Photo credit: Amazon/Dash
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We love a good kitchen gadget as much as the next person—especially if it helps to simplify an otherwise complex cooking process. But we also recognize that most people don't have room in the kitchen for every trendy, TikTok-approved tool or baking utensil on the Internet. That's why we like to test out cool cooking products here at Rachael and share our honest thoughts, so you can decide whether you'd like to try it in your own home—or gift it to the kitchen-obsessed friend or partner in your life.
With the official first day of fall 2022 less than two weeks away, the internet's favorite Dash pumpkin and skull mini waffle makers have returned to start making your favorite breakfast classics. The seasonal waffle makers come in pumpkin and Halloween skull shapes to get in the fall spirit with waffled hash browns, cookies and more. Perfect for gifting or treating yourself, the mini waffle makers double as Halloween decor to keep out on your counter all fall long.
The best part is the black and orange 2-pack is on sale for $15 right now to make spooky waffles for fall and beyond.
This compact waffle maker is an inexpensive kitchen gadget that fits in the palm of your hand and makes single-serving waffles in just a few minutes (including adorable heart shapes). When we heard about this viral and totally eccentric tool, we knew we had to test it out to see if it's really worth the hype.
Here's everything you need to know about this cool cooking gadget that's sure to make your mornings that much more fun (and delicious).
What is the Dash Mini Waffle Maker?
The Dash Mini Waffle Maker in Aqua
Jamie Kravitz
The Dash Mini Waffle Maker is a compact, lightweight waffle maker with dual nonstick cooking surfaces intended to heat evenly in minutes to make individual 4" waffles. It comes in a bunch of pretty colors (I chose the aqua, as you can see) and there are even different seasonal shapes you can get instead of the standard circle—like a snowflake or gingerbread man for Christmas and the holiday season, a heart for Valentine's Day or a bunny for Easter.
What is included with the Dash Mini Waffle Maker?
The Dash Mini Waffle Maker is one of the most practical and easy-to-use breakfast cooking tools, as it comes in one piece and there's no extra assembly required. The included instruction booklet also features 12 recipes inside. Users can make everything from keto waffles and hash browns to so much more with this compact kitchen device (and in fun, festive shapes too).
The inside of the Dash Mini Waffle Maker in Aqua
Jamie Kravitz
How big is the Dash Mini Waffle Maker?
The Dash Mini Waffle Maker really fits in the palm of your hand. It makes 4" waffles and takes up very little space.
How does the Dash Mini Waffle Maker work?
To use the Dash Mini Waffle Maker, all you have to do is plug it in and wait for it to heat up. Once the indicator light on the top turns off, that means the cooking surface has reached the optimal cooking temperature and you can get started.
When testing it, the light turned off very quickly—I was still making the batter and the maker was ready to go.
One important note: the cover gets hot, and the cover handle is fairly small, so be careful not to touch any other part of the waffle maker besides the handle. I'd suggest using an oven mitt to open and close it, just to be safe.
How many people does the Dash Mini Waffle Maker serve?
One of the best parts about the Dash Mini Waffle Maker is that it is ideal for making meals for two, or even just for one. Because it makes one waffle at a time, you can stop at just one or two, or make a whole batch and pop them in the freezer for later.
How long does it take to make a waffle in the Dash Mini Waffle Maker?
My waffles were done in about three minutes, but if you like your waffles crispy, you might want to leave them in for four.
How much batter do you need for one waffle in the Dash Mini Waffle Maker?
For the batter, I followed the recipe in the booklet to make Classic Waffles, but you can also use pre-made waffle batter or your favorite homemade waffle recipe if you prefer. The recipe calls for ¼ cup of batter per waffle.
Testing the Dash Mini Waffle Maker:
I sprayed both cooking surfaces with cooking spray, poured in the batter and closed the cover. I wasn't sure how long it would take to cook, so I opened the waffle maker a few times to check on my waffle, which didn't seem to affect the cooking. The waffle lifted easily and came out very cleanly with silicone tongs (the instructions say not to use metal utensils so as not to damage the nonstick surface). It wasn't completely perfect, but it was pretty darn close.
