We Found the Best Hand Mixers for Cookie Dough, Whipped Cream, and Much More

Best Overall

Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus Hand Mixer

Orig. $80 $63 at Amazon $80 at Wayfair $80 at Williams-Sonoma

This Cuisinart hand mixer includes all the features you need, plus a few extras that make it our favorite choice. The powerful motor has a one-touch digital speed control that lets you easily select and move through the nine settings while the mixer is in use. The ultra-convenient clip-on storage case holds the power cord and all of the mixing attachments, even the included plastic spatula.

The design of this hand mixer played a big part in receiving our top vote! The inside of the handle is curved, similar to the handle of a knife, which we found made for a comfortable and stable grip while mixing, even when one-handed. Rather than a button to release the beaters on top of the handle, there's a trigger latch on the inside of the handle, where you’re less likely to accidentally hit it. Additionally, the power cord is thoughtfully designed to swivel to the left or right, and locks in place to stay out of the way while you're mixing—conveniently adaptable to left or right-handed users.

During testing, the Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus tackled everything from whisking together dry ingredients and whipping cream, to mixing thick peanut butter cookie and bread doughs. Nine speeds are more than what most hand mixers offer, so we weren't convinced that it was necessary to have that many—until we tried it for ourselves. The additional two speeds made for seamless speed changes, and the SmoothStart feature keeps ingredients from flying out of the bowl the moment you turn the mixer on. We noticed that the machine is louder than other models at its top speeds, although the mixer didn't show any other signs of struggling (like overheating or excessive shaking).

Number of Speeds: 9 | Attachments: 2 beaters, 1 whisk, 2 dough hooks, plastic spatula | Power: 220 watts | Weight: 4 pounds

Most Powerful

Braun MultiMix Hand Mixer

Orig. $110 $105 at Amazon $65 at Target $74 at Wayfair

At 350 watts, this hand mixer blows the competition out of the batter—Some stand mixers don't even have 350 watts of power. This one uses something called "SmartMix" technology, which basically means the motor is aligned vertically for better weight distribution. This, plus a soft, slip-resistant handle makes for a comfortable grip.

Braun also did away with ventilation slots, so you can stop worrying about ingredients making their way inside the unit; simply wipe with a cloth to clean. It only comes with whisk and dough attachments, but that's because the whisks double as beaters depending on the speed setting. Speaking of speed settings, there are nine, not including a "Turbo" feature. We don't love the storage case it comes with because it is just a bag, but hand mixers don't take up a ton of space anyway.

Number of Speeds: 9 | Attachments: 2 beater/whisks, 2 dough hooks, 1 food chopper | Power: 350 watts | Weight: 2.2 pounds

Best Budget

Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Electric Hand Mixer

$22 at Amazon Orig. $25 $20 at Walmart $23 at Target

This incredibly popular hand mixer is a staple in home kitchens everywhere. While it doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as some of the other hand mixer models, it’s a simple reliable mixer that’s been on the market for generations. Updated to include a snap-on case for keeping mixer attachments, this set includes both beater and whisk attachments (an upgrade from previous versions).

At peak use, the 6-speed hand mixer utilizes a 250-watt motor, and a "burst" button to power through any clumps you may come across in your batter (though it is tough to get through thick doughs). Easy to store, and lightweight enough for both adults and kids to handle, this mixer is ready for brownie mixes, cake batters, and lightweight cookie doughs. This hand mixer is also designed to rest on the side of the bowl if you need to put it down while working on your project—without worrying about dripping batter all over your counter. We also think this would be a great mixer for kids to use while learning to bake.

Number of Speeds: 6 | Attachments: 2 beaters, 1 whisk | Power: 250 watts | Weight: 2.8 pounds

Best Cordless

KitchenAid Cordless Hand Mixer

$100 at Amazon $110 at Walmart $100 at Home Depot

KitchenAid is obviously known for its high-quality stand mixers, but we were curious to see how the different hand mixer models performed. We tested four different KitchenAid hand mixers, including the 7-Speed Cordless model, since it’s one of the few name-brand appliance companies that offers a cordless mixer option. Given how much power a mixer requires over a sustained period of time, cordless appliances tend to sacrifice performance for convenience.

As far as performance goes, the biggest perk is that we didn’t have any issues charging the hand mixer, nor did it lose power while we were in the middle of any projects. When it came to mixing ingredients that needed beating, like cake batter and frosting, the mixing time was more comparable to typical mixing times. But we did notice that it took a bit longer to tackle simple projects, like whipping cream. Most of the hand mixers we tested took less than five minutes to whip a bowl of chilled heavy cream, but this one took nearly 10 minutes. As can be expected after using a mixer for 10 minutes straight, the weight of the machine was noticeable and wasn’t especially comfortable to hold. Part of the reason for the longer whipping time might be because it only comes with beater attachments and not an actual whisk attachment (although the design of the wire beaters seems like a hybrid beater-whisk style).

