Top 12 Best Donut Makers
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With the availability of modern kitchen machines, more and more people have a chance to enjoy their favorite food at home, rather than eat in a restaurant or buy from a store.
For pastry lovers, a donut maker is a must-to-have tool in the kitchen. Not only are homemade donuts healthier and more cost-effective, but also is cooking these cute cakes a joyful experience for your family.
When it comes to choosing a good donut maker, you will realize that making a decision is not an easy task at all. There is a wide range of quality products for your choice, so to get the best suitable machine for your needs, there are various factors to consider.
Why Should Bake Instead of Fry Your Doughnuts?
Donuts are so prominent that they are considered as the food of every family, an attainable treat for every occasion. Traditionally, these ring-shaped cakes are coated in batter and flour, then deep-fried in hot oil and coated in sugar.
If you visit some Krispy Kreme donut shops, you can see how the dough is yeasted, shaped, fried, and finally finished with a delicious sugary glaze.
However, despite well-known and highly favored fried, glazed donuts, more and more people are into baked doughnuts. Unlike its fried version, baked donuts consist of just the dough, then are baked in the oven.
When it comes to the difference in nutrition facts resulted from two cooking methods, the number of calories from fat in a fried donut alone could be equal to the number of total calories in a baked doughnut.
In terms of flavor, baking dough instead of frying makes the cakes light, fluffy, and much less oily. What’s more? With a mini donut maker, baking donuts at home can be as convenient as buying them from a café or bakery.
Donut Fryer, Donut Pan and Electric Donut Maker
Kitchen gadgets to make donut comes in three types: Donut fryer, donut pan, and electric donut maker. There’s a huge difference if you make a comparison of three types.
The donut fryer equipment is often used by big stores for commercial purposes because it can produce a considerable amount of donuts. And of course, to fry donut, it has to use oil.
The donut pan is simply a tin to accommodate dough before baking inside an oven. It is often shallow and doughnut-shaped.
A donut maker normally includes cooking pans and is powered by electricity. So this appliance alone can cook well your dough into donuts. Being small in size and weight, an electric donut maker can be used and stored at home.
Furthermore, its compact construction provides a perfectly clean and working condition. So if you want to cook fresh donut at home, an electric donut maker is a wise choice.
What Are The Best Donut Makers?
To guide you to the best donut maker at your needs, I will label 12 most outstanding and popular products. Take a few minutes to read my short descriptions.
- Best Overall: Babycakes Multi-Treat Donut Baker
“Convenient to use, easy to clean, versatile to have more treats. A good buy at a good price.” - Best Capacity: VonShef 12 Mini Donut Maker
“Bakes 12 beautiful donuts in one batch. Excellent to make mini donuts. Cooks superb fast and evenly.” - Best for Budget: Babycakes DNM-30 Mini Donut Maker
“An awesome donut maker for your money. Perfectly bakes four fresh donuts in a few minutes for a healthy breakfast.” - Best Lightweight: Betty Crocker Mini Donut Maker
“Cooks so quickly and thoroughly. Highly recommended to everyone who loves to bake donuts in a fun way.” - Best Compact: Nostalgia Cake Pop & Donut Maker
“Measuring 9.75 x 4.25 x 7.75 inches in round shape, this extremely compact machine will perfectly fit any kitchen.” - Best Versatility: Throwback 3-In-1 Countertop Mini Donut Maker
“A dreamy 3-in-1 treat maker for every home cook. Great to produce cakes for snack time, party time or anytime.” - Best Design: Sunbeam Full Size Donut Maker
“Designed as a large donut, this donut maker is a lovely contribution to homemade baking and kitchen décor.” - Best Durable: CucinaPro Donut Maker & Ebelskiver Baker
“Featuring a high-quality, durable non-stick pan, CicinaPro guarantees the use-value for the long term.” - Best for Party: Brentwood TS-250 Mini Donut Maker
“This donut maker is perfect for a party of seven or less, cooking so quickly and thoroughly. Clean up effortlessly.” - Best for Home Cook: Chef Buddy 82-KIT1066 Mini Donut Maker
“The best choice to bake your family’s favorite donuts, from regular yeast recipes to gluten-free and vegan-friendly varieties!” - Best for Mini Donuts: Bella Cucina 13466 Donut Maker
“Produce up to 7 delicious mini donuts with perfect shapes. Your kids will rush for these pastries!” - Best for Beginner: Babycakes DN-6 Mini Donut Maker
“Featuring very user-friendly features, this maker helps beginners get satisfactory results as professionals do.”
