Ever since I mastered the Gozney Arc Lite pizza oven I became a certified pizza snob. If the base isn’t light, airy and leopard spotted and the crust doesn’t have puff to compete with the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, I’m not really interested. Is there room for improvement with my pizzas? For sure – I’m just getting started.
One of the ways I think I could improve my pizza prowess is with better bases. Up until now I’ve been using my usual kitchen mixer (with the dough hook) – would swapping to the new Ooni Halo Core Spiral Mixer, available from August 4th and costing $599/£499 up my game? Let’s find out…
First things first: What’s special about a spiral mixer?
Planetary stand mixers, a fixture in most kitchens and somewhat of a ‘mix everything machine’ in mine, weren’t actually designed for dough and this can really affect your bake. They aren’t perfectly suited to dough because they get quite hot and don’t allow dough to develop the gluten structures that make a perfect base. Spiral mixers, like the Ooni Halo Core Spiral Mixer, are different as they operate at a much lower temperature and mimic hand kneading as the bowl also turns, as well as the hook.
What’s the story with Ooni Halo Core Spiral Mixer?
Ooni launched the Halo Pro Spiral mixer in 2025 and despite being very well received, it was criticised for being on the large side. Someone’s been listening as the Ooni Halo Core Spiral Mixer is 25% smaller and 30% lighter, which makes housing and moving it around significantly easier. Its sleek, minimalist design, available in Polar White and Foundry Black, means you won’t want to hide it away, either.
The Halo Core uses spiral mixing technology, where the rotating bowl works in tandem with its heavy-duty variable-speed spiral dough hook and removable breaker bar. This tech does what a normal stand mixer can’t – creates a dual-kneading action to stretch and develop your dough, without generating excess heat, so you get a stronger gluten structure – the holy grail of dough.
One thing I liked immediately about the Core, as someone with a modest sized kitchen, is that it comes with attachments for whipping and beating as well, so it can replace a traditional planetary stand mixer – result.
Using the Ooni Halo Core Spiral Mixer
The Ooni Halo Core is very easy to use. There are twenty adjustable speed levels, ranging from 60-300 RPM, assessed by an illuminated dial on the top, which also acts as the speed indicator. I love that it’s capacity allows for you to mix over six lbs of dough enough for ten 12inch pizzas) but I also used it several times to mix one lb to make two cheeky pizzas for Saturday lunch in the garden.
The dual-LED bowl lights, which automatically come on, make seeing what’s going on in the mixer easy. As I mentioned earlier, as this is a spiral mixer, the bowl turns simultaneously to the dough hook (or other attachments) and this is completely automated, too. Still on the making life easy vibe – the Ooni’s dual motor system does all of the work for you, thanks to its inbuilt motor protection, which will automatically adjust speed during demanding or longer than average mixes. It did not get hot during my testing period and I was also delighted with how quiet it is.
I really rate the silicon lid for proofing dough – it fits perfectly and just keeps the whole process faff-free. I got consistently great dough using the Ooni Halo Core Spiral Mixer. I noticed that my dough (using the same recipe as with my planetary mixer) had better elasticity and I also got a better rise. On eating – my favourite bit – I noticed the crust was lighter and airier, the chew was better and the texture of the base was uniform.
I also used the Ooni Halo Core Spiral Mixer to bake some cakes and found I didn’t miss my stand mixer at all. The clear splash guard keeps things tidy and I found the angled silicone edge beater worked so well I didn’t even have to scrape the bowl. The dual whisks are a dream for meringues and light sponges, too.
Is the Ooni Halo Core Spiral Mixer worth $599/£499?
Is $599/£499 a lot of dough for a mixer? It certainly is. However, as an entry into spiral mixing, it’s an accessible price point for many, especially considering spiral mixers used to be reserved for professional kitchens. If you make, or want to make, a lot of dough, then Halo Core delivers industrial-scale mixing strength and costs the same as a Kenwood or KitchenAid stand mixer, which it’ll also replace.
