Dare I say it, donuts are one of the best sweet treats that you can buy. They’re a mix between cake, waffles, and pancakes, and there is a great variety of flavors and fillings to choose from.
That being said, with the likes of Dunkin’ Donuts and Krispy Kreme gaining even more momentum and popularity with every year, the price of the delectable donut has increased to somewhat of a staggering amount of money.
So, if you love donuts as much as us but feel a little queasy every time you have to swipe your card while paying for one, why not consider purchasing your very own donut maker to use at home?
There is a surplus of donut makers on the market right now, so there’s never been a better time to get your hands on one. However, your donut maker needs to be nothing short of amazing and produce perfect quality donuts.
For this reason, we’ve scoured the market to bring you the top five donut makers available for purchase. We don’t take the fluffiness of donuts likely, so rest assured that every item on this list is nothing short of outstanding.
Let’s get right into it, shall we?
In a hurry?
If you don’t have enough time to read through our entire article about the best donut maker right now, never fear. We have you covered and we’re going to tell you the best option on the market right now, so you can get your machine quicker without having to wait through the entire article.
We have found that the Babycakes Mini Donut Maker is the best on the market right now, and here are a few reasons why:
The smaller size allows you to pack the machine away in your kitchen or pantry easily and without hassle.
The cooking plates are non-stick to ensure that your donuts don’t burn or break as you’re trying to take them out of the machine.
It’s great for smaller families as you can make four donuts at a time.
Top 5 Best Donut Maker
OUR TOP PICK
Summary
Starting off our list is the Mini Donut Maker from the brand Babycakes, which is a well-known manufacturer of many different machines that you can use at home to make all of your favorite sweet treats.
For now, though, we’re focusing on their mini donut maker. This small but mighty machine is ideal for making smaller donuts for parties or family gatherings, as you can make four delicious snacks per every use.
The cooking plate is made of non-stick metal which will prevent your donuts from getting trapped and burning, and this will help your oil to do its job properly. The handle latches closed to ensure that the heat transfers evenly and efficiently.
What’s more is that the rubber feet prevent the machine from moving around the work surface, potentially scratching it. Thanks to the smaller size, you won’t have any trouble storing this great donut maker into your kitchen.
Pros
Great for smaller families.
Non-stick cooking plate.
Smaller size for easier storage.
Cons
A few customers found that their machine cooked unevenly.
One customer found that the cooking time was too long.
EDITORS CHOICE
Summary
The Brentwood Mini Donut Maker is not only lovely to look at, but also great at providing the whole family with their own sweet treat to enjoy. Cook seven donuts at once within mere minutes, so once you get this machine out the box, you won’t have to wait around for too long to enjoy your snacks.
The cooking plates are non-stick so the cooked donuts will slide straight out of the machine, ensuring that you don’t have to compromise the shape and integrity of your donuts to get them out of the donut maker.
While the cooking plates heat up to high temperatures thanks to the 750-watt machine, the handles remain cold to touch so that no one burns their fingers while sneaking a peek at the donuts. Benefit from the light indicators allowing you to know when your machine is ready to use.
Pros
Cook seven donuts at once.
Non-stick cooking plates are very effective and easy to use.
Handles remain cool to touch.
Cons
No temperature control.
One reviewer found that the hinge was loose and unstable.
BEST VALUE
Summary
The donut maker from Dash offers enough space to make seven donuts within minutes. All you need to do is place the batter within the machine and close the latch - the machine will do the rest for you.
In fact, it will turn itself off once the donuts are cooks, so you don’t have to stand around counting down the seconds until you need to turn it off. There is even an alarm that will notify you once the donuts are ready, so don’t stop on the machine’s account.
The cooking plate is made of non-stick materials, making the cleanup process a breeze. Simply wipe the surface down (once it’s cooled!) and store the machine away. The manufacturer offers you a one-year warranty, and the donut maker even comes with a recipe book.
Pros
Room to make seven donuts.
Automatic shut off function.
Easy to clean after each use.
One-year warranty.
Cons
One reviewer didn’t appreciate the longer cooking time.
Difficult for children to use.
RUNNER UP
Summary
Next up is a mini donut maker that allows you to cook 12 donuts at a time - that’s right, 12! Gone are the days when you’d have to stand over the donut maker for hours to make the ideal number of treats, you can now do it in only one go!
Not to mention that the preheating time of this model is fast, so you won’t find yourself waiting around for it to become hot enough to use. The handy light indicator will let you know when your machine is at the perfect temperature to be used, so don’t worry about uneven cooking.
This donut maker actually adjusts the temperature of the cooking plates automatically while in use, so you get perfectly cooked donuts every time you use it. This comes at no extra cost for you, so you can turn your attention to something else without worrying about a burning smell coming from the donut maker.
Pros
Enough capacity to make 12 mini donuts at once.
Light indication.
Automatic temperature adjustments.
Cons
Not the greatest customer service.
A few customers had problems with quality control.
RUNNER UP
Summary
Another stylish donut maker, this machine is made by none other than Betty Crocker. This brand is a highly used and regarded when it comes to their baking products, such as machines, cake mixes, and recipes.
This donut maker comes with a piping bag and different nozzles to use alongside it, and a spatula. The only machine that comes with decorating accessories, this is the ideal option for anyone looking to have some family fun with icing their donuts.
The non-stick cooking plates offer enough room to cook seven donuts. You can take advantage of the indicator lights to let you know when the donut machine is on and hot, and once it’s sufficiently preheated.
Pros
Comes from a well-known brand.
You’ll also receive decorating accessories.