Best Donut Makers Comparison Chart
This chart will evaluate the key features of the top 12 best donut makers on the market. Making a comparison is the best way to figure out the most considerable things for your decision.
Top 12 Best Donut Maker Reviews
To choose the best donut maker, many things need to be taken into consideration: capacity, technology, ease of access, size, and appearance. These following reviews will evaluate the pros and cons of the top 12 best donut makers.
1. Babycakes Multi-Treat Donut Baker
(Best Overall)
Babycakes Multi-Treat Donut Maker receives most votes by foodie enthusiasts for a quick and easy tool for sweet treats. The baker comes in red with a round shape, making it look great on your kitchen countertop.
The most outstanding thing about this machine is its three interchangeable non-stick baking plates with each designed for cupcake, donut, or cake pops. Thanks to this versatility, your menu will be more attractive with many types of pastries.
There are two light indicators for easy using: the red is power light and the green is ready light. If the light turns from red to green, just in 5 minutes or less, it means that your treats are ready to be served.
Key Features
- 3 interchangeable non-stick baking plates
- Bakes 7 donuts, 7 cupcakes or 12 cake pops at a time
- Includes recipe booklet
- Non-skid rubber feet, latching handle, and cord wrap
Pros
- Very versatile for the multiple uses
- User-friendly features with two light indicators
- Very easy to clean with non-stick baking plates
- Donuts can be ready in 5 minutes or less
- Good looking
- Available at a reasonable price
Cons
- Some users found it puts off a foul smell
- The latches are not very smooth
Product Specifications
Brand | Babycakes |
Capacity | 7 donuts, 7 cupcakes or 12 cake pops |
Number of baking plates | Three |
Dimensions | 8.35 x 10.35 x 4.65 inches |
Item weight | 4 pounds |
Color | Red |
This video shows more about this product:
2. VonShef 12 Mini Donut Maker
(Best Capacity)
If there are occasional parties hold in your family, you should have a VonShef 12 Mini Donut Maker in the kitchen. Featuring a baking plate of 12 donut holes, the machine can produce enough cakes for party treating – your family, friends, and guest.
Even though fulfilling such remarkable capacity, the bakes cook superb quickly and evenly. Just lift the clamp, fill baking molds, and wait for mere minutes. The baker starts cooking right away. A ready light indicator informs you when your donuts are cooked and ready to enjoy.
The baking plate is perfectly stick-proof that you can make a batch without using any oil to grease it. Users can remove the cooked donuts and clean the machine incredibly simple and hassle-free.
Key Features
- Non-stick baking plate of 12 donut holes
- Power and ready light indicators
- Automatic temperature control
- Cool-touch handle
Pros
- Bakes 12 donuts in a batch, suitable for party treating
- Sturdy and durable construction
- User-friendly with power and ready light indicators
- Cooks superb quickly and evenly
- Perfectly non-sticking pan
Cons
- The machine bottomstays quite hot after each batch
- You have to unplug and let the bottom cool after each batch
Product Specifications
Brand | VonShef |
Capacity | 12 donuts |
Number of baking plates | One |
Dimensions | 15.3 x 12.9 x 5.9 inches |
Item weight | 6.74 pounds |
Color | Red |
The following is an interesting video reviewing this product:
3. Babycakes DNM-30 Mini Donut Maker
(Best for Budget)
Retailed at a very affordable price, this mini donut maker is great for every household. The unit has an adorable look with a cool logo printed on bright yellow, which will make you fall in love with at first sight.
It features a non-stick pan that can cooks four cute, healthier donuts at a time. A power light indicator and a latching handle turn out very handy for beginners to precisely control the baking.
Thanks to the tiny dimensions, you can bring the maker anywhere and treat your kid with the gift of sweet donuts anytime. It also comes with a decent recipe booklet for your reference.
Key Features
- Non-stick coating baking plate of 4 donut holes
- Power light
- Latching handle and non-skid rubber feet
- Cord wrap
- Comes with a recipe booklet
Pros
- An adorable look fits any kitchen
- Perfect size for breakfast treats
- The compact size takes up less space
- Very affordable price
- Easy and convenient to use and clean
Cons
- Small capacity
- Some users think the donut holes are shallow, resulting in flattened- shape donuts
Product Specifications
Brand | Babycakes |
Capacity | 4 donuts |
Number of caking plates | One |
Dimensions | 8.75 x 6 x 6.13 inches |
Item weight | 1.7 pounds |
Color | Yellow |
I bet you will have more reasons to buy this product after watching the following video:
4. Betty Crocker Mini Donut Maker
(Best Lightweight)
If you ask me how to make donut in a happier way, my answer is this Betty Crocker Mini Donut Maker. Weighing only one pound, this appliance will be a big surprise for you and your family.
