Craving homemade pies, cranberry tarts, stuffed s’mores or a classic batch of chocolate chip cookies? If you’re looking to wrap up dinner with a dish of something sweet and completely homemade this winter, you’re in the right place. Serve family, friends and guests desserts baked or frozen right in your kitchen, by making sure it's well-equipped with all the necessary machines.
You could whip up a meringue peak by hand, but think of all the time and effort saved if a stand mixer did it for you, instead. Or, think of having unlimited ice cream scoops if you owned an ice cream maker. A countertop oven is also an excellent alternative to a cooking range that comes without a built-in oven.
Some of Chef Andrea Melendez’s favourite winter desserts are classic pies, tarts topped with apples, clementine, cranberries or a generous garnish of pecans, puddings and hot fudge over ice cream. The Dubai-based pastry chef and founder of AM pastry consultancy advises sticking to seasonal fruits, if you plan on using any.
“Firstly, you will need a scale to measure the ingredients. Pastry in general is very precise. A handy stand mixer by Kenwood or Kitchen Aid will really help improve recipes that include meringue and marshmallows,” she said. “Another useful appliance to have is a food processor to grind nuts and spices.”
When it comes to countertop ovens, Chef Melendez recommends a convection unit that gives you more heat control over the baking process and cooks evenly. If you’re a fan of dessert waffles, she suggests a waffle maker, which goes over a stovetop.
Check out other pastry and dessert essentials below that you can order easily from Amazon. With a Prime membership, they’ll get to you in a jiffy.
1. Best Stand Mixer: KitchenAid Classic 4.3L Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, White
Pros
- Whisks, whips and kneads ingredients
- Speeds of up to 10
- 4.3-litre mixing bowl
- Comes with three helpful attachments
Cons
- Expensive
A stand mixer picked by pros, this sleek KitchenAid unit was crowned the best of its kind in our 2022 list. It takes care of your mixing needs, from kneading dough to whisking and whipping, with the three included attachments. You can even attach up to 10 accessories (sold separately) to mince meat, cut vegetables and roll pasta in this multi-functional mixer. Everything’s done in a large 4.3-litre stainless steel bowl that makes one litre of whipped cream, 2.5kg of cake and 80 two-inch cookies. Its powerful motor takes mixing speeds up to 10. Bakers in the reviews vouch for the must-have appliance.
Bonus: Buy with zero per cent instalments and pay Dh149.92 for 12 months with select banks.
Warranty: The manufacturer offers a one-year warranty. Amazon offers a one-year extended warranty for Dh103 and two years for Dh146.
2. Best Stick Blender: Bamix Swiss Made M180 Blender Deluxe, Black
Pros
- Compact handheld stick blender
- Best for pastries, puddings and ganache
- Blends ingredients quickly in any container
- Has its own storage stand
Cons
- Corded
Once you perfect your choice of ganache, it’s quickly going to become your go-to glaze and filling for baked treats. A hand or immersion blender does a brilliant job of creating such emulsions, says Chef Melendez. Her favourite stick blenders are by the Swiss brand Bamix. Check out the DeLuxe line, which comes with its own storage stand. The immersion blade wears many hats in the kitchen – it’s a space-saving solution to chop, mince, blend, emulsify, froth and whip all in one, using a powerful 180W motor. Expect it to help you with both dinner and desserts.
Bonus: Buy with zero per cent instalments and pay Dh54.08 for 12 months with select banks.
Warranty: The manufacturer offers a 10-year warranty for the motor and a one-year warranty for parts. Amazon offers a one-year extended warranty for Dh40 and two years for Dh57.
3. Best Ice Cream Maker: Cuisinart Dual Ice Cream Maker, Grey
Pros
- Large two-litre capacity
- Makes two different frozen desserts in separate bowls
- Lid opening for adding solid ingredients
- Takes 20 to 25 minutes
Cons
- Can be loud, say reviewers
- Needs pre-freezing
Ice cream makers with built-in compressors take longer to churn you a scoop, but those with pre-freeze bowls do the majority of the work the night before. The Cuisinart Dual Ice Cream Maker only takes 20 minutes for a frozen dessert, once the bowls have been frozen. Our best pick for variety in 2022, this ice cream maker gives you more than one icy treat option – the dual bowls can do sorbets, frozen yoghurt and even two different flavours of ice cream. The only possible con would be having to clear up space in the freezer to fit two one-litre bowls, note reviewers.
