KitchenAid recommends using a flat beater for cookies. You can also use it for mixing cakes, frostings, and other batters.
Flat Beater
A flat beater, often called a paddle attachment, is a standard attachment for a KitchenAid stand mixer. It’s designed for efficient and even mixing of various dough and batter types. The shape and design of the flat beater allow it to thoroughly blend ingredients on the bottom and sides of the bowl.
The flat beater is especially good for mixing heavy cookie dough, batters, mashed potatoes, and other thick mixtures. It can also cream butter and sugar, a common step in cookie recipes.
Here’s a basic explanation of using a flat beater attachment to make cookies.
Creaming Butter and Sugar: Place room-temperature butter and sugar in the mixer’s bowl. Attach the flat beater and raise the bowl if you’re using a lift stand mixer or lower the head if you’re using a tilt-head stand mixer. Start at a low speed, then gradually increase to medium until the butter and sugar are creamed together. This usually takes 2-3 minutes. Creaming is important as it helps to incorporate air into the mixture, which makes the cookies tender and helps them rise.
Adding Eggs: Once your butter and sugar are creamed, add eggs. Make sure to add them one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next.
Adding Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine your dry ingredients, typically flour, baking powder, and salt. Lower the speed of the mixer and gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter-sugar-egg mixture. Be careful not to overmix, which can result in tough cookies. Mix just until the dry ingredients are incorporated.
Add-ins: If your recipe calls for add-ins like chocolate chips or nuts, you can add them at this stage. It’s often best to stir these in with a spatula to avoid overworking the dough or crushing the add-ins, but you can use the flat beater on a low speed if preferred.
Once your cookie dough is prepared, you can use a cookie scoop or a spoon to drop the dough onto a cookie sheet. Bake according to the instructions in your recipe.
The flat beater is a versatile tool, and learning how to use it properly can help you achieve great results in your baking. Remember, the key to good cookies is often mixing just until the ingredients are incorporated – overmixing can result in tough cookies.
Flex Edge Beater
The Flex Edge Beater is a variant of the flat beater for KitchenAid stand mixers. It has a flexible silicone edge that scrapes the sides of the bowl while mixing, reducing the need for manual scraping and ensuring even ingredient incorporation.
To make Cookies using the Flex Edge Beater
- Cream together butter and sugar in the mixer bowl. Attach the Flex Edge Beater, start at low speed, then gradually increase to medium until well creamed.
- Add eggs one at a time, ensuring each is mixed in well.
- Gradually add pre-mixed dry ingredients on low speed. Stop once ingredients are combined to avoid overmixing.
- Add extras (chocolate chips, nuts) on low speed or by hand.
- Once the dough is ready, scoop it onto a baking sheet and bake as per your recipe. The Flex Edge Beater ensures even mixing with less effort, resulting in excellent cookies.
Wire Whip
The KitchenAid Wire Whip, also known as the whisk attachment, is typically used for recipes that require incorporating air into the mixture. This attachment is perfect for tasks requiring a lot of aeration and whip, making it ideal for light, airy mixtures and delicate ingredients.
Here are some instances when you can use the wire whip.
Whipping Cream: The wire whip is perfect for whipping cream to soft or stiff peaks. It quickly whips air into the cream, creating a light, fluffy texture.
Making Meringue: The whip is an excellent choice if you’re making a dessert that requires a meringue. It can whip egg whites and sugar into a stiff, glossy peak.
Beating Egg Whites: The wire whip is the best attachment if a recipe calls for beaten egg whites. It helps incorporate more air than other attachments, resulting in lighter, more voluminous beaten egg whites.
Mixing Light, Airy Batters: The wire whip is the right choice for batters that require aeration, like some cake batters or pancake batters. It can help you achieve a light, airy batter that bakes into a tender cake or fluffy pancake.
Remember, the wire whip is not meant for heavy mixtures, like cookie doughs, bread doughs, or thick batters. For these, the flat beater or dough hook is more suitable.
