5 Best Donut Pans for Your Kitchen

For a lot of people, be it glazed, sprinkled, or dipped, the donut is the king of pastries. Beloved by busy office workers, kids, and lovers of all things sweet, these delicious pieces of dough can be quite heavenly. 

When made right, donuts can be beautiful and tasty enough for anyone to enjoy. They can take many shapes, be filled with any flavored fillings, and be sprinkled with any toppings. Pair it with a good cup of coffee and you’ll be in bliss. 

What really makes these pastries amazing, on the other hand, is the process. With the right recipes, equipment, and skills, making homemade donuts is more than doable. Among the most useful kitchen tools you’ll want for this are donut pans. This is why we have listed five of the best ones in the market. Through their excellent materials, beautiful patterns, and durability, they make baking donuts so much easier. That said, go and check them out!

Best Donut Pans Comparison & Rating

Want to Learn More?

Before you decide which donut pan to buy, you might want to find out more about the best options available. This is to make sure that you will absolutely enjoy the donut pan that you would get for your kitchen. Also, be sure to click the yellow buttons below to see their best deals on Amazon! With that, here are five of the best options that we rounded up especially for you.

Wappa Professional Grade Doughnut Pan

Large Donut Pan – Non-stick Silicone Donut Mold Made Of Heavy Duty, Heat Resistant Material To Bake 9 Full Size Donuts/Bagels/Muffins & Other Delicacies – Professional Grade Doughnut Pan (Turquoise)
Specifications

Dimensions

14.4 x 12.6 x 1.18 inches

Material

Silicone

Color

Turquoise

Weight

15.2 ounces

Rating: 97% Overall
98%
nonstick
97%
size
95%
capacity
96%
ease of use
Pros
  • Easy to clean and safe to wash in the dishwasher
  • Compatible with any dough for making any donut
  • Makes up to nine donuts at a time with the 3 1/2-inch cavities
  • It is resistant to the high heat of up to 450F.
  • Made of high-quality, non-stick silicone
  • It is safe to use in the microwave.
  • Made of food-safe materials
  • Can be used to be donuts and bagels
Cons
  • Though the instruction booklets are not necessary, the one provided with the product is fairly vague, especially the recipe book and instruction manual for the product.
  • Could stain when used with batter with vibrant mixtures constantly (e.g. dark chocolate mixtures)
  • Hard to grab out of the oven since they are not as hard as steel pans
Verdict

This is an excellent non-stick donut pan. When grease is applied, the donuts are guaranteed not to stick. Removing the donuts can simply be pushed out, as well, since the silicone is quite flexible. You can even just turn it upside down and all the donuts would come out perfectly! With the right recipe, this can make perfect donuts each and every time. This can even make gluten-free donuts.


Chefast Non-Stick Donut Pan Combo Kit

Chefast Non-Stick Donut Pan Combo Kit: BPA-Free Large and Mini Silicone Doughnut Pans, Spatula, and 5 Pastry Bags - Baking Molds for Full-Size and Small Donuts - Bagels and Doughnuts Maker Set
Specifications

Dimensions

12 x 11.2 x 2 inches

Material

Silicone and Plastic

Color

Black

Weight

20.8 ounces

Rating: 95% Overall
95%
nonstick
94%
size
97%
capacity
93%
ease of use
Pros
  • Comes with one full-sized pan with nine holes
  • Comes with a mini pan with 12 donut holes
  • Features five pastry bags and recommended baking tips
  • Made of BPA-free and food-safe silicone
  • Good for making donuts, bagels, and cookies
  • It can also be used for cold desserts like ice cream and mousse.
Cons
  • The small pan for mini donuts is very small and the molds are very shallow.
  • Occasional errors in e-book access
  • Hard to grab out of the oven since they are not as hard as steel pans
Verdict

This is an excellent donut baking kit. You can make donuts in both small and large sizes for variety. The disposable piping bags and spatula make filling the pans easier with fewer spills and mess. The baking tips, on the other hand, can make baking super easy and flavorful with new exciting recipes included in the purchase. Also, the donuts themselves come out with no problems and sticking is not an issue when oil or grease is applied. Since the pans’ molder surfaces are in ultra-smooth texture, there is little to no chance of bread sticking on them after the baking process.


HEHALI Silicone Donut Pan

HEHALI Silicone Donut Pan, 2pcs Non-Stick Mold, Silicone Donut Mold for 6 Full-Size Donuts, Bagels and More
Specifications

Dimensions

4.29 x 3.11 x 0.59 inches

Material

Silicone

Color

Orange and Pink

Weight

7 ounces

Rating: 93% Overall
93%
nonstick
94%
size
92%
capacity
94%
ease of use
Pros
  • Comes with two pans that have six holes each
  • The cavities have a diameter of three inches.
  • Both pans will perfectly fit in any oven
  • Made of high-quality silicone for durability
  • Features excellent non-stick qualities
  • Flexible but also resistant to tearing
Cons
  • The silicone can be quite flimsy without a baking sheet.
  • Smells rubber upon unpacking
  • Flimsy which is an issue when is being washed
  • Hard to grab out of the oven since they are not as hard as steel pans
Verdict

This is a charming pair of donut pans that are flexible, light, and make an excellent average size of donuts. Temperature is no issue with these silicone molds and the donuts are guaranteed not to stick when the pans are applied with oil or grease. With the right recipe, the shapes and springiness will be perfect. These can be used for keto donuts and bagels, as well. This can also be thrown in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.


