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Fresh donuts are some of the YUMMIEST baked goods! Both Meggan and I have sweet memories of munching on delicious glazed, jelly, and cream-filled donuts (her recipe for Apple Cider Donuts is one of the very best!). The only thing better than stopping at your favorite donut shop? Make these delicious confections at home with the Best Donut Makers.
In this guide to the best donut makers, we’ll help you sort through the TONS of models on the market to find the best option for you. After researching popular brands, Meggan and I narrowed our list down to the 5 best picks, including Meggan’s top favorite, the DASH Express Mini Donut Maker.
Read on for more information about the donut makers we love, as well as what to consider when shopping for one.
Table of Contents
Our Top Picks
- What’s in Meggan’s Kitchen: DASH Express Mini Donut Maker – $19.99 at Amazon
- Also Great: Bella Cucina 13466 Donut Maker – $36.94 at Amazon
- Best for Donut Holes: BabyCakes 9-Piece Donut Hole and Cake Pop Maker – $24.47 at Amazon
- Best Splurge: CucinaPro Mini Donut Maker – $29.99 at Walmart
- Best Budget: Nostalgia MyMini Donut Maker – $14.49 at Amazon
Reviews of The Best Donut Makers
1. What’s in Meggan’s Kitchen: DASH Express Mini Donut Maker
Meggan bought the DASH Express Mini Donut Maker while testing out her Apple Cider Donut recipe and fell in love with it! This donut maker is super affordable, only costing around $20, and can make up to 7 donuts in just a few minutes. It features nonstick plates that provide a consistent cook and prevent the batter from sticking so the donuts release easily.
“You can’t beat it!” Meggan says. “I also love the small, compact size because my kids love eating the mini doughnuts, and the unit doesn’t take up too much space.”
Meggan also loves that it comes with a simple recipe book that you can make with common ingredients so you can start using it right away.
The Specs:
- Dimensions: 8.7 by 10.6 by 3.9 inches
- Weight: 3.26 pounds
- Capacity: Makes 7 mini donuts
- Nonstick?: Yes
The Pros:
- Non-stick baking plates are easy to clean
- Simple enough for kids to use
- Easy to clean
- Quick bake time
The Cons:
- Only makes small donuts
What Others are Saying:
The DASH Express Mini Donut Maker was named the best mini donut maker by The Spruce Eats. Additionally, it has a 4.5-star rating with more than 11,800 reviews on Amazon.
Buy the DASH Express Mini Donut Maker:
2. Also Great: Bella Cucina 13466 Donut Maker
Bella Cucina is a trusted brand in the world of small appliances, and this donut maker is one of the best we researched because it’s extremely budget-friendly and reliable. It can churn out 7 perfect little donuts in just minutes, making it a great option for hosting parties. (It’s ideal for feeding a lot of people or facing a troupe of hungry kiddos!)
We’re big fans of the convenient range of features, like the indicator light that lets you know when your mini donuts are ready, along with the nonstick baking plates. The compact design means it’s super easy to store when you’re not using it (plus, it can be turned vertically to stand on its end to really maximize space!).
The Specs:
- Dimensions: 11.2 by 9.9 by 4.3 inches
- Weight: 2.85 pounds
- Capacity: Makes 7 mini donuts
- Nonstick?: Yes
The Pros:
- Ready-to-eat light indicates when donuts are done
- Non-stick baking plates
The Cons:
- Only makes small donuts
- May overheat
What Others are Saying:
The Bella Cucina 13466 Donut Maker has a 4-star rating on Amazon.
Buy the Bella Cucina 13466 Donut Maker:
3. Best for Donut Holes: BabyCakes 9-Piece Donut Hole and Cake Pop Maker
BabyCakes small appliances are often praised for their performance and ease of use, and this donut hole maker is no exception! Like most of the donut makers on our list, it has two nonstick plates that cook and release the donuts evenly.
It’s also a breeze to use: Just cut the corner off a plastic food storage bag and fill the nine molds with approximately 1 tablespoon of batter. From there, close the top latch, and the indicator light will start to blink when the donuts are done. All you have to do is pop it open and scoop them out!! This is one of the more versatile options we found since it can be used to make more than just doughnut holes — you can also experiment with Meggan’s recipes for hush puppies, mini cheese balls, or mini twice-baked potatoes!
