Who doesn’t like pancakes? Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, and a hot, freshly made one is a good way to start it. Mornings can get hectic, though. There is rarely enough time to get up, handle the morning chores and still cook something you enjoy. That is where a good pancake maker comes in.

You can make pancakes in a pan, of course, but it takes more attention, and the results depend on how closely you watch the heat. An electric pancake maker or griddle holds a steady temperature, so you pour the batter, wait for the light, and flip or lift the pancake out.

Most of these appliances are also easy to clean. Many double as waffle makers or crepe makers, and some can cook eggs, hash browns and other breakfast foods too. Below are the best pancake makers to buy in 2026, including a few waffle makers that handle pancakes well.

Updated September 2026: product availability, specs and prices re-checked.

1. Dash Mini Maker

This is the classic mini maker from Dash. Its main draw is that it can make small waffles, pancakes, hash browns and even paninis. It is small and light, so it fits in the most crowded kitchens and slides into a drawer when you are done. There is nothing to learn before you start: plug it in, wait for the light, and add the batter.

The 4-inch cooking surface has nonstick coating on both sides, which makes food easy to remove and the plates easy to wipe clean once they cool down. It runs at 350 watts. It is also one of the cheapest breakfast appliances you can buy. In September 2026 it was sold out on Dash’s own site, but Target had it in stock for about $11 (September 2026).

The downside is its size. A 4-inch plate cooks one small pancake at a time, so feeding a family takes a while. There are no extra features either. The only indicator is a light that shows when it is heated.

Pros of Dash Mini Maker

• Lightweight
• Plug and use
• Compact
• Easy to clean
• Cheap

Cons of Dash Mini Maker

• Cooks one small pancake at a time
• No extra features

2. Dash MultiMaker Mini System with Removable Plates

The Dash DMS001WH Mini Maker Griddle from the original list appears to be discontinued. Every color was sold out on Dash’s site in September 2026, and at least one retailer lists it as discontinued by the manufacturer. The closest current option from Dash is the MultiMaker Mini System.

It keeps the same 4-inch size, but the plates come out. That means you can swap between a flat griddle plate for pancakes, eggs and grilled cheese and a waffle plate, all on one base. Removable plates are also much easier to clean than fixed ones, and Dash says they are dishwasher safe.

Dash’s store listed it from about $28 (September 2026) for the waffle and griddle set. A larger bundle with more plates was sold out.

Pros of Dash MultiMaker Mini System

• Removable, dishwasher-safe plates
• Griddle and waffle plates on one base
• Compact
• Plug and use

Cons of Dash MultiMaker Mini System

• Still a small 4-inch cooking surface
• Costs more than the basic mini maker

3. Select Brands Grogu Mini Waffle Maker

The DC Wonder Woman DCW-300CN from the original list was made by Select Brands, and it is no longer in the company’s catalog. Its old product page is gone, and the maker now sells other licensed character appliances instead. If you want a themed breakfast maker for kids, one current option is the Grogu Mini Waffle Maker, based on the Star Wars character.

It has a 4-inch nonstick plate and a 600-watt heating element, a power light, and a cord wrap for storage. It makes small waffles with Grogu’s face on them. It is a waffle maker, not a griddle, so think of it as a fun extra rather than your main pancake maker. It was about $28 (September 2026) on Select Brands’ site.

As with the original Wonder Woman model, the design is the main reason to buy it. It won’t suit every kitchen, and it only makes one small waffle at a time.

Pros of Select Brands Grogu Mini Waffle Maker

• Fun design that kids will enjoy
• Nonstick plate
• Cord wrap for storage
• Plug and use

Cons of Select Brands Grogu Mini Waffle Maker

• Character design won’t fit every kitchen
• Small 4-inch plate

4. IMUSA 6-Slot Electric Arepa Maker

The 4-slot IMUSA arepa maker from the original list has left IMUSA’s catalog. The company now sells a 6-slot Electric Arepa Maker in matte black.

Like the older model, it is not strictly a pancake maker. It is designed for arepas, but the round slots work for small, thick pancakes as well. The six slots mean you can cook more at once than the 4-slot version allowed. The cooking surface is cast aluminum with a nonstick coating, and it has an adjustable temperature knob, power and heat indicator lights, and a cool-touch locking latch.

IMUSA’s site doesn’t list a price. It points buyers to major retailers instead.

Pros of IMUSA 6-Slot Arepa Maker

• 6 slots
• Adjustable temperature
• Can make different meals
• Locking cool-touch latch

Cons of IMUSA 6-Slot Arepa Maker

• Designed for arepas, so pancakes come out small and thick
• Bulkier than a mini maker

5. Hamilton Beach Removable Grid Belgian Waffle Maker (26030MN)

Hamilton Beach still sells its flip-style Belgian waffle maker, now listed as the 26030MN. It is a waffle maker first, but the deep grids and flip design also turn out thick, even pancakes.

