After getting some results on my physical that I wasn’t entirely happy about, I’m officially on a keto diet. Keto is a low-carb diet that seeks to reduce or eliminate carbohydrates like bread, rice, pasta and potatoes. One of those foods you’re supposed to eliminate is waffles, which, combined with maple syrup, have too many carbs to keep you in your macros. 

Or do you? It turns out that with the Dash Mini Waffle Maker — which is just $10 at Amazon and Target — you can make keto waffles (also called chaffles) that look just as tasty as regular ones, with a mix of shredded cheese and thoroughly whisked eggs. Some people recommend adding a pinch of baking soda for thickening, but I prefer to avoid it because it can add too much bitterness. Pour the mixture into the waffle iron, and you will get something that looks exactly like a regular waffle. 

To be clear, this doesn’t really have the taste and texture of a “real” waffle. It’s more of a savory egg cake than a waffle, and I usually use it as a bread substitute and eat it with cheese or meat rather than anything sweet. Dash even seems to encourage its use for keto waffles, including a recipe card that gives instructions on making it. 

Naturally, the Dash Mini is featured on our roundup of the best waffle makers due to it being small in size, easy to clean and reasonably priced. 

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Small, cute and perfect waffles every time

Safe to say, the Dash Mini was a tremendous hit with my wife, who immediately started to use it for her own (regular, nonketo) waffles. In fact, she liked it so much she bought a second one, despite the fact that we have a perfectly good Chefman waffle maker. She loves how small and compact it is. Unlike our larger Chefman, it doesn’t take up our limited countertop space, allowing us to store it away in a cabinet when we’re not using it. 

It’s also really simple to use; there are no buttons or dials or anything else at play. I simply plug it in for it to start heating, and the indicator light shows me when I can start cooking. Both sides are nonstick surfaces, but I usually use a bit of cooking spray before pouring the batter to make cleanup easier. 

The Dash Mini can churn our perfectly sized, round 4-inch waffles in a matter of minutes and once I’m done, I just unplug it, wipe any debris out with paper towels and stow it away for the next day. If there’s one gripe I have, it’s that removable or interchangeable plates would have been a nice touch for easier cleaning, but that’s something that’s not common for waffle makers at this size or price range, so I can’t really fault Dash for not offering it. 

The color options are also a nice touch. I got the retro red to match our kitchen backsplash, but there’s also aqua, lilac, black, pink and white. 

It also makes a lovely gift 

Whether you’re shopping for Father’s Day or graduation, a mini waffle maker makes a cute gift. You can add a personal touch by picking your gift recipient’s favorite color from the array of bright and cheerful retro options. For more great kitchen gifts, check out our favorite gadgets to buy a home chef.