Whether you are a sometimes baker that does up a birthday cake now and again or you’re whipping up fancy desserts or artisan bread every other day, having the right tools can make all the difference. Stand mixers are a MUST, allowing for efficient mixing, kneading, and whipping, helping your baking project turn out perfectly. With SO MANY options available, choosing the best stand mixer can be overwhelming. And they ain’t cheap, so you want to make sure that you get the right mixer for you!
**Hey! Just a heads up — this post might contain affiliate links, where I can get a little extra cash if you buy something through my links–no extra cost to you, promise!**
1. KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer
Overview
The KitchenAid Artisan Series has long been a favorite among home bakers and professional chefs alike. With its classic design and array of colors, it’s not just a functional appliance; it’s a statement piece for any kitchen.
Features
- Capacity: 5 quarts (for small or large batches)
- Speed Settings: 10 speed settings for flexibility in your mixing
- Accessories: Comes with a flat beater, dough hook, and wire whip (of course, there always add-ons such as pasta makers, food grinders, etc.)
Benefits
- Versatile Performance: The Artisan Series can handle everything from mixing cookie dough to whipping cream, and that dough hook is the BEST when you don’t wanna knead your bread dough by hand.
- Durability: Built with a metal construction, it’s designed to withstand heavy use. My Kitchenaid is not this exact one, as it’s like 20 years old or so, but that thing was built to LAST! It’s been so dependable and has survived several house moves! But OH how I wish I had a tilt head!
- Attachments Available: A wide range of attachments is available, including pasta makers and food grinders, which is such a great idea! We were silly and got a separate pasta maker and it’s kind of a space hog in my pantry!
Ideal For
Home bakers looking for a reliable, yet stylish stand mixer that can handle any and all of their baking needs. This thing comes in just about ANY color you could want, which is just FUN!
2. Bosch Universal Plus Stand Mixer
Overview
The Bosch Universal Plus Stand Mixer is known for its powerful motor and unique design, making it a top choice for serious bakers, especially those who frequently work with larger batches.
Features
- Capacity: 6.5 quarts (That is a big old bowl for sure!)
- Speed Settings: Variable speeds with a pulse option (Like a food processor too? What? That’s AWESOME!)
- Accessories: Includes dough hook, bowl scraper, and whipping whisk
Benefits
- Large Capacity: With a 6.5-quart bowl, it’s perfect for making large batches of dough and GREAT for making bread!
- Powerful Mixing Action: The dual-whisking action provides thorough mixing, WAIT dual-whisking? This is genius!!
- Easy to Clean: The bowl and attachments are dishwasher safe, which is EPIC because everything should be dishwasher safe these days, right?
Ideal For
Bakers who often make large quantities of dough, like bread and like bagels or something, or if they just want a powerful and dare I say, efficient mixer.
3. Cuisinart SM-50 5.5-Quart Stand Mixer
Overview
Cuisinart is known for its high-quality kitchen appliances, and the SM-50 stand mixer is no exception. This model combines power with an elegant design, making it a great addition to any kitchen.
Features
- Capacity: 5.5 quarts
- Speed Settings: 12 speed options
- Accessories: Comes with a flat mixing paddle, dough hook, and chef’s whisk, not to mention a splash guard that also has a pour spout. Keeping the kitchen splatter free!
Benefits
- Versatile Mixing Options: TWELVE speeds! You can make anything with that many options!
- Tilt-Head Design: The tilt-head feature allows for clear access to the bowl and painless attachment changes. I highly recommend a tilt-head, my mom’s old mixer had that and I was sad that mine didn’t.
- Optional Additional Accessories: Fresh Fruit & Ice Cream Maker attachment, Meat Grinder attachment, Past Roller & Cutter attachment, just to name a few.
Ideal For
Anyone who loves to bake on the weekend, from chocolate chip cookies for the kids to tiramisu for the weekend dinner party!
