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Breakfast should be your most important meal of the day, which is difficult to achieve if you're eating the same old bread and butter every day. Donuts are a great way to liven up your morning meal, and with a donut maker, you can make your own! Donuts might seem complicated, but with the best donut makers of 2024, cooking donuts can be a breeze. After testing the products on the market, nothing quite beats the classic Betty Crocker Mini Donut Maker. But we've also prepared other recommendations as well as a buying guide to help you choose the best donut maker for you!

 

Donut Maker: A Buying Guide

Making perfect donuts without knowing the traditional recipe sounds difficult. That's why professional chefs recommend using donut makers to cook them perfectly within a few minutes. However, finding an effective and good-quality appliance on the market is nerve-racking. So, we have compiled a detailed buying guide on donut makers that will help you pick up the best product without breaking the bank.

The Advantages of Using a Donut Maker

Here are some fantastic benefits of using donut makers to cook mouth-watering donuts.

  • The donut maker bakes the donut instead of frying them. Hence, they contain less fat and carbs and are healthier to consume than traditional donuts.
  • Since fresh donuts can be prepared at home, you can customize ingredients and enhance the taste as well as the nutritional value of the snack.
  • Donut makers are also easy to clean because of their non-stick plate surface.
  • The majority of the donut-making appliances can fit in a compact area of your kitchen counter.
  • You can make a variety of delicacies other than donuts like pancakes, ebelskiver, and more with some donut makers.
  • You do not need to change their batteries as most donut-making appliances function with an electric cord connection.

Factors to Look Out For When Choosing a Donut Maker

In order to purchase a top-notch donut maker, you should consider the following factors without fail.

Donut quantity

The majority of donut makers come with seven mini donut molds. So, if you have a small family or limited donut requirement, you can definitely pick such donut makers. They take a maximum of ten to fifteen minutes to make seven mini donuts in one session. However, if you own a bakery or have a large family and need to make plenty of donuts, then opt for a 24-mold plate donut maker. It can make 24 mini donuts in a period of 15 to 20 minutes. It’s important to examine your requirements and the capacity of the donut maker before investing in it.

Number of plates

The next factor to check while selecting a donut maker is the number of plates. The majority of mini appliances have a single plate or tray with molds to help you make a smaller quantity of donuts. However, you can also find products with multiple different trays, having differently shaped molds to cook various delicacies. All you have to do is set the tray for the food item you are cooking in the appliance. This type of donut maker can also bake pancakes, steaks, veggies, omelets, pies, and more aside from donuts.

Power capacity

Since the majority of donut-making appliances function when you plug in their cord to an electrical outlet, it is crucial to check their power capacity. According to our research, most donut makers have a watt unit in the range of 750 to 1000 watts. The higher the watt rating, the faster you prepare donuts, but the power consumed will also be higher.

Indicator light

In order to accurately operate the donut maker, make sure it is bolstered with advanced features like an indicator light. You can also find some products with an LED light that turns on when the appliance is preheated and when the donuts are cooked. So, there will be no chance of burning or overcooking the donuts. Thus, you will get perfectly cooked golden brown delicacies without burning or ruining their flavor.

Construction material

You should also ensure that the donut maker plate or mold is made from food-safe materials like stainless steel, food-safe plastic, aluminum, and more. Besides, many appliances have PFOA-free and non-stick surfaces so that you can easily de-mold the donuts once they are cooked. The non-stick surfaces also require less oil or butter to bake the food. Furthermore, you can easily clean such donut makers with a simple tissue or damp cloth. So make sure to check the construction material of the product before making a purchase.

Accessories

Donut making is an art, and you require many accessories to make perfect cake-shop-style donuts. That's why many donut maker packages include additional tools like piping bags, silicone spatulas, basting brushes, and more. If you are the one who likes to serve or consume perfectly decorated and cream-glazed donuts, then make sure to pick such a package.

Handle

Make sure the handle of the donut maker has heat-resistant properties so that it doesn’t heat up when the appliance is functioning. Thus, you would be able to easily open the lid of the hot donut maker without burning your fingers.

How to Cook Donuts in a Donut Maker

You can cook delicious donuts in a donut maker following these simple steps.

  • Firstly, prepare the donut batter using simple ingredients like flour, sugar, egg, butter, and more.
  • Preheat the donut maker for two to three minutes or till its indicator light turns on.
  • Grease the molds of the preheated donut maker with butter or olive oil as per your choice.
  • Now, pour the donut batter into the molds of the donut maker.
  • The next step is to simply switch on the donut maker again and wait until the indicator light turns on. Most appliances usually take five to ten minutes to make donuts.
  • Since the mold trays of high-quality donut makers are made from non-stick material, you can easily de-mold the prepared donuts without crumbling them.
  • Once you remove the cooked donuts from the mold, you can decorate them with icing cream, chocolate, honey, and more depending on your preference.

Top Picks

  • Best Overall: Betty Crocker Mini Donut Maker
  • Most Affordable: Dash Mini Donut Maker Appliance
  • Best Indicator Light: Brentwood Mini Donut Maker Appliance
  • Easiest To Clean: Cucinapro Ebelskiver Maker Appliance
  • Most Versatile: Health And Home Multifunction Baker

Reviews

Best Overall
Betty Crocker Mini Donut Maker

Betty Crocker Mini Donut Maker

Pros Cons
  • Heat-proof handle and light indicator allow easy controlling of the appliance
  • No need to flip the donuts
  • Non-stick surface is easy to clean
  • The recipe book included in the product may not provide clear guidance on making donuts
Most Affordable
Dash Mini Donut Maker Appliance

Dash Mini Donut Maker Appliance

Pros Cons
  • Comes with a book of 50+ donut making recipes
  • Makes seven mini donuts in one go
  • Safe and easy to use because of the indicator light
  • Can't make large sized donuts
Best Indicator Light
Brentwood Mini Donut Maker Appliance

Brentwood Mini Donut Maker Appliance

Pros Cons
  • Makes baked seven donuts in one session
  • Cool and heat-resistant handle saves you from burning your fingers
  • Can fit in small spaces thanks to its compact design
  • Not backed by a warranty period
Easiest to Clean
CucinaPro Ebelskiver Maker Appliance

Cucinapro Ebelskiver Maker Appliance

Pros Cons
  • Heats evenly so your donuts do not get burnt
  • Can be used for making a variety of food delicacies
  • Removing pastries and cleaning is simple and easy
  • Does not have a lid to cover the cooking donuts
Most Versatile
Health And Home Multifunction Baker

Health And Home Multifunction Baker

Pros Cons
  • Multiple plates allow you to cook a variety of delicacies
  • Make 24 donuts or muffins within a few minutes
  • Non-stick coated plates are easy to clean
  • Some people received the package without cooking tools

FAQs

Can I open the lid of a donut maker without wearing gloves?
Since the handles of the quality donut makers are usually made from heat-resistant material, you can easily open their lid without wearing heat-insulated gloves. However, do not open the lid while the appliance is functioning.
How long does a donut maker take to make donuts?
A donut maker having the capacity of baking seven mini donuts in one session usually takes seven to ten minutes. However, if the appliance has a large capacity to cook up to twenty-four donuts, it might take fifteen to twenty minutes per session.
How to clean a donut making appliance?
The good-quality donut makers have trays that are built from non-stick materials. They are also easy to clean. All you need to do is use a damp cloth or tissue paper to clean them. Furthermore, never submerge these appliances in the water as they have an installed electric cord which can get damaged in water.