Finding the Mini Heart-Shaped Waffle Maker . . . And A Recipe!

Let’s talk waffle makers that turn out mini-heart shaped waffles!

When it comes to waffles, we know some folks like waffle makers that do thicker Belgian-style wafflers—and others prefer thinner-style waffles.

For mini waffles, we asked our readers for their favorite brands. Then we tried out a few ourselves, making a variety of waffles. From this research, we realized some readers prefer a waffle maker that makes a single mini-shaped waffle . . . while others liked a single waffle maker that can make six mini-waffles at once. And there are some waffle makers that make really small mini waffles—and those have their fans as well!

So this article will try to cover all those bases. Before we get to the winners of our waffle maker research, here is a recipe for Red Velvet Mini Heart Waffles. 

Recipe: Red Velvet Mini Heart Waffles

recipe Red Velvet Mini Heart Waffles Best Mini Heart Waffle Maker

Details

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Serves: 1-2

 

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup white granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 ¾ cups buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp red food coloring

For Cream Cheese Icing:

  • 2 tbsp butter, melted
  • 2 tbsp cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • 2-3 tbsp milk

Directions

  1. In a small pan over low heat, melt butter. Shut off heat so butter is not hot when added to the mix.
  2. Mix together the dry ingredients and set aside.
  3. Beat eggs in a bowl. Slowly stir in buttermilk, butter, vanilla and food coloring.
  4. Mix dry ingredients into wet in three rounds. Fully incorporate all dry ingredients before adding the next round.
  5. For a heart-shaped waffle, pour 1 tbsp of batter onto the center of the Heart Mini Waffle Maker. (Use 3 tbsp for a square waffle with a heart print.) Cook until golden brown on both sides.

Recipe and Photo Credit: Dash Waffle Maker

Best Compact Size: DASH Mini Waffle Maker Machine

This waffle maker impresses us with its overall performance—the even heat is perfect for making sure all of the waffle is cooked to the same temp. And the diminutive size is perfect for a college dorm room or small kitchen . . . it easily stores away.

This brand, Dash, has developed quite a cult following in recent years and there are a series of social media videos that show you how to use the waffle maker for all sorts of other dishes—that’s a nice plus.

What We Liked

• Easy to use.

• Easy to clean.

• Fits in a storage drawer with ease.

• Can use to make cinnamon rolls, cookies from frozen dough and more.

What Needs Work

• No temperature control. 

• Takes about 15 minutes to cook a single waffle.

• Small size isn’t ideal for larger families—if you need to cook more than one waffle at a time, consider this next pick.

Best For Thin Waffles: Mueller WaffleWiz Waffle Maker

For fans of thinner waffles, we like this option by Mueller—it is perfect for a small family, as it churns out 5 mini heart-shaped waffles at a time. We like the overall performance here, especially for folks who prefer a maker with temperature control (you can make the waffles more or less crispy as a result).

What We Liked

• Excellent at making thinner waffles.

• Temperature control.

• Easy to use.

• Compact.

• Lightweight.

• Easy to clean.

• Makes 5 waffles at same time—great for families.

What Needs Work

• Too thin waffles for those who prefer thicker, Belgian-style waffles.

• Heating could be more even.

Best For Belgian Waffles: Nostalgia MyMini Personal Electric Heart Waffle Maker

Yes, we know there are two camps of waffle lovers out there: thinner vs thick. For those folks who like them thick (Belgian waffle fans), we like this model by Nostalgia. It performs well, making nicely crisp waffles in about 5-7 minutes based on our research.

What We Liked

• Easy to use.

• Space-saving compact design.

• Takes about 1-3 minutes to heat up.

• 4″ waffles are perfect for Belgian waffle lovers.

What Needs Work

• A bit pricey.

• Cook time (5-7 minutes) a touch longer than other models we researched.

• Could be easier to clean.

Best For Kids: Mini Hearts Waffle Maker

As long-time writers on all things kids and families, we know there is one truism when it comes to kid-friendly food: cute and tiny is always a hit. That’s why we picked this Mini Hearts Waffle Maker, which was recommended by our readers. Yes, it churns out super cute mini-waffles . . . and it does a good job at it.

One tip we learned from our testing: to get the batter in the right place, consider a piping bag or squeeze bottle.

What We Liked

• Even cooking—all waffles turn out at same crispness.

• Easy to use.

• Easy to clean.

• Makes 9 mini waffles of three different sizes.

• Non-stick surface.

What Needs Work

• Pricey.

• Too easy to overfill the maker, given the small size of waffles.

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!