The Ooni Halo Pro Spiral Mixer just replaced my KitchenAid – and I’m never making dough the old way again

I have to be honest, I’ve never been a natural baker. Even after training at one of the UK’s top culinary schools, I’ve always found making dough to be a slog – especially now, with mild arthritis making the process even more of a strain. Still, I’ve long wanted to bake homemade bread to avoid the additives and preservatives in store-bought loaves. So, when I heard about the Ooni Halo Pro Spiral Mixer, a minimalist stand mixer designed to handle even the densest of doughs, I was intrigued.

I’ve tried to make things easier with my beloved KitchenAid – one of the best overall stand mixers – but results have been hit-and-miss with heavier doughs. The machine tends to judder across the countertop, with sticky dough clinging stubbornly to the hook. I’ve also tested the Ankarsum mixer, which is powerful and beautifully made, though admittedly a little tricky to master.

So when Ooni, the cult-favorite brand behind the best pizza ovens, sent me their Halo Pro Spiral Mixer to test, I was genuinely excited to see if it could finally make home bread-making feel effortless. Here’s how it went.

Specifications

• Wattage: 650W
• Speed settings: 58
• Dimensions: 13.5" (H) x 9.9" (W) x 17.2" (D)
• Weight: 32 lbs
• Minimum Dough Capacity: 2 lb.
• Max Dough Capacity: 11 lb.
• Bowl Capacity: 7.3 qt.
• Materials: Die-cast aluminum body, glass top panel, stainless steel bowl
• Colorways: Grey or White
• Attachments: Flexible Beater, Spiral Dough Hook, Stainless Steel, Geared Whisk
• Price: From $799.00 at Ooni USA

Design

From the moment you unbox it, the Ooni Halo Pro Spiral Mixer exudes luxury. With its sleek, minimalist design and nod to professional-grade kitchen gear, it looks as good as it performs. There are no excess buttons or clunky controls – just a smooth, intuitive touchscreen that’s both responsive and a pleasure to use.

Switch it on, and the Ooni Halo Pro Spiral Mixer hums to life with a soft, futuristic sound. A gentle bowl light adds a warm glow as you work, creating an air of quiet luxury.

The attachments glide on and off with ease – refreshingly simple compared to the fiddly fittings of other mixers I’ve tested. Inside the box, you’ll find a spiral dough hook, a silicone-edged paddle for batters, and a balloon whisk. While I’ve yet to fully test the non-dough tools, each feels solid, thoughtfully designed, and built to perform.

My main gripe? No recipe booklet. I think for the high price tag, this appliance should definitely arrive with some handy recipes, tips, and more customer support. There was a tiny instructions booklet and QR code to help set up, but I was disappointed by the lack of Ooni-recommended recipes to make the learning curve less steep.

I've tested a lot of luxury appliances, from Vitamix blenders to Ninja ice cream makers – and I've come to expect a good recipe booklet and start guide as a bare minimum.

Instead, I had to experiment with my own recipes and guess at which speed settings to use and for how long. That might not be a problem for a very keen baker who really knows their stuff or is happy to experiment, but it irritated me.

What is it like to use?

Setup is easy. I followed an Ooni YouTube tutorial that clearly explained each attachment and how to fit the splash guard. Mixing is just as straightforward, thanks to the responsive touchscreen and intuitive controls – you simply toggle between the ‘timer’ and ‘speed’ buttons and adjust with the central dial.

The built-in timer is a thoughtful touch that allows for precise, hands-free kneading. The only real learning curve came from Ooni’s percentage-based speed system, which replaces the numbered levels found on traditional mixers. This is where I could have used more guidance from the instructions booklet.

Mixing performance

The Ooni Halo Pro Spiral Mixer is designed for expert dough mixing at home, so I trialled a couple of different recipes in the test kitchen – including pizza dough, as Ooni is a pizza oven brand.

Test 1: Pizza dough

I began with a classic pizza dough recipe, combining Italian 00 flour, instant yeast, and salt before adding water and olive oil. I started mixing the dry ingredients on low speed, gradually incorporating the liquids. For this test, I skipped using the splash guard to give a clear view of the mixing process for the review.

I let the dough mix at medium speed for 10 minutes, and the mixer held steady as the spiral hook worked its magic. What started as a shaggy mass quickly transformed into a smooth, elastic ball – something that would’ve required serious effort by hand. I was genuinely impressed.