Wilton Perfect Results Non-Stick Donut Pan

Wilton Perfect Results Non-Stick Donut Pan, 20-Cavity Donut Baking Pan
Specifications

Dimensions

1.03 x 21.5 x 15.5 inches

Material

Steel

Color

Black

Weight

44.16 ounces

Rating: 92% Overall
91%
nonstick
92%
size
95%
capacity
90%
ease of use
Pros
  • Makes up to 20 donuts per batch
  • Each cavity measures 3.4 inches in diameter.
  • Made of high-quality steel for durability
  • It is covered with a high-quality nonstick coating.
  • Great for both donuts and bagels
  • Easy to wash and can be cleaned in the dishwasher
Cons
  • Though dishwasher safe, it is still suggested to clean it by hand carefully to ensure that the non-stick coating would not be damaged.
  • It will not fit in smaller ovens.
Verdict

For those who want to bake donuts in big batches, this is the pan to use. The donuts will always come out in great shape and will cook evenly. The nonstick feature is reliable, especially when you apply some oil or butter on the pan first. It’s not too heavy or too light, either, and it is guaranteed to last a long time. Most of all, it is capable of giving you 20 average sizes of donuts in single baking. Cleaning it is easy, as well, both in the dishwasher and by hand.


Beasea Nonstick Donut Pans

Nonstick Donut Pans, Beasea 2 Pack Donut and Bagel Pan Donut Baking Pans Donut Molder, Carbon Steel Mini Donut Mold, Donut Baking Tray Bagels Mold for 6 Donuts
Specifications

Dimensions

10.5 x 7.4 x 1.8 inches

Material

Steel

Color

Champagne Gold

Weight

19.2 ounces

Rating: 91% Overall
93%
nonstick
89%
size
91%
capacity
91%
ease of use
Pros
  • Made of high-quality carbon steel for durability
  • The pan has a premium nonstick coating.
  • It does not come with any welding gap or spot.
  • Each hole has a diameter of 2.5 inches.
  • Feature six holes with three unique patterns
  • Good for making donuts and other desserts
Cons
  • The depth of the molds is quite shallow and the overall size of the donuts being produced is fairly small.
  • The nonstick coating is very delicate so it is more ideal to wash it gently by hands.
  • Washing it is a bit of work due to the unconventional shape of the molds.
Verdict

For anyone who wants their donuts to look attractive, this is the pan to get. The resulting pastries look great on their own and would be perfect when dipped in sugar glaze. The donuts retain the poignant details of the molds and it automatically pops out donuts when used with butter or other greases. Using this to make afternoon treats for tea time would be fitting. The pan itself is made tough and the weight is just right.

Donut Pan Buyer's Guide

nonstick

Although you will be applying some fat on the pans like butter, oil, or lard, it would help if the pan itself was nonstick. This will ensure that the donuts will not be ruined when you finally pull them out. In the case of pans with patterns, it would not be possible to place parchment papers on them, so a nonstick quality would help.

size

Donut pans come in all shapes and sizes, and the same goes for the molds. You want to make sure that you get the pan that will make the donuts as big or as small as you prefer. Be sure to pay attention to the measurements first, particularly the diameter.

materials

Donut pans can be made out of numerous materials, including silicone, stainless steel, aluminum, carbon steel, and even ceramic. You have to consider this when making your choice since the materials will affect a lot of things. This includes the temperature conduction, non-stickiness, the donut’s shape, and the baking time.

capacity

Different pans can hold a different number of donuts per batch. Some cold only six while others can hold as many as 20. It’s worth mentioning that the more donuts a pan can hold, the bigger it is likely to be. You also need to consider the size of your oven when choosing.

heat resistance

Donut pans will be exposed to a considerable amount of heat when baking the donuts. This means that they should have a significant level of resistance to high temperatures. This will typically come down to the quality of the materials, with silicone at risk of melting if the heat gets too high.

FAQs

Can I make donuts without donut pans?

Donuts can be rolled into thick sheets and then cut into circles with or without holes in the middle. They are then placed on a baking sheet and allowed to proof as is. In comparison, donuts in pans are placed in molds to have more consistent shapes.

Should I bake or fry my donuts?

They can be either or both. Most traditional donuts would be deep-fried and allowed to expand quickly with high-heat and get that desirable brown color. However, the more health-conscious method would be to bake the donut since it won’t involve a lot of oils. Then there is the method where the donut is fried first and then baked.

Why use donut pans to make donuts?

Making donuts with the right pans is easier and requires less skill to shape the pastry. There are also pans that have decorative grooves and patterns, which can give the final product unique designs.

What’s the difference between donuts and bagels?

Donuts are made of regular wheat dough while bagels are made of sourdough. The textures, taste, and smell are different. Bagels are typically denser and heavier while donuts are lighter and fluffier. This is why donuts can be filled while bagels need to be sliced before a spread is applied.