Though the baking plate has only 7 donut holes, it heats quickly and stays hot between batches, which make cooking 40 mini donuts in no time.
There are two light indicators for people who want to be sure about the temperature control: one shows if the power is on and informs you when the temperature is hot enough to bake cakes.
Like other donut makers, this unit comes in an attractive color to brighten up your kitchen.
Key Features
- Non-stick baking plate of 7 donut holes
- Cool-touch handle
- Power-on and temperature-ready light indicators
Pros
- Heats quickly
- Light indicators to easy control
- Non-stick baking tray ensures golden cakes and easy cleanup
- Compelling price for everyone
Cons
- Slightly uneven cooking
- Donut holes are smaller than standard
Product Specifications
Brand | Betty |
Capacity | 7 donuts |
Number of baking plates | Non-stick plate |
Dimensions | 10.75 x 8.58 x 5.43 inches |
Item weight | 1 pound |
Material | Stainless Steel |
This video explains why so many users give 5-star reviews to this unit:
5. Nostalgia Cake Pop & Donut Maker
(Best Compact)
Nostalgia Cake Pop & Donut Maker is a donut maker that ensures you will yield golden brown donuts like the pictures featured on culinary magazines.
In terms of performance, the machine can preheat in 3 minutes and baking time is between 4-5 minutes. It takes totally between 5-7 minutes to have a successful batch ready to serve.
After each batch, it cools down quickly and can wise clear with a wet paper towel. It has a round shape to save the space, making it fit on the counter of even small kitchens.
There are a recipe booklet and 25 bamboo cake pop sticks too, which will help donut making more fun.
Key Features
- Non-stick baking plate of 7 donut holes
- Includes 25 bamboo cake pop sticks
- Two light indicators
- Recipes included
Pros
- Compact design to save space
- Perfectly cooks golden brown cake pop
- Easy cleanup
- Comes with booklet and 25 bamboo cake pop sticks
Cons
- It gets quite hot after each batch
- The pop cakes are a little bit bigger than regular ones
Product Specifications
Brand | Nostalgia |
Capacity | 7 donuts |
Number of baking plates | Non-stick coating |
Dimensions | 9.75 x 4.25 x 7.75 inches |
Item weight | 2 pounds |
Color | Cream |
Take a few minutes to check how the Nostalgia donut maker works:
6. Throwback 3-In-1 Countertop Mini Donut Maker
(Best Versatility)
I like the versatility of Throwback 3-In-1 Countertop Mini Donut Maker. With six interchangeable plates, you can easily switch one of them on and off to bake more than a favorite recipe: mini cupcakes, mini donuts, or waffle sticks.
The maker is equipped with a powerful heating system of 1400 watt which helps to get the pastries baked within minutes. The cooking tray is made of non-stick material, preventing the dough from sticking and making the cleanup easy for you.
It features a heavy-duty stainless steel construction as a promise for long use. It also comes with a decent booklet to equip foodies with some popular sweet recipes.
Key Features
- Bakes 12 donuts in a batch
- 6 interchangeable non-stick cooking plates
- Powerful heating system of 1400 watt
Pros
- A versatile baker for more recipes
- Durable and sturdy construction
- Can bake dozens of donuts at once
- High performance with a powerful heating system
Cons
- There is no timer, you have to time it yourself
Product Specifications
Brand | Throwback |
Capacity | 12 donuts |
Number of baking plates | 6 interchangeable plates |
Dimensions | 13.66 x 10.59 x 12.79 inches |
Item weight | 14.77 pounds |
Color | Red |
7. Sunbeam Full Size Donut Maker
(Best Design)
Imitating the shape of a large donut, Sunbeam donut maker looks too cool and fun to resist. It also has a cute motif of scattered blue sprinkles on yellow paint, giving it a real donut look.
Let’s us put its eye-catching appearance aside, this unit comes with high-performance features to prove its usefulness. It has two lights to inform you when the doughnut maker is on or heating. The latching hinged lid overlaps well plate to trap heat inside.
The non-stick cooking plate can accommodate five donuts and distribute even heat to cook the dough thoroughly in 3-4 minutes. So, do not worry if you want to cook many batches in a short time.