The Specs:
- Dimensions: 8.56 by 6.14 by 3.8 inches
- Weight: 2.31 pounds
- Capacity: Makes 9 cake pops 1.5 inches in diameter
- Nonstick?: Yes
The Pros:
- Easy to clean
- Cooks quickly
- Versatile
- Latching handle and non-skid rubber feet
- Convenient cord wrap
The Cons:
- Bottoms of donuts may cook darker than the top
- Short cord
What Others are Saying:
The BabyCakes 9-Piece Donut Hole and Cake Pop Maker has a 4.3-star rating on Amazon from more than 12,000 reviews.
Buy the BabyCakes 9-Piece Donut Hole and Cake Pop Maker:
4. Best Splurge: CucinaPro Mini Donut Maker
If you’re willing to spend a bit more dough on one of the best donut makers, we recommend snagging the CucinaPro Mini Donut Maker. It can whip up 7 mini donuts in 5 minutes or less, so you can quickly make donuts for the entire family. Because it has temperature control, you never have to worry about overcooking your batter into a crusty mess, and, thanks to the quick release, nonstick cleanup is just as fast. At the slightly higher price point, you’re most likely paying for its sleek design, which is good enough a reason for us (especially if you use it often enough to leave it out on the countertop!).
The Specs:
- Dimensions: 10 by 8 by 4.5 inches
- Weight: 3.32 pounds
- Capacity: Makes 7 mini donuts
- Nonstick?: Yes
The Pros:
- Rapid bake time
- Temperature control settings
- Non-stick baking plates
- Recipe guidex included
The Cons:
- Slightly expensive
What Others are Saying:
The CucinaPro Mini Donut Maker has a 4.6-star rating from more than 250 ratings on Amazon.
Where to Buy the CucinaPro Mini Donut Maker:
5. Best Budget: Nostalgia MyMini Donut Maker
If you need a donut maker that does the minimum (but does it well at a budget-friendly price), the Nostalgia MyMini Donut Maker is a great option. This one has no frills, and it couldn’t be easier to use! All you have to do is plug it in, wait for the ready light to go off, pour in the batter, and shut the lid. In less than 5 minutes, you’ll be diving into a delicious donut.
It’s great for kids because it’s so simple, and its cool-touch handles ensure they won’t burn their little fingers. When they’re done, cleanup is just as easy and fast. It’s also kid-sized, so it takes up very little space in the cupboard!
The Specs:
- Dimensions: 7.72 by 6.3 by 3.74 inches
- Weight: 1.28 pounds
- Capacity: Makes 3 mini donuts
- Nonstick Coating: Yes
The Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
- Quick bake time
- Cool-touch handles
The Cons:
- Smaller capacity than other options
What Others are Saying:
The Nostalgia MyMini Donut Maker has a 3.9-star rating from more than 500 reviews on Amazon.
Buy the Nostalgia MyMini Donut Maker:
Other Donut Makers to Consider
Babycakes Mini Donut Maker
We love the Babycakes brand because their appliances tend to offer great performance and ease of use (we included the mini donut hole maker in our roundup of the best!). This option is still a solid one since it can make 4 mini donuts in just a couple of minutes. All you have to do is scoop in some batter, close the lid, and wait for the light to go off. However, it has a smaller capacity, and you only have to pay a couple of bucks more for the larger model. The Babycakes Mini Donut Maker is available at Amazon for $21.99.
StarBlue Mini Donuts Maker
Although this mini donut maker comes with various molds to shape donuts into all sorts of designs, the main reason we didn’t rank the StarBlue Mini Donuts Maker at the top of our list is that it’s so much more expensive than the other mini donut makers we love. We liked the compact design and detachable, nonstick baking plates, but in the end, the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze. The StarBlue Mini Donuts Maker is available at Amazon for $37.99.
Courant Mini Donut Maker
This donut maker is a bit more comprehensive than other picks on our list. It produces 7 perfectly round donuts every time, features nonstick plates for ease of care, an indicator light, and can easily fit into a cabinet. It also comes with a handy serving board for a too-cute presentation. But most of the best donut makers on our list do the same tasks, and this option is way pricier than the others. Plus, it has limited reviews, and Meggan hasn’t tested this one out yet. The Courant Mini Donut Maker is available at Target for $49.99.
Why You Can Trust Us
Hi! I’m Belle, an award-winning content creator and an adjunct professor who works in restaurant PR. Over the course of 20 years, I’ve held almost every position imaginable in various restaurants, including ownership of a Korean-concept hot dog cart that was named after my dog’s teeth. My writing and on-camera work can be seen on Better Homes & Gardens.
To make our list of the very best donut makers, Meggan gave me the 411 on her favorite model and why she loves it so much. From there, we worked together to scope out other great donut makers on the market. We read hundreds of online reviews to eventually narrow down our final list. We compared them side by side and rated them on design, performance, and overall value to come up with the best picks.
