I Put Ooni’s Halo Core Spiral Mixer to the Test, and It Seriously Raised My Standards for Stand Mixers – It’s Almost Impossible to Fault

When I first got my hands on the Ooni Halo Core Spiral Mixer, I did not know what to expect. I have never used a mixer that doesn't rely on typical planetary mixing, and as it is made by a brand famous for its pizza ovens, I presumed it would be great for dough and not much else.

I am thrilled to say that the Halo Core proved me very wrong. It excelled at cake batters, whipping cream, and bread dough, and didn't complain once in the process. It quickly became my favorite mixer, and I was a little torn about passing it off to my mother at the end of testing, wanting to keep it for myself.

This is how I got on with the mixer over my tests, the tiny snags I had (and they really are of little consequence), and why I think the Ooni Halo Core Spiral Mixer may be the best stand mixer money can buy for no-fuss home baking.

Product Specifications: Ooni Halo Core Spiral Mixer

Design and First Impressions

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The Halo Core is a compact mixer, in stand mixer terms. It is a lot shorter than my KitchenAid Artisan Plus, which I reviewed a few months ago, making it ideal for smaller kitchens. Besides this, it looks as you would expect it to, with a stainless steel mixing bowl that slots into place by twisting into the base, a tilt-head that unlocks with a simple latch trigger at the side, and a speed dial on the top.

Unlike mixers such as the KitchenAid, the Ooni Halo Core does not have the option for added accessories such as pasta rollers or meat grinders, limiting the machine to strictly mixing. However, for a home baker, this is all you need. It does one thing and does it exceptionally well.

What surprised me most was that the attachments, be it the dough hook or the paddle beater, do not rotate around the bowl like a traditional stand mixer. Instead, the attachment spins, but the bowl rotates around it. This gives the mixer more stability for handling tougher and thicker mixes. For a mixer that is prepped for making bread and pizza, this is perfect.

Because of this, the splash guard attaches itself to the main head of the unit once you have screwed the attachments into place. This worked perfectly well; however, I will note that, unlike the rest of the machine, the guard feels a little flimsy. At first, the hinges would hold the flap open so I could use both hands to add ingredients, but over time it started falling shut every time, making adding flour more difficult.

Performance

To thoroughly test the stand mixer, I tested four of my favorite recipes that would assess the appliance's ability to tackle everything from thick dough to delicate cream:

The Cake Tests

Advertised as 'an everyday all-rounder', I couldn't not test out cake mixes in the Halo Core. I started with a light Victoria sponge recipe (my go-to for seeing how a mixer handles delicate mixes that need to be folded to retain a fluffy texture). The mixer handled this easily. With over 20 precision speed settings, the lowest settings mimicked hand folding pretty well, keeping the batter nice and light. The angled silicone edge beater scraped the bowl continuously as it mixed, too, so nothing was missed. The resulting cake was lovely and light, with no lumps or clumps.

The next cake mix was a much bigger test. The Ooni Halo Core is designed for heavier mixes such as pizza dough, so I wanted to see how it would handle the thickest cake batter of all – fruit cake.

I carted the mixer to my mom's house, where we whipped up a small Christmas cake. We make seven to nine of these a year, all hand-mixed, and our arms are in agony afterwards; however, we have never met a mixer that could withstand the weight of the fruit. The Halo Core changed this.

It beat the mix without complaint, and folded in the fruit evenly as we ladled it in, the head not bobbing or rocking once. While we are yet to eat the resulting cake (we allow them to mature between September and December), we did lick the bowl clean, and the cake batter was the lightest we have ever achieved.

In both instances, decanting the mixes was a little tricky as the bowl does not have a handle. I understand that this is because the bowl rotates on the mixer and it would get in the way, but it is a minor inconvenience I have to note. I wonder if a removable handle would fix this issue, making pouring batter from the bowl to the tin smoother, especially for those with dexterity issues.

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The Whipped Cream Test

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Quick and easy, every good stand mixer needs to be able to make a light, spreadable whipped cream to go in the center of my Victoria sponge.

The base of the mixing bowl is quite wide, so I worried that the whisks might struggle with the small amount of liquid, but sure enough, it whipped it up with minimal fuss.