Key Features
- Non-stick coating baking plate of 5 donut holes
- Warm-up & ready lights
- Donut-shaped design
- Latching hinged lid
Pros
- Eye-catching look
- Good control with two light indicators
- Easy-to-use design
- Smooth operation
Cons
- The cover slams a bit when you close it
- High-end price
Product Specifications
Brand | Sunbeam |
Capacity | 5 donuts |
Number of baking plates | One |
Dimensions | 11.3 x 5.6 x 10.4 inches |
Item weight | 7.04 pounds |
Color | Yellow |
8. CucinaPro Donut Maker & Ebelskiver Baker
(Best Durable)
CucinaPro Donut Maker & Ebelskiver Baker is exactly how simple but effective an appliance could be. Heating up fast, evenly and being so easy to clean, this product is the choice of superior performance and durability.
The unit boasts a solid and very durable baking plate that can bake up to seven large cakes. Thanks to high-quality material, it easily slides your mini donuts right off and wipes clean in seconds.
The pan is perfect for producing fluffy ebleskivers, but there is no limitation if you want to use the maker to make other tasty pastries like pancake puffs, donuts, or cake pops.
Key Features
- Capacity: 7 donuts
- 01 Aluminum baking pan with PFOE non-stick coating
- Easy-to-use on/off switch
Pros
- Simple and compact design
- Very easy to use and clean
- Cook quickly and heat evenly
- Can cook a wide range of pastries
- Durable and high-quality material
Cons
- The plates will get very hot when cooking
- Costly
Product Specifications
Brand | CucinaPro |
Capacity | 7 donuts |
Number of baking plates | One |
Dimensions | 13 x 11 x 3.5 inches |
Item weight | 3.2 pounds |
Color | Black |
9. Brentwood TS-250 Mini Donut Maker
(Best for Party)
I highly recommend this donut maker to everyone who loves to make tasty treats at home, mini donuts, brownies, cakes, muffins, and more. You can make things quicker with no need to use the oven.
With a Brentwood TS-250 Mini Donut Maker, all you have to do is preparing the batter. The remaining work will be completed automatically in a few minutes by the maker.
For more user convenience, the unit features power and preheat indicator lights and cool-touch handles. The high-quality non-stick plate prevents the dough from sticking or burning. Consequently, the cleanup is just a breeze.
What’s more? The unit’s stylish look in pink color will liven up any kitchen.
Key Features
- Non-stick plates of 7 mini donut holes
- Automatic temperature control
- Power and preheat indicator lights
- Cool-touch handles
- Comes with a recipe booklet
Pros
- Attractive look
- Comes with very user-friendly features for easy use
- Sturdy and durable construction
- Cooks quickly and evenly
- Reasonable price
Cons
- The clamp is a little loose
- Donut holes are rather small
Product Specifications
Brand | Brentwood |
Capacity | 7 donuts |
Number of baking plates | One |
Dimensions | 10.9 x 9.6 x 5.7 inches |
Item weight | 3.12 pounds |
Color | Retro-pink |
10. Chef Buddy 82-KIT1066 Mini Donut Maker
(Best for Home Cook)
You want to bake your own gluten-free recipes and even vegan-friendly treats instead of oily deep-frying in café or candy store? With a Chef Buddy 82-KIT1066 Mini Donut Maker, making donuts at home couldn’t be easier.
You can cook seven donuts at a time with this compact donut maker. The unit comes with a non-stick surface to ensure the donuts gain a golden crust without blackening.
If it is the first time you use an electric baker to make donuts, it is not a problem. You can put your trust in easy-to-use features of this product: A cool-touch handle to ensure safety and the red and green indicators to control cooking precisely.
Key Features
- Non-stick surface of 7 mini donut holes
- Power-on and preheat light indicators
- Cool-touch handle
- Comes with a recipe booklet
Pros
- Very easy and convenient to use
- High performance
- Non-stick surface ensures great donuts
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- The clamp doesn’t overlap very well
Product Specifications
Brand | Chef Buddy |
Capacity | 7 mini donuts |
Number of baking plates | One |
Dimensions | 11 x 7.75 x 4.5 inches |
Item weight | 3.56 pounds |
Color | White |
11. Bella Cucina 13466 Donut Maker
(Best for Mini Donuts)
If you prefer baking donut without having to turn on the oven, let start with a Bella Cucina 13466 Donut Maker.
With its innovative features, this donut maker allows you, with only basic batter recipes and baking skills, to cook beautiful, delicious pastries for your family and friends.
