If you’re a traditionalist, or even just a hobbyist baker, a food processor probably isn’t the first piece of equipment that you reach for when you’re about to whip up a batter. Food processors can be a big investment and some do see it as cheating.
But using a food processor for baking can be a life (and time) saver. Food processors will make baking faster and easier and you can get your cakes into the oven in record time (which means you can get them out to eat in record time too).
Depending on the type of bakes you do, a food processor might not be the best tool or it might be perfect. For baking most cakes, food processors are a great help, but they can be complicated and confusing.
So, we’ve compiled a list of the best food processors for baking and to help you choose the best for you.
Want to get baking pronto and don’t have time to browse?
No problem, here’s our top picks for the best food processor for baking.
Top 5 Best Food Processor for Baking
OUR TOP PICK
Specifications at a glance:
- LED Light
- 3 Speeds
- 6 Main Functions
- Multiple Blade Options
This food processor has loads of functions and attachments without being overly complicated and difficult to use.
There are 3 speeds available (as well as the classic “pulse”) that function best for different types of cutting and mixing, which is highlighted on the front of the device. This is useful as it’s a simple guide that will save you rooting around in your kitchen drawers trying to find the instruction manual you through in there months ago.
This is great for baking as you will be in control of how fast and how thoroughly your cake batter or dough will be mixed, rather than just relying on one speed.
Along with multiple functions are the multiple attachments that allow you to mix, chop, slice, shred, and knead dough. If you’re looking for something that can speed up your cake and bread baking and also help with the family dinner, then this is the perfect option.
The wide chute is also useful for baking as it will help avoid any spills and mean less prep work, such as trying to chop up the stick of butter you forgot to take out of the refrigerator in time for it to soften.
One really useful feature is the bowl scraper that is included. Getting the last inch or so of cake batter out of a food processor can be a difficult task, especially with the sharp blades in the way. A scraper that is designed for this device will be great for getting every drop.
Pros:
- Multiple speeds and functions
- Safety Lock
- Large Feed Chute
Cons:
- Can be quite loud
EDITORS CHOICE
Specifications at a glance:
- 11 Speeds
- 7 Attachment Blades
- Chopper
- Juicer
The Braun FP3030 12 Cup Food Processor has a classic design with high-tech features that will do everything you need as a frequent baker
One of the best features of this food processor is just how much it can do. Most food processors have three options: “On”, “Off”, and “Pulse”. Having 11 different speeds is great for baking as it allows you to have complete control over what you’re making.
Another great feature for baking is the number of attachment blades. This food processor comes with many different attachment blades and inserts, which are: grating, coarse shredding, five shredding, fine slicing, whipping, kneading hook, 5 blade, citrus press, and chopper.
This food processor can seemingly do anything and is a great all-rounder if you’re a regular baker and need something that will be able to keep up.
If you’re just looking for something that will mix a cake batter well, then the majority of food processors will be able to do this, but few will be able to actually whisk anything, let alone knead.
Kneading dough by hand is an incredibly arduous task (but a great upper arm workout), so being able to throw all the ingredients into one food processor and let the kneading hook do the hard bit is a major plus.
With all of its great features, it’s not surprising that this is a costly device. This is a great option if you’re a regular baker and need to quickly make multiple batches of different kinds but is an investment.
Pros:
- Multiple speeds
- Multiple attachment blades
- Dishwasher safe (excluding the base with motor)
Cons:
- More expensive than average.
BEST VALUE
Specifications at a glance:
- 14 Cup
- Available in 6 Colors
- Dishwasher Safe Parts
- Spatula
One unique aspect of this food processor is that it is available in multiple colors. That might not sound like a big deal, but when most food processors only come in black, silver, or the occasional red or white, it can be difficult to find something that will suit your kitchen.
Unless you have masses of storage space, your food processor will likely live on your worktop and, although black and silver do kind of go with everything, it is nice to have your kitchen equipment match your kitchen and each other.
Another great aspect is the large work bowl. 14 cups is quite a big size, but it isn’t so massive that it will be a pain or overly professional looking.
Featuring simple “on”, “off”, and “pulse” buttons, the speeds of this food processor are pretty standard, but if you’re a hobbyist then this should be enough.
Although it has basic speed functions, it does have a good number of attachments and blades. There are 7 food prep functions including kneading dough, slicing, shredding, chopping, and mixing.
It is possible to buy additional attachments, but these are quite expensive. This is a good choice if you are unsure how often you will use a food processor but know you will need one as you can buy additional things as and when you need them.
Pros:
- Large bowl
- Available in multiple colors
- Also comes with a spatula and recipe booklet
- Some parts are dishwasher safe
Cons:
- More expensive than average
- Additional attachments are expensive
RUNNER UP
Specifications at a glance:
- 2 Speeds, Plus Pulse
- Wide-mouth Feed Chute
- Some Parts Dishwasher Safe
- Chopping Blade
- Slicing/Shredding Disk
This Black & Decker FP2500B food processor is a great budget option for the occasional hobbyist baker.
Featuring only 3 types of blades and attachments, this food processor doesn’t have very many options but what it does it does well. If all you want is to quickly whizz together some cupcakes every other weekend, then this food processor is ideal.
If you aren’t baking anything complicated, then you don’t need a complicated device. This food processor will allow you to quickly whip up some delicious bakes and will also make slicing the vegetables for dinner and fruit for your morning smoothie much quicker.
Although this food processor is budget and basic, it still has fast blades and a wide-mouth chute that will make adding ingredients much easier and less messy. A wide-mouth chute will allow you to easily pour in large amounts of flour and crack an egg into the batter, without it falling all over the sides and making a mess.