Dough Hook
The dough hook is a specific attachment for a stand mixer designed to help knead the dough. It’s typically used for mixing and kneading yeast doughs for bread, pizza, and certain pastries. By mimicking the process of hand kneading, it develops the gluten in the flour for a stretchy and elastic dough, resulting in bread with a chewy, pleasing texture. The dough hook can significantly reduce the effort and mess of hand kneading.
Pastry Hook
The term “pastry hook” is not as common as “dough hook” and might refer to a slightly different dough hook design. However, it serves the same purpose – to mix and knead the dough. It’s worth noting that for pastries that require a more delicate touch (such as pie crusts or biscuits), neither a dough hook nor a pastry hook would be the best choice. These pastries often call for “cutting in” butter, usually done with a pastry blender, forks, or your fingers to create a crumbly texture. Overmixing or overworking can produce a tough pastry, so these doughs are typically not mixed with hooks.
Pour Shield: Bonus Attachment for Cookies
A pouring shield, also known as a splatter guard, is an attachment for a KitchenAid stand mixer that fits around the top of the bowl. It serves as a chute for easily adding ingredients to the mixer while running, reducing the risk of ingredients splattering or missing the bowl entirely.
When making cookies, this can be particularly helpful. For instance, when you’re gradually adding dry ingredients (like flour) to the wet mixture, it’s easy for flour to poof up and make a mess, especially if the mixer is running at high speed. With the pour shield, you can add the ingredients more steadily and cleanly, reducing the mess and ensuring that all the ingredients end up in the bowl, not on your counter.
However, a pour shield is not included with all KitchenAid stand mixers. It depends on the specific model of the mixer. Some models come with a pour shield included, while others do not. Even if your mixer didn’t come with one, pour shields are typically available for separate purchase and come in different sizes to fit various bowl sizes.
Tips to Use KitchenAid Mixer Attachment for Making Cookies
Use Flat Beater or Flex Edge Beater: For most cookie doughs, use the flat or Flex Edge Beater. These are ideal for creaming butter and sugar and combining ingredients into a smooth dough.
Start Slowly: Mix slowly to avoid flour or other ingredients from splashing out, then gradually increase the speed as needed.
Avoid Overmixing: Overmixing can lead to tough cookies. Mix just until the ingredients are combined and no more.
Scrape Down the Bowl: Periodically stop the mixer and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure all ingredients are well combined.
Add Ingredients Gradually: When adding dry ingredients or liquids, do so slowly for better incorporation.
Hand Mix Delicate Add-Ins: Mix delicate ingredients like chocolate chips or nuts by hand to avoid breaking or overworking the dough.
Use Pour Shield: Use the pour shield to add ingredients without messing and prevent ingredients from flying out while mixing.
Care for Attachments: Always clean and dry your attachments after use to prevent damage and prolong their lifespan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the right speed for making cookies?
For cookies, start on a low speed to combine ingredients and gradually increase to medium as the dough forms.
Which KitchenAid attachment should I use for cake?
Use the flat beater for most cake batters. Use the wire whip if your recipe requires a lot of aeration (like a sponge cake).
Which attachment is best for sugar cookie dough?
The flat beater or the Flex Edge Beater is best for making sugar cookie dough.
Can you cream butter and sugar with a whisk?
Yes, but using a flat beater or Flex Edge Beater to cream butter and sugar is more efficient.
Can I use dough hooks for cookies?
Generally, no. Dough hooks are designed for yeast doughs, like bread and pizza. Use the flat beater for cookies.
Can you use a hand mixer for cookies?
Yes, a hand mixer can be used to make cookie dough.
Which attachment to use for pizza?
The dough hook is ideal for mixing and kneading pizza dough.
Which attachment to use for rolls or buns?
The dough hook should be used for mixing and kneading dough for rolls or buns.
Which attachment to use for cheesecake filling?
The flat beater or the Flex Edge Beater is best for making the smooth, creamy cheesecake filling.
Which attachment to use for bread?
The dough hook is the best choice for mixing and kneading bread dough.
Which attachment to use for pastry?
A flat beater is usually used for pie crusts or delicate pastries, but often these types of doughs are mixed by hand to avoid overmixing.