May users reviewed that the maker cooks so fast that they have to hurry up with pouring the batter into the molds. In other words, if you can control your speed, you can use get dozens of donuts in a short time.
Key Features
- Non-stick baking tray of 7 donut holes
- Cool-touch handle
- Power and ready light indicators
Pros
- Cook very quickly
- Comes with user-friendly features
- Easy to clean up
- Very convenient to use
Cons
- It cooks unevenly, so some get brown while some are still pale
- The donuts are much smaller than standard
Product Specifications
Brand | Bella Cucina |
Capacity | 7 donuts |
Number of baking plates | One |
Dimensions | 11.2 x 9.9 x 4.3 inches |
Item weight | 2.85 pounds |
Color | Red |
12. Babycakes DN-6 Mini Donut Maker
(Best for Beginner)
Again I recommend another lovely mini donut maker from Select Brands Inc., a very well-known manufacturer of small kitchen appliances.
If you love the design of Babycakes brand but are not fully satisfied with the 4-donut capacity of the Babycakes DNM-30 Mini Donut Maker reviewed above, this machine is a great alternative choice.
It can bake 6 mini doughnuts in about 4 minutes and supports users with easy-to-use light indicators. The result is flawlessly shaped donut with mouth-watering golden brown.
It seems that because bright colors are ideal to create the inspiration for cooking, the manufacturer designs the baker in bright yellow again. And this time, its success to lure gourmets.
Key Features
- Non-stick baking plates of 6 donut holes
- Power and ready lights
- Convenient cord wrap
- Includes fork tool, wire rack, and recipes
- Latching handle
Pros
- Attractive look
- Cooks donuts quickly and evenly
- Comes with very user-friendly features
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- The bottom heats up more than the top, turning the donuts is needed
- Some users think the donut holes are rather shallow
Product Specifications
Brand | Babycakes |
Capacity | 7 donuts per turn |
Number of baking plates | One |
Product Dimensions | 7.95 x 9.84 x 4.09 inches |
Item Weight | 2.9 pounds |
Color | Yellow |
Buying Guide for Best Donut Makers
There are some questions that you should ask yourself if you want to pick the best donut maker: do you want to make multiple donuts at one time? Which size fits best in your kitchen? Do you care about its design? Here let’s discuss these questions.
Capacity
Firstly, estimate the demand of pastries by your family members to decide the capacity. It means how many donuts you want the maker to make per turn to ensure a sufficient breakfast, snack, or feast. Most electric donut makers can bake 4-7 donuts at once; some can even produce up to twelve.
If you have a big family and each consumes more than a donut, consider a product with a medium capacity of 6-7 donuts. For parties and gatherings, it will save you much time and labor by employing a large capacity of twelve or more.
Versatility
When it comes to sweet treats, there are many different recipes you can make at home like donuts, waffle sticks, cake pops, or cupcakes. Besides donut makers that are designed simply for donuts, manufacturers also retail versatile versions that can bake more than a recipe.
With interchangeable mold, you can have a wide range of delicious treats for the kids. So, do not miss the chance to improve your menu and have more fun.
Size
Donut maker should be compact and easy to store. Normally, the size of your donut maker relates to its capacity. The more donuts it bakes in one batch, the bigger it is.
So you have to sacrifice either the size or capacity to gain the remaining. If your countertop does not have enough space for a large maker, pick a small-size product with powerful heating to speed the cooking time.
Easy to Use
To have a batch of golden donuts, you have to bake it at the right temperature in an exact period of time. And a donut baker equipped with an automatic temperature control along with readable indicator light can remove a lot of the guesswork.
Design
People who love cooking also love having a good-looking kitchen. This is the reason why kitchen appliances having similar operation features with each other gain their edges by design.
Given donut makers are very simple in operation, design is a more decisive factor. Take a machine with the color and shape that will contribute to the overall aesthetics of your kitchen.
FAQs
Even with the best donut maker, human work cannot be completely replaced. Therefore, equip you with tips to prepare your dough as well as control the machine properly.
My Top Pick
Each product on my list offers its own advantages to allow making donuts easier and safer. In all aspects, the Babycakes Multi-Treat Donut Baker is the one that meets all my wishes for a donut maker.
This product works well, looks great, and has a perfect size to fit on my kitchen countertop. Whether you are a beginner or professional baker, this masterpiece will help you yield the better result.
Do you make up your mind? If there is anything else needed for you to make a purchase decision, leave a comment to discuss. If this article already helps you make the right choice, why not spread it to other people by sharing?