Bonus: Buy with zero per cent instalments and pay Dh53.75 for 12 months with select banks.
Warranty: Amazon offers a one-year extended warranty for Dh40 and two years for Dh57.
4. Best Churros Maker: Global Gizmos Churros Maker, 700W
Pros
- Rotates 180 degrees for even spread
- Non-stick cooking plates
- Includes a reusable piping bag
Cons
- Only makes four per batch
Pipe in your batter and have a neat row of homemade churros ready for you, in this 700W press. It lets you rotate the machine 180 degrees mid-bake to evenly disperse the batter, and comes with a reusable piping bag for filling in the rows easily. The batter doesn’t stick to the cooking plates, either. Once done, dust your churros with sugar and cinnamon and dip them in chocolate sauce, or serve with ice cream.
Bonus: Buy with zero per cent instalments and pay Dh44.09 for 12 months with select banks.
Warranty: Amazon offers a one-year extended warranty for Dh35 and two years for Dh49.
5. Best Food Processor: Ninja Food Processor with Auto-iQ 850W, 2.1L Bowl, Silver
Pros
- Chops, mix, kneads and slices
- Has one-touch controls for hands-free experience
- Sticks to the countertop well
- Tough blades
Cons
- Can be a bit loud, say reviewers
Take care of crushed nuts, from pecans to cashews, and spices, like cinnamon sticks, in a jiffy. All you need is an all-purpose kitchen appliance such as a food processor. This Ninja 850W unit is compact, comes with a 2.1-litre bowl and includes blades for chopping, kneading and slicing. Its dough tool allows you to mix bread and pizza dough, pancake batter and cake mix thoroughly, too. Ninja’s stainless steel blades cut through nuts easily. You’ll find simple touch controls on the base, where just a single tap gets the machine going. Several five-star reviews featuring baking enthusiasts attest to the durability and fast processing time.
Bonus: Buy with zero per cent instalments and pay Dh46.66 for 12 months with select banks.
Warranty: Amazon offers a one-year extended warranty for Dh35 and two years for Dh49.
6. Best Waffle Maker: Domo Waffle Maker
Pros
- Heats up quickly
- Three browning levels
- Compact appliance
- Non-stick surface
Cons
- Plates are not removable
Dessert waffles, anyone? Chef Melendez prefers the stovetop method of preparing waffles, specifically in the Nordicware Belgium Waffler. You can take the easy route and make do with an electric maker, as well. The Domo waffle machine bakes two extra-thick servings with three adjustable levels of browning. Top it with ice cream and hot fudge or fruits for a homey treat on cold winter nights. Reviewers mention how deceptively small the machine is, since it works surprisingly well to produce golden Belgian-style waffles.
Warranty: Amazon offers a one-year extended warranty for Dh29 and two years for Dh41.
7. Best Countertop Convection Oven: Kenwood 45L Toaster Oven
Pros
- Bakes, defrosts, broils, toasts and more
- Six cooking positions
- 60-minute timer
- Double glass door
Cons
- Manual controls
For gingerbread cookies, cakes and everything in between, you’ll need a multifunctional toaster oven. This Kenwood 45-litre unit has a knob dedicated to six different cooking positions, giving you complete reign over the heat. Adjust the temperature to up to 230 degrees and set the timer for up to 60 minutes. Chef Melendez says to be prepared for trial and error when it comes to ovens, and to note down the baking controls that are perfect for you. The convection oven is also capable of defrosting, grilling and broiling. Reviewers find it quite sturdy and big enough for a small family. For a healthier option, try out an air fryer toaster oven.
Warranty: Amazon offers a one-year extended warranty for Dh23 and two years for Dh33.
Our recommendations are independently chosen by Gulf News editors. If you decide to shop through links on our website, we may earn an affiliate commission, as we are part of Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.
