. Simply adjust the knob to control the temperature and bake the waffle to your desired doneness. The red light lets you know that the appliance is turned on, while the green light indicates that the waffle maker is ready to cook.
The non-slip feet provide additional grip and stability to prevent slipping from the countertop. And since this Auertech is designed for small spaces, the waffle maker is lightweight and ultra-portable.
The user reviews were mixed regarding the Auertech waffle maker. While many users liked the Waffle House-style waffles they could make, others were not as impressed.
Some users said the waffle maker never got hot enough to properly brown or crisp waffles. Others had problems with the waffle batter sticking to the grid or splitting.
Still, there were plenty of customers who praised the thermostat control and the ease of cleaning.
The Auertech is one of the least expensive waffle irons, so it has a lot of value. Plus, with the ability to make everything from waffles to hash browns, this waffle iron can handle breakfast from start to finish.
Pros
- Easy to clean non-stick grids
- Lightweight
- Versatile, good for other food
- Easy to clean
- Affordable
Cons
- Reports of undercooked waffles
- Not as durable
All-Clad Stainless Steel Classic Round Waffle Maker: Best Splurge Waffle Maker
All-Clad is a brand known for its luxurious stainless steel products, and this waffle maker is no different. All-Clad’s Stainless Steel Waffle Maker makes crispy 6.5-inch (16.5 cm) waffles with four easy-to-cut sections.
Watch this honest review by Needs Kneaded on the All-Clad Stainless Steel Waffle Iron:
Even though All-Clad’s waffle iron comes in a stainless steel housing, the interior cook plates are nonstick to easily release food.
This waffle maker features 7 adjustable browning levels, so your waffles are as golden and crispy as you like them.
The maker automatically alerts you with a light and a beeping signal when the iron is sufficiently hot to pour the batter. It also alerts you when the waffles are done cooking. So you can hear and see when your waffles are done.
After preparing food and letting the waffle maker cool, simply wipe down the grids with a damp cloth.
You can easily store the waffle maker upright in the cabinet. It has two safety catches that allow you to lock it closed in the upright position. So you don’t have to worry about it falling open in the cabinet.
The All-Clad waffle makers had glowing reviews. Customers raved about the quality of the nonstick. Most recommended using a little oil before you pour the batter, but they said the food release was excellent.
They also liked the aesthetic design. I don’t normally use the word, “beautiful” to describe waffle makers, but it fits in this case.
Customers were happy with the evenly browned, crispy results they got with their waffles. They liked the off switch for safe and easy usage. They also enjoyed the compact storage that saved precious kitchen space.
Some people wished this waffle maker included removable plates to make cleanup even easier. Several did warn that the waffle maker gets super hot, so be careful when pouring batter and removing waffles.
On a random note, this All-Clad brand waffle maker is not suitable for use in Australia. Some Australian customers were unaware of that fact before purchasing.
Of course, as with other All-Clad products, you’ll pay a premium price for this waffle maker. It’s definitely a splurge.
But if you can afford the high price tag that comes with the All-Clad brand and you plan to make waffles for breakfast on the regular, this is a fantastic pick.
Pros
- Superior performance
- Nonstick waffle grids
- Beautiful stainless steel finish
- Signal lights and audible beep
Cons
- Plates aren’t removable
- Expensive
How to Make Waffle House Waffles
Waffle House doesn’t share their waffle batter recipe, but they do sell their waffle mix. You can grab a box or bag of their world-famous waffle mix and whip up batter at home.
Watch this test by USA Today Life to see if the mix lives up to the breakfast expectations of Waffle House:
Or, if you enjoy the simple pleasure of making waffles from scratch, there are tons of recipes on the internet you can try out.
Just remember, the perfect waffle batter should include flour for structure, sugar for sweetness, salt for enhancing flavor, baking powder or baking soda for leavening, milk or half-and-half for moisture, oil or butter for fat, and eggs for binding the ingredients.
To make the perfect Waffle House-style waffles, try the following recipe from MyRecipes. It will be the star at your next waffle party!
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups (300 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup (50 g) cornstarch
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 large egg, slightly beaten
- 1/3 cup (80 g) sugar
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tbsp vegetable shortening, softened
- 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup half-and-half
- 1/2 cup whole buttermilk
- cooking spray
- maple syrup, for serving
Directions
- Stir together flour, cornstarch, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in a large bowl; set aside. Whisk together egg, sugar, butter, shortening, and vanilla in a separate bowl until well combined; stir in milk, half-and-half, and buttermilk until combined and smooth. Fold flour mixture into milk mixture until just combined (some lumps may remain).
- Preheat your waffle iron. Spray with cooking spray, and spoon approximately 1/2 cup of waffle batter into the waffle iron. Cook the batter until golden brown and crispy, about 4 to 6 minutes. Serve immediately topped with butter, maple syrup, or whatever toppings you like!
Waffle House Waffle Maker: The Last Word
Which waffle maker can bring the delicious taste of Waffle House waffles to your home? My recommendation is the Cuisinart Classic Round Waffle Maker.
Cuisinart Waffle Makers have excellent reviews, all the must-have features, and will help you achieve crispy, golden brown Waffle House waffles from the comfort of your own home.
