- Best munchkins Pan | Williams Sonoma | Find on Williams Sonoma
- Commercial Grade | USA Pan | Find on Amazon
- Holds the Most | HONGBAKE | Find on Amazon
- Best Variety of Shapes | CHEFMADE | Find on Amazon
- Best Silicone Donut Pan | Wilton | Find on Target
- Best for Extra-Large Donuts | AYCCNH | Find on Amazon
Homemade donuts don't have to be deep-fried to taste delicious. You can create the perfect donut shape and delicious baked donuts in the oven with the right donut pan. Chocolate, maple, glazed, powdered, jelly-filled, you name it! By baking instead of deep-frying your donuts, you've significantly reduced your favorite dessert's calories and fat content. So this means you can have more donuts without feeling guilty going back for a second— or even a third.
But no matter your flavor preference, some ingredients should never make their way into your donuts: PFAs, PFOAs, and other "forever chemicals" found in conventional non-stick bakeware. Sticking to the non-toxic donut pans below ensures your baked goods are safe for your health and better for the environment.
The 10 Best Better For You Pans For Baked Donuts
Greenlife Ceramic Non-Stick Donut Pan
Best Overall
Get ready to get baking! Greenlife's Ceramic Non-Stick Donut Pan makes an excellent addition to any chef's repertoire— whether you're an experienced home baker or brand-new to donut-making. The non-stick donut pan features a heavy-duty steel body with reinforced rims and a healthy ceramic coating free of PFAs and PFOA. Even the stickiest treats slide right off without greasing, cooking spray, or parchment paper, so let the baking fun begin!
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Mrs. Anderson's 6-Cup Donut Baking Pan
Best on a Budget
For bakers on a budget, there's Mrs. Anderson's 6-Cup Donut Baking Pan. It's constructed from professional-quality carbon steel with a premium non-stick coating that's PFOA-free and LFGB-approved. Reinforced beaded rims minimize warping and allow for secure transport from oven to countertop. At just $11, it's an affordable way to try making homemade donuts, cheesecake rings, coffee cakes, and other individual treats.
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CHEFMADE Non-Stick Donut Mold Ring Pan
Makes a Dozen Donuts
If you're looking to churn out large quantities of donuts, stick with a twelve-well donut pan like this CHEFMADE Non-Stick Donut Mold Ring Pan. It'll double your donut output without sacrificing quality or consistency. The commercial-grade carbon steel bakeware is finished with a silicone coating free from PTFE, PFOA, and other harmful chemicals. Its champagne gold finish ensures it's photo-ready when it comes time to document your baking endeavors.
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Nordic Ware Ebelskiver Pan
Best munchkins Pan
Looking to make munchkins? With this Nordic Ware Ebelskiver Pan, you can whip up a batch of stuffed donuts, munchkins, or ebelskivers. Made from cast aluminum for superior heat retention and distribution with a durable PFOA-free, non-stick interior surface and riveted cast stainless steel handle that stays cool. This pan is versatile and is worthy of adding to your baked wares.
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USA Pan 6-Cavity Doughnut Pan
Commercial Grade
USA Pan's 6 Cavity Doughnut Pan is truly built to last. The commercial-grade pan is crafted from heavy-duty aluminized steel finished with Americoat, a silicone coating that is PTFE, PFOA, and BPA-free. Its corrugated surface design improves air circulation for an even bake every time. Equipped with six 3.5-inch wells, it whips up a half dozen donuts in no time. Start with a box of donut mix or a basic recipe, and let your creativity run wild!
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HONGBAKE Deepened Non-Stick Donut Tray
Holds the Most
For larger donuts, try this two-pack of Deepened Non-Stick Donut Trays from HONGBAKE. Equipped with deepened donut wells, it bakes up soft, full donuts that are ready to fill or glaze. The slick, non-stick coating is made without PTFE, PFOA, and other harmful substances found in old-school Teflon coatings. Plus, they stack easily for compact, scratch-free storage between uses.
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CHEFMADE Fancy Non-Stick Donut Pan
Best Variety of Shapes
Why stick to boring circles when you can use CHEFMADE's Fancy Non-Stick Donut Pan? The versatile mold pan features four precisely contoured shapes with an easy-release coating that's PTFE- and PFOA-free. Crafted from 0.8mm carbon steel, it offers fast, uniform heating. Extended handles ensure it's safe to lift and transport— and that your oven mitts won't touch the contents inside and ruin all your hard work.
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Wilton 2-Piece Non-Stick Silicone Donut Baking Pan Set
Best Silicone Donut Pan
For bakers who prefer silicone over ceramic or steel, there's Wilton's Non-Stick Silicone Baking Pans. They're lightweight, flexible, and incredibly versatile. Use them in the microwave, freezer, refrigerator, or oven (up to 375 degrees). Constructed from FDA-approved, food-grade silicone, they're free from BPA and other harmful chemicals. But heads up, baking times may vary from traditional metal pans.
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AYCCNH Silicone 9-Inch Non-Stick Donut Pan Cake Mold
Best for Extra-Large Donuts
Is it a donut? Is it a cake? The answer is up to you with AYCCNH's Silicone Donut Pan Cake Mold. At 9 inches in diameter, it's versatile enough to make donuts, cakes, round bread, and other delicious desserts. Embedded metal edges and handles help the pan to hold its shape and transport easily when filled with the dough or batter of your choice. Crafted from non-toxic silicone, it can be tossed straight in the dishwasher when you're done.
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Why Choose Non-Toxic Bakeware
Whether you realize it or not, your non-stick bakeware may be leaching toxic chemicals into your donuts as they bake from nonstick coating. While the California 65 Test significantly reduced levels of heavy metals like lead and cadmium, there are still countless unregulated chemicals used during production.
Most conventional non-stick coatings contain perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which have been linked to cancer and other serious health conditions. When heated to the high temperatures required for baking, these harmful ingredients can leach into your baked goods.
Additionally, the chemicals and heavy metals in non-stick coatings can have serious consequences on the environment. These "forever chemicals" don't biodegrade and can end up in our drinking water, impacting the health of future generations.
Sticking to the non-toxic donut pans listed above helps minimize your exposure to these harmful toxins. Baking with a safe non-stick coating allows you to prioritize your health while enjoying your favorite homemade treats. Look for products labeled PFA-free, and PFOA-free that are made from the following materials:
Ceramic with a non-toxic, non-stick coating
An aluminized or carbon steel material, with or without a non-stick coating
BPA-free, food-grade silicone
How to Care for Non-Stick Bakeware
Pans with a non-stick coating require special care. Here are a few helpful tips on how to keep your non-stick donut pan performing its best for longer:
Always double-check what temperature the pan is oven-safe to. Overheating can damage the non-stick coating or cause the pan to warp or crack.
Avoid using metal utensils and knives that can damage the non-stick coating.
Only use your dishwasher to wash pans labeled dishwasher-safe. When in doubt, hand wash.
Never scour your pans when hand washing, as it can damage the non-stick coating.
Ways to Use a Donut Pan
Did you know your donut pan can do far more than bake donuts? With a little creativity, you can whip up all sorts of baked treats and craft projects. Here are a few alternative ways to use your donut pan in the kitchen:
Individual cheesecakes
Cupcakes
Brownies
Individual pineapple upside-down cakes
Cornbread
Meringues
Individual coffee cakes
Herb and cheesy bread
Biscuits
Decorative elements for pies, cakes, and other baked goods