Overview
This is the mixer my brother-in-law has (actually he might have 2, not sure) and, therefore, it’s probably the least expensive, as he is extremely frugal. But he and my sister really like it and it’s not too tall, so it’s easy to store, when you’re not using it.
Features
- Capacity: 4.8 quarts
- Speed Settings: 10 speed settings (also has the pulse option)
- Accessories: Comes with a traditional beater, whisk, and dough hook, but also that splash guard again.
Benefits
- Affordability: This mixer is a great value for those who don’t want to invest in high-end mixers. Let’s face it, not everyone likes to bake so much they want to spend a LOT of money for something that will hardly be used at their house.
- Compact Design: Its smaller size makes it easy to store, as I mentioned earlier.
- Easy to Use: Simple controls make it user-friendly and it has the tilt-head!
Ideal For
Casual bakers looking for a stand mixer that performs well for basic baking tasks and those that might have limited space for storage.
Overview
For those on a budget, the Hamilton Beach 63325 Stand Mixer provides great performance without busting your budget. This is a really good choice for those who don’t do a ton of baking, or at least not in large quantities.
- Capacity: 4 quarts
- Speed Settings: 7 speed settings
- Accessories: Comes with a traditional beater, whisk, and dough hook
Benefits
- Affordability: This mixer is great for those who don’t want, or feel the need, to invest in a high-end mixer.
- Compact Design: This is another one that won’t take up a ton of kitchen space, but it has a top handle for moving it around more easily!
- Easy to Use: This mixer is also easy to use and rotates the beaters around the bowl, to ensure even mixing.
Ideal For
Anyone who has limited kitchen storage and a tight budget, but really it’s for those who don’t need or want to bake in large batches.
6. Ankarsrum Original Kitchen Mixer
Overview
The Ankarsrum Original Kitchen Mixer is a very unique mixer and it’s quite innovative. Originating from Sweden, it has a compact design (always a plus for those without a lot of storage space), but it’s also cool looking if you want to leave it out on the counter. This is a high-quality mixer with a powerful motor.
Features
- Capacity: 7 liters (approximately 7.4 quarts)
- Speed Settings: speed control knob that is adjustable from 45 to 130 RPM and a 12 minute timer
- Accessories: Includes a dough roller, double whisk, roller, scraper, spatula, cookie beaters, manual and a recipe book.
Benefits
- Large Capacity: Perfect for making large batches of bread or pastry dough.
- Unique Design: The mixer has a rotating bowl, allowing for effective, not to mention efficient mixing!
- Durability: Built with high-quality materials, it’s designed to withstand heavy use, which is awesome, but also it’s got some clever and unique design functions to make this mixer very popular with bakers.
Ideal For
Serious bakers and anyone who bakes in larger quantities. It’s a higher-end model but you get a LOT for your money with this mixer.
7. Kenwood Chef Titanium Mixer
Overview
The Kenwood Chef Titanium has twice the power of the average stand mixers and electronic variable speed controls, making it a favorite among professional bakers.
Features
- Capacity: 5 quarts
- Speed Settings: Electronic Variable Speed Control
- Accessories: Comes with a K-beater, whisk, Flexi beater, dough hook, spatula, spanner and a splashguard.
Benefits
- Powerful Motor: The high-watt motor allows for smooth mixing from heavy dough to a light mousse, and everything in between.
- Versatile Attachments: The mixer is compatible with a wide range of attachments and has stainless steel, dishwasher safe accessories.
- Sturdy Build: This is a chef inspired mixer of European design that is intended for durability and long-term use.
Ideal For
Professional bakers and serious home cooks who desire, maybe even require versatility in their tools and are willing to invest in quality products to serve their cooking/baking needs.
Conclusion
A good stand mixer can significantly enhance your baking or cooking experience and results. Whether you are a casual baker or a professional chef, a stand mixer really makes a difference in the kitchen experience!
Investing in the right stand mixer will make a huge difference in your baking adventures! Definitely take your time and consider your needs, storage space and budget, but then get ready to elevate your baking game!
