A mixer is an essential appliance in any baker’s toolkit. But does the type of mixer matter? After all, stand mixers can cost up to hundreds of dollars and take up valuable counter top space. You ...

You can't beat a loaf of freshly baked bread, gooey cinnamon rolls, or a batch of homemade cookies warm out of the oven. But it's tough to mix the dough with just a wooden spoon or even a hand mixer.

They each have their place in the kitchen. Charlotte Rutledge is the former recipe testing and development manager for King Arthur Baking Company. She has worked in professional kitchens since she was ...