The 10 Best Donut Makers
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
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.