Pros:
- Budget option
- Multiple speeds
Cons:
- Limited number of attachments
RUNNER UP
Specifications at a glance:
- 9 Cup Capacity
- 4 Food Prep Presets
- Some Parts Dishwasher Safe
- BPA Free
Most food processors come with very basic speeds and attachments, but not this one. The Ninja BN601 comes with 4 different food prep presets, which are: chop, puree, dough, and disc. This is a really unique feature that will up your baking game.
But don’t worry, this food processor hasn’t abandoned the basics to try and look professional, it still has standard low, high, and pulse settings.
This food processor has the kind of features that you would expect from a device with a much higher price tag. You will be able to fold dough, chop and slice vegetables, and even grate cheese.
The 9 cup capacity is quite small, which is fine if you’re looking for a food processor that can do everything and sometimes help out with bakes. But, if you’re a regular baker, you might want to look at one of the higher capacity food processors on this list.
Pros:
- Multiple different speeds for different attachments
- Easy to clean
- Multiple different attachments
Cons:
- Narrow feed tube
- Difficult to break down large ingredients so more prep is required
Best Food Processor for Baking Buying Guide
Buying a food processor can be an investment. Food processors can dramatically vary in cost and some high-end devices can be hundreds of dollars.
It’s important to know exactly what you’re getting with your food processor and also what to look for. So, here’s our guide to finding the perfect food processor for all of your baking needs.
Benefits of Using a Food Processor for Baking
If you only bake on rare occasions, it might seem excessive to spend money on a food processor, but they do have a lot of benefits:
It’s easier
This is a big one. Baking by hand can be difficult and strenuous and, especially if you’re elderly or have a disability, then whisking and mixing by hand might not be an option for you.
But that shouldn’t mean you have to miss out on the joys of baking. If you want to regularly bake but find it difficult, then look for something with lots of different blades.
It’s quicker
As you don’t have to do any of the difficult mixing yourself, using a food processor will make things much quicker. As food processors use sharp blades to mix the cake batter, they will speedily slice through all of the ingredients, much faster than anyone can by hand.
If speed is the most important aspect for you, look for a food processor with multiple speeds and buttons for different kinds of mixing. Lots of different speeds mean you are in complete control.
It’s cleaner
When it comes to baking, making a mess is almost to be expected, but if you really hate the cleanup, then a food processor can help you out. Using a food processor means that every ingredient you add will be completely contained inside the bowl.
This is especially great when making buttercream frosting, or anything else with confectioners’ sugar, which is the worst ingredient when it comes to messiness.
This will also speed up the process as you won’t have to be slow and careful so you don’t accidentally send any of the ingredients flying over the edge of the bowl whilst you’re mixing.
Food Processor vs. Food Mixer
Mixers are usually the go-to for electric baking equipment as they are designed specifically for baking and usually come with different attachments for different bakes.
Food mixers do have their benefits, but they are an expensive piece of equipment that usually cost several hundreds of dollars, as a minimum.
If you’re only baking as a hobby, you really don’t need a professional piece of equipment that will set you back a lot of money. Food mixers do look nice on the worktop, but that’s not enough of a reason to buy one.
Food mixers are essentially hands-free electric whisks. They are useful if you need to keep steadily mixing something whilst you’re adding other ingredients, but that can also easily be done with a food processor.
Like a handheld electric whisk, they can cause a lot of mess if the bowl doesn’t have a cover (which it usually doesn’t). Using a food processor will save you a lot of cleaning up.
Two-in-One
Finding a food processor that can be used for baking is a great way to save money. Buying a food processor instead of a specific food mixer means you essentially have a two-in-one machine as it can be used for so many other things than just baking.
Food processors can also make soups and smoothies, can chop and dice fruit and veg, and even grind meat. Food processors and food mixers can be pretty big, so if you only have space for one, it’s better to invest in a food processor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a food processor whisk batter?
Potentially. This depends on the type of food processor you choose and how sophisticated it is. Most standard food processors come with basic blades and not much else. This isn’t a problem for baking normal layer cakes as they don’t require much more than simply combining the ingredients.
If you’re making something more complicated, or just want fluffier cakes, then it’s worth investing in a more complex machine. It is possible to find food processors that can do many different things but, and this probably isn’t a surprise, they are much more expensive.
It’s even possible to buy food processors with additional tools that allow you to fold in ingredients. This is great for more delicate bakes that need something a bit more sophisticated than just being chopped about by big blades.
Can a food processor beat eggs?
Again, this depends on the number of attachments a food processor has. The attachments that are used for whisking don’t have a traditional whisk shape, so you can’t use a food processor if you really need to whip up eggs for a meringue or something similar.
If you need to just beat some eggs together for a simple bake then a food processor will be fine, but anything more delicate will require a proper whisk.
What size food processor do I need for baking?
This might be a bit obvious, but it depends on how big you’re bakes are. If you only bake on the weekends for yourself and your family, you probably don’t need anything too big. A 12-cup food processor should be enough.
If, however, you’re a regular baker or are even setting up your own business, it’s worth investing in something bigger. Food processors are generally sized in cups, which really helps out when it comes to baking.
The best thing to do is roughly work out how many cups of batter you make on average, and compare it to the size of the food processor. It’s not the most sophisticated process but it should help you understand the scale of the equipment.
Do food processors have different settings for baking?
Kind of. As food processors are meant for all foods and aren’t specifically designed for baking, you won’t usually find settings such as “cream” or “beat”. But, you can get different attachments and blades that will do things such as whisk or dice.
Dicing might seem like something only reserved for fruit and vegetables, but it can be useful for baking too. Dicing can be used when you need the butter to be mixed in, but not completely whisked or beaten.