I'd imagined a waffle maker might be awkward to use and fiddly to clean but it was actually much simpler than I'd expected. You heat it up, pour the batter into the middle of the tray, close the lid and then in about 5 minutes the waffles are ready. You just wipe it clean afterwards, rather like a toasted sandwich maker. Much like pancakes, the basic ingredients for waffle mix couldn’t be more humble – flour, eggs and milk. But despite this, don’t expect to make perfect waffles on your first go. You will need to get to know your machine and perfect your batter mix before hosting a waffle party. However, once you have whipped up a few, you will feel like a pro. Jamie Oliver’s Brilliant Breakfast Waffles is a good throw-it-all-together starter recipe. You can easily modify this with sweet or savoury ingredients and pimp with delicious toppings.

However if you only eat waffles occasionally and don't mind compromising on the finished product, you can also make them in a griddle pan. As a rule, a waffle maker that flips will produce a more perfectly cooked waffle because it spreads out the batter and cooks it evenly on both sides. These designs can take up more room, however, due to the large handle and drip-catcher tray. What else should I look out for in a waffle maker? We chose and bought bestselling waffle makers widely available at UK retailers from the most popular brands. Build quality and storage Every waffle maker we tested got very hot everywhere except the handle. Make sure not to touch any other part of the waffle maker while it's in use and wear protective gloves if you're worried about burning yourself.Pancake Recipe– the perfect pancake recipe for when you want those lovely thin crepe style pancakes to sprinkle with sugar and lemon The most important factor when it comes to selecting a waffle maker is that it cooks your waffle evenly. Some might be plagued by hot spots – the perfect waffle has a consistently light and airy centre with a crisp and golden edge all over. 2. Speed matters Flip the waffles out – once cooked flip them from the waffle maker using a plastic spatular so you don’t scratch the waffle plates.

Choose a waffle maker with an audible or visible alert to help you know what is going on. Most will light up or chime when its preheated enough, ready to cook another batch or when your waffles are done. A sound is preferable to light as it allows you to step away and get on with other things instead of hovering nervously over the machine. 6. Ease of storage The waffle iron benefits from a secure closing latch and, once secured, you can easily flip the iron over without fear of leaks or spills. Ergonomic by design, the waffle maker’s Bakelite, heat-resistant handle offers a comfortable and cool-touch grip. Owl Toast– just the cutest breakfast ever, toast muffins and spread with peanut butter then top with sliced fruit to create a cute little owl face and features. My daughter loves these waffles with just a light dusting of icing sugar and some fresh berries. Strawberries, raspberries and blueberries are all delicious. The recipe makes 8 waffles and serves 4 people if each person eats two waffles. It is easy to double the quantities to make more waffles though. In my Vonshef Waffle Maker you can cook 4 waffles at a time and after each batch is ready I close the lid for a moment to make sure the waffle iron is hot and then just add more batter.

Once the batter can easily be lifted off the griddle pan with a spatula, flip the waffle batter over and give it another five minutes of heat. This is a serious bit of kit for the dedicated waffle maker. In appearance, it actually looks like a mini Aga with its 2 flat-domed lids side by side. These two hot plates operate individually with separate switches. Each switch has a power light but there is no temperature gauge or indicator light to let you know when the waffle maker is heated, instead the instructions say to wait 8 minutes before cooking – you can use that time to prep your toppings. Mix the dry ingredients – put the flour, baking powder and caster sugar into a mixing bowl and stir gently to combine. COMPACT DESIGN: Measuring H5 x W36 x D25cm, easily store away your stove top waffle mould in those smaller spaces when not in use thanks to its slimline design – not that it will be in the cupboard for long!