The 10 Best Donut Makers
This wiki has been updated 28 times since it was first published in December of 2016. With one of these donut makers, you won't have to get up at dawn and trek to the nearest bakery to get the freshest treats possible. We've included dedicated machines that take all the hard work out of the process, straightforward pans that work just fine in a regular oven, and versatile, nonstick silicone options, so you can whip up tasty snacks without any excess oils. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Dash Mini Maker
2. Wilton 6-Cavity
3. VonShef Deluxe Snack Machine
Editor's Notes
August 28, 2020:
We wanted to diversify this list a bit during our latest update, and so removed the Chef Buddy Electric Mini, which became unavailable, the Oster Multi Dessert Maker, and Babycakes DN-6. These vacancies allowed us to bring on the Babycakes Multi-Treat Baker to replace the Oster model, which is priced more appropriately, can create a better variety of desserts, and most importantly, is capable of making an array of donut types.
We also added the Dash Mini Maker for families who want just a handful of small snacks quickly and easily, and the Babycakes DNM-30, which makes four small donuts at a time. This might seem like a frustratingly low number until you realize who it appeals to. For kids, it's great with supervision for giving them a decadent treat without overdoing it, and anyone who's looking to keep portion control in mind. It works just fine with many types of dough, so those on specific eating programs can whip up special low-carb, paleo, or keto snacks as well.
Finally, we wanted another silicone model and pan option and so incorporated the To Encounter Silicone, a set of 24 extremely versatile molds, and the Chefmade Champagne Gold, a hardwearing carbon steel pan that allows bakers to work with different shapes.
July 25, 2019:
For delicious fun in the kitchen, it's hard to beat either a donut maker or cake pop maker, because they let you whip up treats that are not only yummy but also fun to decorate. But we have decided to keep a couple of non-electric donut pans, as well, for those who might wish to use the oven they already have. As for electric models, we still like the Babycakes DN-6 and its cheery bright yellow construction. It's easy to store, a cinch to clean, and so simple that virtually anyone can use it. For those who want to get a little more creative, we added the Oster Multi Dessert Maker and the CucinaPro Takoyaki Pan. The latter is especially great for trying a whole range of treats from various cultures, including aebelskiver from Denmark and khanom krok from Thailand. And as with most options, it's non-stick, so you can spend more time enjoying your dessert and less time cleaning up.
Special Honors
Lil' Orbits Model 800 If you're looking to make a little dough off your donuts, then you might consider the Lil' Orbits Model 800, a semi-automatic option that's a breeze to use. It can give you up to 800 mini donuts per hour, but it can also be used to fry other kinds of goodies, making it quite versatile, indeed. lilorbits.com
Belshaw Donut Robot Mark VI You can probably guess from the name of the Belshaw Donut Robot Mark VI that it's no casual model. But for those who need a restaurant-quality system with everything from a proofer to a fryer, it might just fit the bill, especially since it offers a whopping 91 dozen cake donuts per hour. belshawadamatic.com
Yvonne's Vegan Kitchen It can be tricky to perfect homemade donuts, but even harder when you're vegan or gluten-intolerant. For times when you're not up to the task of whipping them up yourself, there's this subscription box from Yvonne's Vegan Kitchen. Recipients can look forward to six freshly-made chocolate covered donuts that are free of milk, eggs, dairy, gluten, and soy. Each batch is shipped frozen in an insulated unit with ice packs. yvonnesvegankitchen.com
4. Babycakes Multi-Treat Baker
5. Chefmade Champagne Gold
6. To Encounter Silicone
7. Chefast Combo Kit
8. Babycakes DNM-30
9. Brentwood TS-250
10. CucinaPro Takoyaki Pan
Born in Arizona, Gia is a writer and autodidact who fled the heat of the desert for California, where she enjoys drinking beer, overanalyzing the minutiae of life, and channeling Rick Steves. After arriving in Los Angeles a decade ago, she quickly nabbed a copywriting job at a major clothing company and derived years of editing and proofreading experience from her tenure there, all while sharpening her skills further with myriad freelance projects. In her spare time, she teaches herself French and Italian, has earned an ESL teaching certificate, traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and unashamedly devours television shows and books. The result of these pursuits is expertise in fashion, travel, beauty, literature, textbooks, and pop culture, in addition to whatever obsession consumes her next.