The best pie maker in NZ overall is the Sunbeam Pie Magic Traditional 4 Up, a long-running Aussie favourite that makes four deep-fill pies in about 10 minutes and has built up more than 126 independent owner reviews. If you regularly cook for a crowd, Breville’s Quick and Easy Pie Maker makes eight individual pies at once with an automatic sealing plate.
Electric pie makers are a genuinely small category compared with most kitchen appliances, so this guide covers four models: two well-established brands with a real NZ and Australian retail history, plus two budget mini pie and tart makers at the smaller end of the range.
Quick comparison
| Pie Maker | Best For |
|---|---|
| Sunbeam Pie Magic Traditional 4 Up | Best Overall |
| Breville the Quick and Easy Pie Maker | Premium / Most Pies at Once |
| Havvo 6 Cavity Electric Tart and Pie Maker | Best for Mini Pies and Tarts (Budget) |
| LHADBCT Electric Mini Pie and Quiche Maker | Best for Quiches |
1. Sunbeam Pie Magic Traditional 4 Up – Best Overall
The Sunbeam Pie Magic Traditional 4 Up is one of the most recognised electric pie makers in Australia and New Zealand, and it sticks to a simple job: turning out four traditional-size, deep-fill pies at a time. Extra-deep base and top plates hold around half a metric cup of filling per pie, closer to a real bakery pie than the shallower mini versions some competitors make.
A cast-in heating element and EasyClean non-stick coating bring a batch of pies to golden and crispy in around 10 minutes, and a pastry cutter and crimper is included to cut and seal your own shortcrust or puff pastry sheets. On ProductReview.com.au it holds a 4.2 out of 5 rating from 126 reviews, with most owners praising quick cook times and genuinely crispy pastry.
A meaningful share of reviewers report uneven cooking, with bottoms occasionally browning faster than the tops fully cook through, so it pays to check pies a minute or two before the buzzer. Some buyers also find they waste pastry cutting large sheets down to size for the cutter.
Pros
- Genuinely deep-fill, bakery-style pies
- 10-minute cook time
- Includes pastry cutter and crimper
- Well-established track record (126+ reviews)
Cons
- Some reports of uneven top/bottom cooking
- Pastry offcuts can go to waste
- Exact wattage not officially published
Key specs: Makes 4 traditional 12cm pies, EasyClean non-stick plates, includes pastry cutter, 4.5kg.
2. Breville the Quick & Easy Pie Maker – Premium / Most Pies at Once
Breville’s Quick and Easy Pie Maker steps up to eight individual pies in one batch, more than any other machine in this guide, which makes it the better choice for larger families or when you’re cooking ahead for the freezer.
Its Seal & Snap plate design automatically seals and separates each pie as it cooks, so there’s no manual crimping needed, and a programmable countdown timer with an ‘A Bit More’ button lets you add up to four extra one-minute bursts if a batch needs longer. Appliances Online reviewers rate it 4.7 out of 5, with buyers calling it another winner from Breville, though the review count is still fairly small.
At $103.50 it costs more than the Sunbeam above, and Breville hasn’t published an official wattage figure for this model, so it’s worth checking current listings if that detail matters to you. For sheer batch size and hands-off sealing, though, it’s the strongest option here.
Pros
- Makes 8 individual pies per batch
- Automatic Seal & Snap sealing, no manual crimping
- Programmable timer with extra-minute button
- Strong early owner reviews (4.7/5)
Cons
- Higher price than the Sunbeam
- Official wattage not published
- Review sample size still small (18 reviews)
Key specs: Makes 8 individual pies, Seal & Snap auto-sealing plates, programmable timer, 3.8kg.
3. Havvo 6 Cavity Electric Pie Maker – Best for Mini Pies and Tarts (Budget)
The Havvo Electric Pie Maker takes a different approach to the two brand-name machines above, using a 6-cavity plate designed for smaller mini pies and tarts rather than full-size deep-fill pies, with a listed 750W element and an LED indicator lamp to show when it’s up to temperature.
Double-sided heating means both the top and bottom of each mini pie cook at the same time, which suits quick after-school snacks or party food more than a full dinner-sized pie.
Havvo doesn’t appear to have an independent brand website or NZ/Australian retail presence beyond this listing, so there are no independent owner reviews to draw on here, unlike the Sunbeam and Breville picks above. It’s a reasonable budget option if six mini pies at once suits your needs, but go in knowing it’s an unproven brand rather than an established one.