The Bread Tests

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Now for the real test. Ooni made their name with their portable pizza ovens, so the Halo Core has to handle dough well to be a success. I made two different breads for this test, a high-hydration foccacia and a hearty Dutch oven loaf, and the mixer handled both with grace.

What I love most about this machine is the included breaker bar. This metal stick attaches itself to the mixer head in front of the dough hook, and catches dough before it can climb too high up the hook and into the mixing mechanisms. It was a complete game changer for me, allowing me to knead dough without having to stop and start to push it all back into the bowl.

In both cases, the dough mixed quickly and evenly, although I did spot some flour being left behind on the edges of the bowl in both tests. The head of the stand mixer did not rock or bob once in the process, nor did the motor sound like it was struggling, as some standard mixers often can.

I also loved the included silicone lid, which fits neatly on top of the mixing bowl to make proofing simple. It formed a nice seal, was not difficult to fit, and was easy to clean.

The Cookie Test

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Cookie dough was my final test, used to make a small skillet cookie. I was worried at first that the smaller mix would cause issues for the rotating bowl, as the butter and sugar clumped together and stuck against one edge. However, as I let the machine work, it softened everything nicely.

When adding the flour, nothing got stuck thanks to the silicone edge beater, and the chocolate chunks were neatly and evenly dispersed throughout.

After baking, the cookie was a deep golden color and was soft and tender in the center, not too tough or dense. With a scoop of ice cream, it was the perfect dessert.

Cleaning and Maintenance

All of the Ooni Halo Core Spiral Mixer accessories are dishwasher safe, but as I do not have one, I was stuck with hand washing. I am pleased to say that the stainless steel makes this process very easy, with dough melting away from the edges with a short hot-water soak, and releasing from the hook without a battle.

I also particularly loved the shape of the whisks, as without the classic balloon shape the edges were easy to wipe around, with no cream getting stuck in awkward corners. The silicone mixer was also easy to wipe clean, where I have previously had problems with other stand mixer silicone clinging to batter in awkward edges and corners. I didn't dread the post-baking cleanup once with the Ooni.

Storing this mixer is also easier than others. Due to its squat, compact design, it could slot more easily onto a low pantry or cabinet shelf. It is weighty, but lighter than a KitchenAid, making moving it relatively easy if you have the grip.

How The Ooni Halo Core Spiral Mixer Compares

I have tested both the new KitchenAid Artisan Plus and SMEG Forte Stand Mixer's as of late, and while I loved both, the Ooni Halo Core stands out easily, especially as they all sit around the same price tag (at the time of writing)

The KitchenAid Artisan is perfect for home bakers who need absolute precision with baking thanks to its half-fold speed, and it comes with the largest ecosystem of accessories from ice cream making to meat grinding of any other mixer on the market (the color options are also simply luxurious). The SMEG Forte, on the other hand, is a great, powerful mixer that limits concerns about burnout, with a chic retro design for those who want to prioritize aesthetics.

What the Ooni achieved that neither of the other machines did, however, is stable mixing with rocking and bobbing. If you frequently make dough or thick, heavy batters, you need the Halo Core. It does not protest when working heavy loads, and uses motor protection to prevent overheating. The smaller size also makes it a far more convenient option for those who cannot leave appliances on the counter all year round. It also has a lot more speed settings for all sorts of baking tasks.

Should You Buy The Ooni Halo Core Spiral Mixer?

Without a shadow of a doubt, if you bake at home and have the space and budget, you should buy the Ooni Halo Core Spiral Mixer.

This is especially true if you often make bread or pizza at home and need something that can handle tough dough without you fretting that the motor will burn out or the head will snap.

It is compact, easy to clean, and a dream to use, with just one speed dial making it impossible to mess up the settings. It takes baking back to basics and performs exceptionally at every step.

What Else to Shop

As an avid amateur baker, I have rounded up a selection of home baking accessories from Ooni and beyond to make the most of your home bakery setup.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Looking to make your baking setup more professional? We asked professional organizers for their best tips for storing bakeware to keep kitchens tidy.

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