A Smarter Way to Make
the Ultimate Weekend Breakfast

You probably don't make enough homemade waffles. Who does, really? That's because most standard waffle irons make for a complicated and frustrating start to the day, even if that day is a lazy Sunday. They tend to be heavy, they're always messy and they never produce the same delicious Belgian waffles you're served at a fancy hotel brunch or even the counter of your favorite breakfast spot. Until now. Because I just discovered the Tesla of waffle makers and my life is all the better for it.

You probably don't make enough homemade waffles. Who does, really? That's because most standard waffle irons make for a complicated and frustrating start to the day, even if that day is a lazy Sunday. They tend to be heavy, they're always messy and they never produce the same delicious Belgian waffles you're served at a fancy hotel brunch or even the counter of your favorite breakfast spot. Until now. Because I just discovered the Tesla of waffle makers and my life is all the better for it.

Cuisinart's clever vertical design has a handy pour spout at the 12 o'clock position. And this one innovation ensures consistency—probably the most important thing when it comes to waffle making. It allows for the perfect batter distribution, uniform browning and a consistent texture throughout the whole waffle. With a standard waffle iron, you ladle in too little batter and you're left with skimpy, overly crisp waffles that don't quite fill all the grids. Pour in too much, and you'll waste time cleaning up puddles of batter and scrubbing caked-on drips. What's more, the Cuisinart comes with five distinct browning levels, you can satisfy anyone's taste—from those who like a light blonde doneness to those who appreciate a deep, golden brown crust with a springy inside.

You probably don't make enough homemade waffles. Who does, really? That's because most standard waffle irons make for a complicated and frustrating start to the day, even if that day is a lazy Sunday. They tend to be heavy, they're always messy and they never produce the same delicious Belgian waffles you're served at a fancy hotel brunch or even the counter of your favorite breakfast spot. Until now. Because I just discovered the Tesla of waffle makers and my life is all the better for it.

Ready-to-bake and ready-to-eat indicator lights make this all but fool-proof. One thing I did find, is that the unmarked measuring cup that comes with the Cuisinart doesn't have a spout so pouring the batter into the waffle maker can be a little unwieldy. Just swap it out for your own measuring cup (you want exactly eight ounces of batter) to prevent any unnecessary spills. When your waffle is ready, simply tug on the little tail made from the cooked batter left in the top spout. Your waffle releases easy, rip off the tail and you get a little sample taste of your waffle: satisfyingly crisp on the outside, fluffy and moist on the inside. And just like that, my weekends got a whole lot sweeter.

$110 / $51.18 at Amazon

The Perfect Batter Mixture

Melissa Clark of the New York Times has an easy 3-step recipe for classic Belgian waffles with just a touch of sweetness.

Visit The New York Times for the full recipe »

Tip

Cut down your morning prep time and mix up a batch of batter the night before. Just cover and refrigerate—you'll be good to go come the AM.

FYI

Belgian waffles were introduced to North America by a Belgian named Walter Cleyman at the Century 21 Exposition in Seattle in 1962. They were served with whipped cream and strawberries.