The Toastmaster TWB2PIZT Pizzelle & Cookie Maker bakes two 4-inch decorative pizzelle cookies in a matter of seconds.

This unit is similar in many ways to a waffle maker, with upper and lower heating plates, which are encased in a cool-touch housing with a rear hinge and front wide handle for safe access. When you plug it in, the internal heating elements begin working and two indicator lights (red and green) signal that the unit is heating.

Before using the Pizzelle & Cookie Maker for the first time, you need to lightly coat the plates with vegetable shortening to condition the grids and prevent sticking. We found that the unit heated quickly, in about four or five minutes. During preheating, the green light stays on. Once preheated, the light cycles on and off to indicate that the unit is maintaining its proper temperature.

The instruction booklet provides a basic pizzelle recipe. You can also experiment with your own recipes to create an assortment of different cookies. The important thing is to have a batter that is soft but not runny. You also need to be consistent with the amount of batter you drop onto the grids. A rounded teaspoonful works best. As the plates are pressed together, the batter spreads out to form a wafer thin cookie. The baking process takes just seconds and you need to monitor the process to avoid burning. Setting a digital timer for 45 seconds is helpful or you can monitor the amount of steam coming from the machine.

The amount of batter plays a critical role in the results. Too much batter will spill over the edges; too little will result in an overcooked pizzelle. We achieved both, as well as plenty of perfectly cooked, lightly browned cookies. The standard recipe makes six dozen cookies, giving you plenty of practice to achieve the right balance of batter and cooking time.

An excellent feature on this unit is the cool-touch housing and handle. We had no trouble opening and closing the grids to check the cooking progress. The nonstick grids also did their part, and although the cookies did not slide off the plates as easily as they would from a plate griddle, there was little difficulty lifting them with a nylon spatula.

For the price, the Toastmaster Pizzelle & Cookie Maker is an excellent value.


Pros: Budget price, nonstick grids with decorative design, cool-touch housing
Cons: Batter can spill over edge if too much is used or burn if too little is used

Warranty
1 year, limited