Pros
- Makes 6 mini pies or tarts at once
- Double-sided heating
- LED ready indicator
- Most affordable option after the Sunbeam
Cons
- No independent brand presence or owner reviews found
- Makes smaller mini pies, not full-size deep-fill pies
Key specs: 750W (listed), 6-cavity plate, double-sided heating, LED indicator.
4. LHADBCT Electric Mini Pie Maker – Best for Quiches
The LHADBCT Mini Pie and Quiche Maker is built specifically around quiches as well as mini pies, with double-sided heating and nonstick cooking plates plus non-slip feet to keep it steady on the bench.
An LED indicator light shows when it’s preheated and ready to cook, and the listing notes it doubles as a compact baker for pancakes and other snacks and desserts beyond pies and quiches.
As with the Havvo above, LHADBCT has no independent brand website or retail presence that could be found, so there are no outside reviews to confirm real-world performance, and at $117.76 it’s the most expensive machine in this guide despite being an unproven brand. It’s worth comparing against the Sunbeam or Breville above unless a dedicated quiche function is specifically what you’re after.
Pros
- Dedicated quiche function alongside mini pies
- Double-sided heating with LED indicator
- Non-slip feet for stability
Cons
- No independent brand presence or owner reviews found
- Most expensive option in this guide despite being unproven
- Overlaps with cheaper mini pie makers above
Key specs: Double-sided heating, nonstick plates, LED indicator, non-slip feet.
How to choose a pie maker in NZ
Pie size and depth. Full-size deep-fill pie makers like the Sunbeam and Breville models here suit a proper dinner-sized pie, while mini pie and tart makers produce smaller, snack-sized portions better suited to lunchboxes or parties.
Batch size. Most household pie makers cook 4, 6 or 8 pies at once. A bigger batch size saves time if you’re feeding a family or cooking ahead for the freezer.
Pastry handling. Some machines, like the Sunbeam, include a pastry cutter and crimper to prepare your own sheets, while others rely on you cutting pastry to size by hand or buying pre-cut rounds.
Brand track record. Established brands like Sunbeam and Breville have hundreds of independent owner reviews to check before buying. Budget generic imports can still do the job, but there’s usually far less real-world feedback to go on.
Multi-use plates. A few pie makers double as quiche, tart or mini cake machines depending on the plate shape, so check what else a model can cook if versatility matters to you.
Verdict
For most Kiwi households, the Sunbeam Pie Magic 4 Up remains the easiest pie maker to recommend, with a genuine track record, deep-fill pockets and an included pastry cutter. If you regularly cook for a crowd or want to batch-cook for the freezer, the Breville Quick and Easy Pie Maker’s 8-pie capacity and automatic sealing plates are worth the extra cost.
The Havvo and LHADBCT mini makers can be reasonable budget options if you mainly want mini pies, tarts or quiches rather than full-size pies, but go in aware that neither brand has an independent track record the way Sunbeam and Breville do.
FAQs
How long does it take to cook a pie in an electric pie maker?
Most electric pie makers cook a batch of pies in around 8 to 10 minutes, though thicker deep-fill pies or a full plate of 6 to 8 pies can take a couple of minutes longer than a smaller batch.
Can I use frozen pastry in a pie maker?
Yes, though it’s best to thaw shortcrust or puff pastry sheets slightly first so they mould into the plates without cracking. Some pie makers include a pastry cutter to cut sheets to the right size before cooking.
Do I need to grease the plates before cooking?
Most modern electric pie makers have a non-stick coating that doesn’t need extra oil, but a light brush of oil or butter on the plates the first few times you use a new machine can help pies release more easily while the coating beds in.
Can you cook more than just pies in a pie maker?
Many pie makers double as tart, quiche or mini cake makers depending on the plate design. Check the specific plate shape before assuming a model suits more than pies.
Why is my pie undercooked in the middle but browned outside?
This usually means the filling was too cold or too thick when it went in, or the machine’s heating element runs hotter on one side. Bringing filling closer to room temperature first and checking pies a minute or two before the timer ends both help.
What size pies do electric pie makers make?
Most household electric pie makers make traditional-size pies around 9 to 12cm across, while mini pie and tart makers typically produce smaller 6 to 8cm portions suited to snacks or parties rather than a full meal.