Since baking ten pizzas wasn’t on the agenda, I decided to experiment. Gradually increasing the speed to 80%, 90%, and then 100%, I measured the noise, which never exceeded 70 decibels – about as quiet as the softest blender. However, at those high speeds, the dough became overworked, sticky, and warm to the touch – a clear reminder to stick to the recommended speeds and temperatures.

Cleanup was refreshingly easy: a quick scrub with a silicone brush and warm water had the stainless steel bowl and spiral attachment spotless in no time.

Test 2: Seeded wholemeal bread

Next, I tried my hand at seeded wholemeal bread – though, truthfully, I barely touched the dough. I started by mixing the dry ingredients, then placed the splash guard on top and added the water through the chute.

This feature was fantastic, allowing the water to trickle gently into the center of the mix, ensuring thorough incorporation as the spiral hook worked its way around.

I mixed the dough for six minutes on medium speed (40%), until a smooth dough formed. It was slightly tacky, not breaking when I tried the 'window pane' test and springing back slowly without denting when I rolled it into a ball and pressed.

I let the dough rise in the stainless steel bowl until it doubled in size, then baked it for 30 minutes. The results truly surprised me – the crumb was wonderfully fluffy, and the crust had a perfect, satisfying crunch. It was by far the easiest and most delicious loaf I’ve ever made. I was seriously tempted to take the Ooni Spiral Mixer home from the test kitchen and start baking bread every week.

Storage & maintenance

Cleaning the Ooni Halo Pro Spiral Mixer was just as effortless as using it. The stainless steel bowl and attachments are dishwasher-safe, making cleanup a breeze.

Even better, all the accessories fit neatly inside the bowl, with the splash guard slotting on top for a clever, compact storage solution. It’s genuinely genius – no more rummaging through cluttered drawers for dough hooks.

You could leave the mixer out on your countertop without any visual clutter, a huge win for frequent bakers who crave easy access to their tools.

How does it compare?

First, let's talk about the most famous rival: KitchenAid. The Artisan Stand Mixer is iconic for a reason. It’s beautifully retro, compact enough for everyday use, and perfectly suited to lighter bakes – think cakes, cookies, whipped cream, and buttercream frosting. Its tilt-head design and standard paddle, whisk, and dough hook attachments handle most tasks with ease, and the available extra accessories (like the pasta roller, spiralizer, and food processor) turn it into a true multitasker. For its price, usually between $400, depending on the model, it's an excellent all-rounder for casual bakers and cooks alike.

Where a KitchenAid struggles is with heavy, high-hydration doughs. In my experience, it judders under the strain, the dough climbs the hook and clings in a mass, and the motor doesn’t always have the torque to deliver consistent kneading. It’s also relatively noisy at higher speeds.

The Ooni Halo Pro Spiral Mixer is one of the best KitchenAid alternatives I've tested; it is sleeker, sturdier, and the spiral mixing motion, inspired by commercial bakery mixers, leads to more efficient gluten development. That said, it's far less versatile than a KitchenAid. You won’t find food processor attachments or pasta rollers here.

The other alternative would be the Ankarsrum Assistent Original, a Swedish cult favorite beloved by serious bread bakers. Its motor is located beneath the bowl, giving it impressive torque and stability. The spinning bowl design (rather than a moving arm) means it handles heavy dough with ease and can knead large batches quietly and efficiently. When I tested it, I found it extremely durable and powerful. However, the Ankarsrum comes with a steep learning curve. Its unique design isn’t immediately intuitive, and it lacks the touchscreen precision or clean aesthetic of the Ooni Halo Pro Spiral Mixer. Personally, I would opt for the ease and modernity of the Ooni, especially since both mixers are priced in a similar range: around $700.

Should you invest?

If you love baking bread or pizza for a crowd and want a mixer that handles the heavy lifting, the Ooni Halo Pro Spiral Mixer is made for you. Beautifully designed and incredibly efficient, it’s built to knead serious dough with ease. Whether you struggle with time, energy, or physical strain, this mixer will transform your baking routine. It’s also perfect for batch-making dough ahead – ideal for pizza parties or stocking your freezer with sourdough.

However, if you bake only occasionally or focus more on cookies, cakes, and creams, the Ooni Halo Pro might feel like overkill. In that case, a KitchenAid offers better versatility, a more affordable price, and a wider range of accessories, making it a more practical choice for everyday baking.