Added features make it very easy to cook and enjoy seven donuts.
Cons
A couple of reviewers found that the plates smelt.
The cooking time is not as fast as some other alternative donut makers.
Best Donut Maker Buying Guide
We take the quality of our donuts very seriously - the last thing you want is to purchase a shiny, exciting donut maker only to find that delivers subpar snacks. To avoid you from all of this disappointment, we’ve created a buyers guide for you to follow along with.
Learning a basic knowledge of what you need to look for while shopping around for donut makers will prevent you from accidentally choosing a bad option. We wouldn’t wish a bad donut on anyone, so make sure that you take our advice into account before committing to a purchase.
Brand Quality
The better the brand is received by the public, the better the quality of their products. This is usually the case for almost everything, including donut makers. So, we’d strongly advise that you check the quality of the brand.
For example, brands such as Babycakes, VonShef, and Betty Crocker are well known and each have their own impressive following of loyal customers. There is a reason for the amount of loyalty that these brands have accumulated over the years that they’ve been active.
While it is possible to find the next big thing before it becomes well known, choosing a lesser-known brand may also increase your chances of purchasing a low-quality donut maker.
So, we think that it’s always worth playing the safe game and opting for a product that is made by a high-quality brand.
User Reviews
Much like the brand quality, we also think that it’s very important to check previous reviews from customers that have come before you. This is because if there is one place where you’re going to be told the absolute truth about a product, it’s the review section.
If a prior customer didn’t enjoy the donuts that they made, they’ll be sure to tell you. This will avoid you from opting for a poor quality donut maker due to great marketing techniques. Instead, you’ll have real reviews backing your decision to purchase your maker.
Size
There are three things that you should consider when it comes to the size of your donut maker - how many donuts that you can make at one time, the size of the donuts, and whether you can store it easily within your kitchen.
Let’s go into detail about these three considerations below.
Number of Donuts
How many donuts will you want to make at one time? Do you have a bigger family, a social gathering to go to, or do you simply like to eat multiple donuts in one sitting? If so, you’ll want to make sure that the donut maker you choose has enough space to make the desired amount of donuts.
If you don’t do this, you may find yourself spending too much time repeating the cooking process. This may cause the first donuts that you make to go cold and begin to spoil. So, it’s always worth guessing how many donuts you’ll want to make in one session to avoid wasting your time.
Size of Each Donut
Some donut makers leave you with great big donuts, whereas some others make smaller, mini donuts. We doubt that you’ll want to wait until the machine is delivered to see whether you have the means to make small or full-size doughnuts, so this is something that's worth checking before committing to your purchase.
Storage Capability
It would be a real shame if you received your donut maker and realized that it was too big to be stored away neatly in any of your kitchen storage. For this reason, you may consider checking the item dimensions before opting for one doughnut maker.
Fortunately enough, most doughnut makers on the market have been made with this in mind so it shouldn't be too difficult to find one that can be neatly packed away after each use. However, it is still worth checking to avoid disappointment.
Design
Another factor that you may want to consider about your donut maker is its design. The cooking plate should be made with a durable material, which is preferably non-stick to avoid your doughnuts becoming stuck and breaking before you get a chance to show them off.
The exterior of the donut maker can be matched with your preferred style that you showcase in your kitchen. This is not always essential as you may be storing the machine away while you’re not using it, however, you might want to take the time to ensure that everything looks pristine within your home.
If this is the case, make sure that you choose a machine that you enjoy the design of and that you're not going to get sick of anytime soon.
Timing
How long will it take for the donuts to cook? This is a question that you should ask yourself as you look at each donut maker that you’re considering buying. Also, is there an indication to help you ensure that you don’t burn your donuts, such as a light or a built-in timer?
An indicator could be very helpful for you to ensure that each and every donut that you make comes out with a perfection rating, so it’s always worth considering before you commit to just one option.
Ease of Use
Generally speaking, donut makers are rather easy to use and don’t take too much time to get used to. However, there are always some options available that are going to be slightly trickier to use, whether it be a stiff handle or an uneven heating plate.
You should look to the customer reviews to see how easy the donut makers are to use, as this is where you’ll find any qualms that other users have found.
Cleaning Process
The joy of making your own donuts at home could really squander after the realization that you have a big cleanup job on your hands. Make sure that you try to opt for a machine that prevents you from having to clean for hours after you finish your donuts, as this may prevent you from using the machine again in the future.
Best Donut Maker FAQ's
How do you use a donut maker?
Begin by turning your donut maker on and leaving it closed while you prepare your donut batter. This will allow it to preheat to avoid cold spots during the cooking process. Once you’ve made your batter, spray the donut holes with oil to ensure that the cooked treats won’t stick.
Now, pour the batter into each of the donut rings, ensuring that you don’t overflow them. This may take a bit of trial and error to get perfect, so experiment with different amounts of batter with each use.
Close the lid and leave your donuts to cook for the recommended amount of time. You should find this in the instruction manual from the manufacturer. Once the donuts are golden on the outside, remove them with a non-stick utensil and leave them to cool slightly.
You can now decorate, flavor, or eat your donuts straight away!
How many donuts are too many?
The number doesn’t exist! Well, okay then, 24 donuts may be pushing the limit slightly…
How many donuts you can eat depends on the size of them, the recipe used to make them, and whether or not they have any filling or sugary toppings. You should limit yourself to avoid health problems such as obesity and diabetes.
While there is no set number of how many donuts are too many, most people have come to the conclusion that 3 to 5 donuts is more than enough for one day. However, make sure that you listen to your body and know when to stop.