Got a Kitchenaid Mixer at home but not sure which attachment to use? I’ve totally been there. Speaking for myself, getting a Kitchenaid mixer had been on my baker’s bucket list for years before I actually got my hands on one when I was working at a bakery.
Ah, the mixed emotions. I was in awe of this beauty but also in a little bit of … well, shock! Who knew it came with so many attachments? And what do I even do with them?
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Quietly and carefully, I navigated through the different attachments trying very hard not to embarrass myself in front of my colleagues. After a couple of failed attempts, it became clear to me that I should only use the flat beater or the flex edge attachment for cookies.
I’m Angie, I’m a self-taught baker and I’ve been baking for over 10 years. In this article, I’ll share with you all I know about Kitchenaid mixer attachments, and tell you which one is best for making cookies and why.
Now let’s get mixing!
Kitchenaid Mixer Attachments
Kitchenaid mixers are somewhat on the pricey side, but most bakers (including myself) will say they’re worth every penny. They can whip up all your batters in no time, from cakes to cookies, cupcakes to muffins.
Kitchenaid mixers are more than just looks. They’re impressive for their versatility and their abilities to perform multiple purposes.
Kitchenaid mixers typically come with three attachments: the dough hook, flat beater, and wire whip. This is great and all, but if you’re new to the realm of baking with a stand mixer, you might not know which one is right for your cookies.
You can upgrade your mixer by adding your choice of accessories or attachments to it. There are over 80 different attachments to choose from.
What Kitchenaid Attachment to Use for Cookies?
Kitchenaid mixers are a must in any kitchen. They’re convenient, easy to use, and consistently produce sensational results. The included attachments are a huge perk, but knowing which one to use for your cookies is essential.
In this section, I’ll give an overview of a few basic attachments most commonly used for baking.
1. Flat Beater
Let’s start with the flat beater, aka the paddle attachment, aka my go-to attachment. The flat beater mixes without incorporating too much unwanted air. It’s sturdy enough to cut through butter and thoroughly combine the ingredients together.
The flat beater is perfect for combining and creaming all your mixtures with a heavier consistency. Cookie and pie dough, cake batter, and buttercream to name a few.
The best part is that most (if not all) Kitchenaid mixers come with a flat beater attachment, so you don’t have to spend any extra dollars to achieve cookie dough greatness.
2. Wire Whip
The wire whip is ideal for whipping up egg whites, heavy cream, and frosting—anything that requires a lot of air incorporated.
The wire whip usually has six to eleven wires. They are sturdy but still thin. This means that using it to mix stiffer ingredients may cause the wires to shift or snap. For this reason, it is not ideal to use the wire whip attachment for cookie making.
3. Dough Hook
The dough hook is made for heavy-duty breadmaking. It is specially designed in its spiral hook-like shape so as to better and more efficiently knead the dough, giving it and withholding elasticity. The motion created by the dough hook mimics the way the dough is kneaded by hand, hence the great result.
Because of its particular shape, there isn’t a lot of contact between the content and the attachment when using a dough hook, so the dough hook is not ideal for mixing batter and cookie dough.
4. Flex Edge
The flex edge attachment does not come with the mixer. It is one that you’ll have to purchase separately, but it works wonders.
The flex edge attachment is shaped exactly like a paddle attachment. The name “flex edge” comes from the fact that it has a flexible silicone edge that makes direct contact with the sides of the bowl, which eliminates your need to keep scraping the sides.
The downside to using a regular flat beater is that it doesn’t scrape the cookie dough off the sides of the bowl, so you have to do it manually from time to time. It’s not a huge hassle, but if you bake as many cookies as I do, you don’t want to have to think about it.
Not only can the flex edge ensure everything is well incorporated and combined, but it’ll also make cleaning up easier because there won’t be dry bits stuck on the bowl.
Best Kitchenaid Attachment for Cookies
When making cookies, it’s essential that you aerate the butter and sugar mixture. While it’s possible to do so with a wire whip, it may incorporate too much air and the wires may also shift because of how thick the cookie dough is.
The flat beater and the flex edge attachment are two attachments ideal for cookie making. They both do a perfect job of cutting through and creaming butter and sugar, and they are sturdy enough to withhold the denseness of cookie dough.
Bonus: Pour Shield
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Okay, so the pour shield isn’t precisely an attachment for mixing cookie dough, but it’s still a handy attachment you will want for making cookies of all shapes, sizes, and flavors.
What is the pour shield, though? Well, it’s a nifty device that sits on top of your mixing bowl. It acts as a barrier between your mixing bowl and kitchen countertops, so when you add ingredients like flour and sugar, it won’t end up all over the place.
If you’re someone who wants to minimize the amount of post-cookie-baking cleaning that takes place, I highly recommend purchasing a pour shield. Some Kitchenaid mixers come with this add-on already, but others do not. Don’t worry, though; it’s not too expensive!
FAQs
If you haven’t jumped on the Kitchenaid mixer bandwagon yet, do it. Then you can use your flat beater to create lovely cookie dough every time. If you want to keep learning about this topic, here are a few frequently asked questions.
What attachment do I use for sugar cookie dough?
To make sugar cookies, you must cream your butter and sugar until the mixture is pale, light, and fluffy. It’s best to use your paddle attachment or your flex edge attachment, but if you don’t have either, you should be able to beat your butter and sugar with a whisk attachment as well.
Can you cream butter and sugar with a whisk?
You can cream butter and sugar with a whisk attachment, aka the wire whip. It’s also possible to cream them with a regular whisk, but it will require a lot of strength, and you will sweat.
How do you beat butter and sugar without an electric mixer?
You can beat butter and sugar without an electric mixer. You can use a hand whisk, but again, it’s tiring, consider it a workout.
Can you use dough hooks for cookie dough?
If you only have a dough hook on hand, unfortunately, I do not recommend using it for your cookie dough. The dough hook is too intense and will cause an excess of gluten formation, causing your cookies to become undesirably dense. Stick with the flat beaters!
What is the KitchenAid paddle used for?
Honestly, the Kitchenaid paddle attachment can be used for almost anything. It’s the most used attachment in the bundle and works well for mixing all types of batters and doughs (except bread dough). Use it for creaming, mixing, and beating with ease.
Can you use a stand mixer for cookie dough?
You can absolutely use a stand mixer for cookie dough. In fact, I highly recommend it, especially if you’re sick and tired of doing everything by hand. Take the worry, frustration, and nuisance out of mixing cookie dough by hand and opt for a stand mixer instead.
Final Thoughts
Making cookies? Get yourself a flat beater or a flex edge attachment for your KitchenAid mixer. You’ll not regret it. If you don’t have them, well, you can always try them with your wire whip, or your electric hand mixer.
Have you tried using a flat beater? What about a flex-edge attachment? Which one do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below.
About Angie
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens