Finding the Best Pizzelle Maker for A Perfect, Traditional, Italian Cookie

No Italian celebration is complete without these tiny, delicious desserts called Pizzelles.

The best things about these traditional treats is that it is very simple to make as the most basic ingredients are butter, flour, baking powder, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.

Although making the batter is easy, one of the most important things you will need to make a great pizzelle is to have the best pizzelle maker at your disposal.

Pizzelles may be traditional Italian waffle cookies, but the dish is not exclusively found in Italy, as a lot of other cultures also have their own version or name for the yummy desserts.

In Norway, it is known as krumkake. In other areas of Italy, it can also be known by a different name as it is called a ferratelle in the Lazio region, and a cancelle in Molise.

Top 6 Best Pizzelle Maker of 2019

Top 6 Best Pizzelle Maker Reviews

Palmer Pizzelle Maker Classic

The Palmer Pizzelle Maker Classic, much like the name, is a classic, tried and tested design. It doesn’t have much features, but it definitely gets the job done. There are others that claim that the product doesn’t need a coating of oil before the first use and that you just have to make sure that the pizzelle maker is hot enough, but I would err on the side of caution and suggest that a little bit of oil won’t hurt in making sure that the pizzelles won’t stick.

Seasoning the Palmer Pizzelle is also very easy as you’ll only need to spray a little PAM and make sure that your pizzelle maker is hot enough before you start your first batch.

Since it doesn’t have a timer or indicator that the pizzelle is done, you will have to be very conscious of the time with the pizzelles so that it’ll cook to your liking. Normally, a pizzelle will be cooked in the Palmer Pizzelle Maker Classic in just 25 seconds, but since it will completely depend on you on when you remove the pizzelle, you can make it as toast or as light as you want.

Those who want a thick pizzelle would do well to stay away from this maker since it is known to cook thin ones.

It is made in the USA and the company stands behind its product so much that they offer a 5-year warranty on the product.

Cuisinart WM-PZ2 Pizzelle Press

This pizzelle press has a bit more features than the Palmer Pizzelle Maker, Cuisinart does not only have indicator lights to show that the pizzelle maker is already hot enough to use, the device also has 5 levels of browning so that you can determine the pizzelle just how toast you want your pizzelle to be.

The non-stick plates for the Cuisinart pizzelle press makes it easy to remove the hot pizzelle without it breaking, while the locking lid ensures that the pizzelles are evenly cooked.

It should be noted that the indicator lights for the Cuisinart WM-PZ2 Pizzelle Press is a bit tricky to master. When the pizzelle maker is ready for dough, the green light would turn on.

After putting the batter in and closing he lid, the light would turn off, and when the light turns on again, it’s a sign that the pizzelle is ready to be removed from the device.

One of the drawbacks of the Cuisinart WM-PZ2 Pizzelle Press is that the design on the plastic latch was not thoroughly thought out since the flimsy latch is not very sturdy and could possibly be the first thing that could be broken in the device. Unfortunately, Cuisinart does not replace the latch.

Cucina Pro Pizzelle Maker

Technically, the Cucina Pro Pizzelle Maker comes in two varieties. The first one which has a model number 220-05NS has a Teflon plate, while those that prefer an aluminum plate could purchase the model 220-05P. Everything else about the two models are the same.

For those that would opt for the aluminum plate, make sure to oil the pizzelle maker, but those that have more than sufficient oil in their recipe would find that the Cucina Pro Pizzelle Maker works fine without having to oil the machine. Of course, you will have to check that the machine is hot enough to be used, and to not lift the top of the pizzelle maker until you see that the batter at the edges are already firm.

The pizzelle maker does have a light that shows temperature, but it should not be confused with something that shows that the pizzelle is ready. The light only indicates that your pizzelle maker has reached a certain temperature and would turn off. It would again turn on when the temperature has dropped.

The Cucina Pro Pizzelle Maker could possibly make really thin pizzelle, but for those looking for a thicker pizzelle, you could either tamper the recipe a bit (baking powder or more eggs will make the pizzelle thicker) or do not clamp the handle together.

VillaWare V3600-NS Prego Nonstick Pizzelle Baker

The price of the VillaWare Prego Nonstick Pizzelle Baker might be a little daunting at first, but the longevity of the product makes the pizzelle maker worth every dollar.

Much like the previously reviewed pizzelle makers, the VillaWare also don’t have an automatic timer that will tell you when the pizzelles are done, though it does have a thermostat light that will inform you when the pizzelle maker is ready to start cranking up pizzelles.​

The device also has a Steam Guard which could protect your hand from burning, but of course, you should also care not to touch the outer casing of the pizzelle maker as it is extremely hot.​

The VillaWare also comes with a recipe book that you can try or tweak to your own preference​

Chef’s Choice 834 Pizzelle Pro Express Bake

For those who are very much impatient and thinks that 30-45 seconds to make a pizzelle is too long, the Chef’s Choice is a perfect product for you. The pizzelle maker gets very hot, very quick that it can cook up a pizzelle at only 15 seconds!

​This is great if you either have a helper or if you work fast, but you should watch out since faster cooking time also means there is a bigger chance for you to burn your pizzelle.

​Aside from pizzelles, the Chef’s Choice is also recommended to be used to make cannoli’s.

​The Chef’s Choice also comes with a recipe book, but it is not as good as the recipe that is in the VillaWare.

Piccolo Pizzelle Baker by Cucina Pro

This is for those who wants a larger batch of smaller-sized pizzelles. It comes with a non-stick surface, so cleaning and the pizzelles sticking on the machine is not much of a problem.

Similar to the VillaWare, the Piccolo by Cucina Pro also has a Steam Guard that will protect your hands.

Most of the previous pizzelle makers that were reviewed makes thin cookies, this Piccolo model makes a slightly thicker and smaller version of the pizzelle.

Like all the other pizzelle makers reviewed, the Piccolo by Cucina Pro does not have a ready light on to show that the pizzelle is done. It does have a light to show that the machine is ready for cooking.

Choosing A Pizzelle Maker – Buyer’s Guide

There are two very important questions that you have to answer to make the right choice.

• “Do I like paper thin pizzelles or ones that are a bit thicker?” and
• “What kind of plates do I want in my pizzelle maker?”

Year-Round Pizzelles

In an Italian household, pizzelles are almost always expected to be served during special occasions and over the holidays. With a pizzelle maker, you won’t even have to wait for a holiday to have a taste of the delectable cookies. Simply mix up some dough, crank up your device, and you’ll be eating and enjoying your own pizzelles anytime there is a craving for it.

Other Uses

Just because it is a pizzelle maker, doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t use the device to make other delectable desserts.

Other than pizzelles, you can also use your pizzelle maker to make waffle cones, waffle bowls, and stroopwafels.

Making waffles cones and bowls are fairly easy. All you will need is a waffle cone roller, while for the bowl, a simple bowl that you can place your cooked pizzelle or waffle will be good enough. You will only need to cook your pizzelle or waffle, after cooking and while still very hot, roll the pizzelle or shape it in the bowl. It will take the shape of the cone and/or bowl after it cools.

A trick into making this is to make sure that your pizzelle or waffle is neither took thick or too thin. If the pizzelle or waffle is too thick, it won’t be crispy; while ones that are too thin have a tendency to break when being shaped.

Stroopwafels is a little more complicated to make, but it is very well worth your time.

FAQ

Conclusion

Palmer Pizzelle Maker Classic is the most basic and most traditional of all the pizzelle makers reviewed. If you simply want a pizzelle maker without all the fuss, this is the machine for you.

Cuisinart WM-PZ2 Pizzelle Press is a little upgrade from the classic machine as it has 5 levels of browning that users can choose from.

The good thing about the Cucina Pro Pizzella Maker is that it gives its users the option to get either the aluminum or the non-stick version of the same machine.

VillaWare V3600-NS Prego Nonstick Pizzelle Baker is one of the most expensive of the products reviewed, but the machine is known to last for years.

Chef’s Choice 834 Pizzelle Pro Express Bake is perfect for those who need to make a huge batch in a hurry since the machine makes pizzelles at half the time (15 seconds) that a normal pizzelle is made (30-40 seconds).

Piccolo Pizzelle Baker by Cucina Pro is best for those that needs to constantly make a large batch of pizzelles as it makes 4 pizzelles for every batch. The drawback to it is that the pizzelles are a bit smaller than usual.

How do like my article? If you have any suggestions about the Pizzelle Maker, please share it in the comments section and don’t forget to share this article to others who might find this useful.