The grids and the drip tray are removable and dishwasher safe, which fixes the biggest cleaning problem with waffle makers. You flip the unit after adding batter to spread it evenly. Browning is adjustable, and lights tell you when it is ready for batter. Hamilton Beach says the nonstick coating is PFAS-free.

When this list was first written, some owners reported the nonstick coating peeling after long use, so it is worth following the care instructions. It is also bigger than the other makers here and harder to store. It was about $68 (September 2026) on Hamilton Beach’s site.

Pros of Hamilton Beach 26030MN

• Removable, dishwasher-safe grids and drip tray
• Flip design for even cooking
• Adjustable browning
• PFAS-free nonstick coating

Cons of Hamilton Beach 26030MN

• Expensive compared with the others
• Bulky to store

6. NutriChef 12-Inch Electric Crepe Maker (PCRM12)

Crepe makers are basically electric pans, which makes them very flexible. You can cook pancakes, crepes, eggs, bacon and plenty of other foods on them.

The NutriChef PCRM12 has a 12-inch nonstick aluminum plate and a 1,200-watt heating element. A dial adjusts the temperature, and LED lights show when it is on and heated. A batter spreader comes in the box. The large plate gives you room to cook several small pancakes at once, or one big crepe.

It needs to be stored flat and takes up some room, so it may not suit a tight kitchen. It was about $27 (September 2026) on NutriChef’s site, which makes it one of the best values on this list.

Pros of NutriChef PCRM12

• Large 12-inch plate
• Adjustable temperature
• Spreader included
• Cheap

Cons of NutriChef PCRM12

• Large and must be stored flat

7. NutriChef 12-Inch Reversible Crepe and Pancake Maker (NCPCRM13)

The Cuisinart CPP-200 International Chef that closed the original list could not be confirmed as still on sale. Cuisinart’s site blocked our checks, and we found no current retailer listing we could verify. A current option with a similar idea, one base with swappable plates, is NutriChef’s reversible crepe and pancake maker.

It has a 12-inch cooking surface and a 1,000-watt heating element. The plates are removable and reversible, and a dial controls the temperature. It is not as fancy as the Cuisinart, but it costs far less, about $40 (September 2026) on NutriChef’s site.

Pros of NutriChef NCPCRM13

• Reversible, removable plates
• 12-inch cooking surface
• Adjustable temperature

Cons of NutriChef NCPCRM13

• Large
• Fewer functions than the old Cuisinart

What to Look For in a Pancake Maker

• Plate size: 4-inch mini makers cook one small pancake at a time. A 12-inch crepe maker or griddle cooks several at once.
• Removable plates: Plates that come out and go in the dishwasher make cleanup much easier.
• Temperature control: An adjustable dial helps you get golden pancakes instead of pale or burnt ones. The cheapest mini makers have a single fixed heat setting.
• Storage: Mini makers fit in a drawer. Flip waffle makers and large crepe makers need cabinet space.

Mini Maker, Crepe Maker or Waffle Maker?

The appliances on this list fall into three groups, and each suits a different kind of breakfast.

Mini makers, like the Dash models, are cheap, tiny and fast to heat up. They are best for one or two people, or for kids who want their own small pancakes. Because the plates are small, cooking for a group takes a while.

Crepe makers and flat electric griddles, like the two NutriChef models, have the most cooking space. A 12-inch plate fits several small pancakes at once, and you can flip them with a spatula just as you would in a pan. They take the most storage space, since they need to lie flat.

Waffle makers, like the Hamilton Beach flip model, make thick, fluffy results and are the best choice if your family prefers waffles. They can handle pancake batter too, but the pancakes come out shaped by the grid.

Tips for Better Pancakes

• Let the maker heat fully before adding batter. Most models have a light that tells you when it is ready.
• Don’t overfill. On mini makers and waffle makers, too much batter spills out the sides.
• Use a silicone or wooden spatula so you don’t scratch the nonstick coating.
• Wipe the plates once they have cooled, before leftover batter hardens.

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Conclusion

The pancake maker market is large, and each model on this list has its own strengths and weaknesses. For one person or a small household, a Dash mini maker is cheap and easy. For feeding a family, a 12-inch NutriChef crepe maker cooks several pancakes at once. If you want waffles as well, the Hamilton Beach flip model is the most complete option here. Choosing the best one comes down to your kitchen space and how many people you cook for.

Featured image: thehousetalk.com