Everything to Know Before Buying a Donut Maker
What to Consider Before Buying a Donut Maker
Before you add a donut maker to your shopping cart, there are a few things you should consider:
Shape and capacity: Most donut makers can make 6 to 12 donuts at a time, depending on their size and shape. Meggan notes that she’s only found mini donut makers that can make multiple donuts at a time, so if you want larger ones, you may have to opt for a donut pan instead. Lastly, depending on how you plan to use your donut maker (whether it be for weekend breakfasts or hosting parties), you should make sure the option you buy has a large enough capacity.
Ease of use: You’ll definitely want a donut maker that’s easy to use and uses minimal storage space. If you have less kitchen space, make sure you buy an option that’s on the smaller side. We also made sure to only list models with nonstick plates to make cleaning as easy as possible.
Indicator light: The best fool-proof way to make sure your donuts are perfectly cooked each time is going by the indicator light. Most of the donut makers on our list have one, so you know when the plates are done preheating and when the donuts are ready to eat. Without it, you could open the plates too early and have a mess on your hands!
Do You Need a Donut Maker?
Whether or not you need a donut maker depends on a few factors. If you have limited space, aren’t a fellow donut junkie, or don’t love single-function small appliances, you might want to skip it. (See below for some alternative ways to cook donuts without a donut maker!) A donut maker is also a way to get sweet snacks without having to deep fry them at home.
But if you just love sinking your teeth into a mouth-watering layer of sugary deliciousness and want to recreate the moment time after time in your own kitchen, Meggan and I say go for it! A donut maker is incredibly easy to use, and you can’t beat the freshness and fun of homemade donuts.
How Do You Use a Donut Maker?
Using any of the electric donut makers on our list is pretty straightforward. Every model in our roundup has two nonstick baking plates with heating elements behind them. Just open the lid and fill in the bottom side with batter. While it cooks, the batter will expand and fill the top plate, just like when you make waffles. Once they cook, you can just pop them out and enjoy (frosting optional!).
How Do You Make Mochi Donuts?
Mochi donuts are having a moment! This popular treat has the chewiness of mochi and the sweetness of a freshly made donut. They mostly come in a cute bubble ring shape and get their iconic texture from rice flour. Plus, they can be flavored with different jams, matcha powder, or ube. While Meggan doesn’t have a recipe for mochi donuts, you can still cook them in a donut maker if you don’t want to fry them — though you’ll be missing those bubble rings if you do so.
How Do You Make Donuts Without a Donut Maker?
Meggan says if you don’t have a donut maker, there are two other ways to make homemade donuts at home. The easiest way is to use a donut pan like the Wilton Non-Stick 6-Cavity Donut Baking Pans and bake your donuts in the oven. She uses this pan to make her homemade Apple Cider Donuts!
But if you want that classic donut taste, you can also shape and fry them. To make the shape, use two biscuit cutters (one large biscuit cutter to create a circle and one small one to remove the inside and create a ring shape). Heat oil in an electric skillet, Dutch oven, or deep fryer, and drop the rings in. Once they’re brown, turn them over. Remove them from the oil with a slotted spoon or strainer and leave them to drain on paper towels.
The Best Donut Recipes
Many of the donut makers on our list come with recipes you can try. But if you really want a tried and true recipe to try, check out Meggan’s Apple Cider Donut recipe. The apple flavor is delicious on its own, but after you roll them in cinnamon and sugar, you’ll be hooked!
To make the Apple Cider Donuts in the Dash mini donut maker, preheat the maker as instructed. Pipe a few tablespoons of batter into each donut mold (filling about ¾ of the way full). Close and cook for 1 ½ minutes, then open the maker, flip the donuts with a toothpick, close, and cook 1 minute longer. This recipe cooks faster than some of the recipes in the instruction booklet which may take up to 4 minutes before flipping.
Here are some other fun recipes you can make in your donut maker:
Prices were accurate at time of publication.
Belle DuChene is an award-winning digital content producer who has a passion for all things lifestyle including food, fashion, and French culture. (And French wine, of course!) Over the course of 20 years, she's held almost every position imaginable in various restaurants and has eaten her way through the side streets of more than 20 countries. Always a student, her kitchen looks like a library of culinary school textbooks and she will sit for the level one sommelier exam with the Court of Master Sommeliers this summer. Belle owns an award-winning content creation agency, teaches communications at three colleges and universities, and tutors in French. In addition to Culinary Hill, her writing and on-camera demonstrations have been published on BHG.com.