My first attempt at a waffle
Jamie Kravitz
For my second waffle, I made sure to pour the batter evenly and it came out looking picture perfect. The waffles tasted great and they had a good consistency—they weren't too thin or flimsy.
My finished plain and chocolate chip waffles
Jamie Kravitz
I then added chocolate chips to the remaining batter, and while they didn't look as cute as I had hoped on the outside, when I cut into them the chocolate was gooey and they ended up tasting even better than the plain ones.
A close up of my finished plain and chocolate chip waffles—with butter and syrup! (That's chocolate on the side, by the way, not burnt waffle.)
Jamie Kravitz
I got a little wild with the last little bit of batter and threw some blueberries in, which understandably made this waffle bigger than the previous ones. It ended up spilling over the sides of the waffle maker and onto my kitchen counter, but what I managed to save of the blueberry waffle was also very tasty. As long as you measure out the waffle batter to about ¼ cup, you shouldn't have a problem with it spilling over the sides. What was more impressive was that even after all that, there was only a little bit of chocolate and batter on the actual waffle maker. It was very easy to clean off with a wet paper towel.
The Dash Mini Waffle Maker's non-stick surface after I tested it to make plain, chocolate chip and blueberry waffles
Jamie Kravitz
The Classic Waffle recipe made me six waffles, which was more than enough for just me. Of course, you can divide or multiply the recipe depending on how many you want to make.
What kind of waffles can you make with the Dash Mini Waffle Maker?
In addition to the Classic Waffle batter, the booklet also has recipes for a few other kinds of sweet and savory waffles including a Pizza Chaffle, Paleo Waffles, Banana Bread Waffles, Chocolate Tacos Waffles and a Waffle Omelette.
Can you make more than just waffles with the Dash Mini Waffle Maker?
There are a lot of other things you can do with the Dash Mini Waffle Maker, like make grilled cheese and other sandwiches, cook eggs, make a mashed potato bite and get creative with dessert recipes. It's definitely a gadget you can have fun with in the kitchen.
For more recipe ideas you can adapt for the Dash Mini Waffle Maker, check out these Sausage and Corn Bread Stuffing Waffles, Brownie Waffles and Spicy Chicken and Cheddar Waffle Sandwiches. Another great use for the mini waffle maker? A waffle charcuterie board!
Love the idea of only needing two tablespoons of cookie dough and 5-7 minutes to make a warm Chocolate Chip Cookie "waffle" after dinner? Me too—so I tried it out.
Making cookie waffles with the Dash Mini Waffle Maker:
Using cookie dough in the Dash Mini Waffle Maker wasn't as easy as using waffle batter. While some TikTok users have successfully used cookie dough in their Dash Mini Waffle Maker, like this pastry chef, after my first try I found that a lot of people had similar issues with the cookie waffle crumbling or even burning. My advice? You'll need more than the recommended two tablespoons of dough, and do leave it in for at least five minutes. Then, unplug the waffle maker and let your cookie waffle cool for a few minutes before carefully loosening and taking it out with a silicone spatula. My third try wasn't perfect as you can see, but I was inspired by TikTok, so maybe I'll try different techniques in the future. And if not, the waffles were great, and that alone justifies the purchase for me—especially compared with more expensive waffle makers on the market.
My cookie waffle attempt
Jamie Kravitz
The same user I mentioned above has a bunch of delicious Dash Mini Waffle Maker creations, like this cookie brownie waffle, mini pizza waffle and an apple cinnamon waffle. Super impressive and worth the follow, especially if you have a Dash Mini Waffle Maker, but gentle reminder that we aren't all pastry chefs! 😂
Is the Dash Mini Waffle Maker worth it?
As someone who cooks for just one or two people at home, purchasing the $10 Dash Mini Waffle Maker definitely feels worth it. It takes up almost no counter space and can easily be put away in a drawer or cabinet—but thanks to the quick cooking time, the easy cleanup and the yummy waffles, I think I'll be leaving it out for now!
MORE "WE TRIED IT": We Tested The Ninja Foodi 5-In-1 Indoor Grill + Here's What We Thought