We also noticed that this hand mixer struggled with slightly thicker cookie dough once all of the dry ingredients were added to the dough. If the mixer can’t power through the ingredients, it simply stops working (which is most likely an intentional safety feature meant to keep the internal components from overheating, stripping, or breaking under pressure). With all of that said, we were prepared to make some trade-offs in functionality for the convenience of having a cordless hand mixer, so we aren't at all disappointed in how the mixer performed. Overall, the mixer feels sturdy, without overheating or making any alarming noises while mixing. Infrequent bakers likely won’t have any issues with softer batters and doughs.

Number of Speeds: 7 | Attachments: 2 beaters, 1 charging cord | Power: 12 volts | Weight: 2.1 pounds

Easiest to Control

Hamilton Beach Professional 5-Speed Electric Hand Mixer

$37 at Amazon Orig. $38 $31 at Walmart $38 at Target

We tested three Hamilton Beach hand mixers for this collection, but there were a few features that set the Professional 5-speed hand mixer apart from the others.

The first thing we noticed while testing this mixer was how easy it was to use one-handed, thanks in part to the relatively light weight of the machine and partially because of the placement of all of the operating functions. Like most other models, the power and speed controls are on top of the mixer, along with a QuickBurst button for a hit of extra power. The rolling-style lever that controls the power and speed has a raised notch that makes it easy to control with your thumb while the machine is on. But what we really like about this mixer is that it’s got the same attachment release trigger as our best overall mixer pick. The trigger-style release cuts down on the chance of accidentally releasing the beaters while you’re mixing, and it’s less of a struggle to release them when it’s time to take the machine apart.

Included with the set are a wire whisk attachment and a snap-on storage box to keep the sturdy wire beaters, whisk, and power cord tidy when storing. We found that the storage case was a little difficult to clip into place. The hand mixer also doesn’t include dough hook attachments like some of the more expensive models, which makes this mixer less appropriate for mixing up heavier cookie and bread doughs.

Number of Speeds: 5 | Attachments: 2 beaters, 1 whisk | Power: 120 watts | Weight: 2.8 pounds

Best High-End

Breville Handy Mix Scraper

Orig. $140 $130 at Amazon $129 at Walmart $130 at Williams-Sonoma

Appliances are getting smarter, this hand mixer included. It detects the attachment and adjusts the speed to the best range for that particular style of mixing. It offers higher torque at lower speeds and nine speeds so you can start slow and work your way up. We loved the double-whisk design, which made it incredibly easy to whip eggs.

The scraper beaters are coated so you can beat right against the side of the bowl with less noise. There’s a count-up timer so you can keep track of the mixing time for recipes that require a specific mixing length. A mixing light makes it easier to see what’s in the bowl, and a power boost button lets you momentarily increase the speed to get past a lump in the batter, then resume mixing at normal speed. A pause button lets you stop mixing momentarily so you can add ingredients.

While we found all of the features of this mixer to be nearly perfect, the mixer is one of the heaviest options at four pounds. All the parts store in a case that clips onto the bottom of the mixer, and the cord tucks in there as well.

Number of Speeds: 9 | Attachments: 2 beaters, 2 whisks, 2 dough hooks | Power: 240 watts | Weight: 4 pounds

Most Colorful

KitchenAid Ultra Power Hand Mixer

$60 at Amazon View on Walmart $60 at Target

We get it, you’ve put effort into designing your kitchen, and you want everything to coordinate. From your kitchen appliances down to your silicone spatulas—there’s a color theme, and you want to keep it going. KitchenAid is here to provide you with all of the colorful appliances you could want that conveniently match several other small machines they offer. The KitchenAid Ultra Power 5-Speed Hand Mixer is available in 13 different color options to suit your needs, admittedly at a premium. 

This model isn’t as versatile or powerful as other KitchenAid models but includes a set of wire beater attachments. Five speed settings take you from gentle mixing to rapid whipping with just a few clicks. If your mixer acts up for any reason, KitchenAid provides a 1-year hassle-free replacement warranty to keep you baking. We wish it came with a few more attachments and a storage case, but this hand mixer is sturdy enough to be stored as it is.

Number of Speeds: 5 | Attachments: 2 beaters | Power: 145 watts | Weight: 2 pounds

Best for Whipped Cream

BLACK+DECKER Helix Performance Premium Hand

$45 at Amazon $33 at Walmart $28 at Wayfair

If you’re looking for a faster, easier, and inexpensive way to whip up fresh cream or meringue but you don’t want to spend a lot for functions you’ll never use, this mixer fills the bill. It’s got an ergonomic design and nylon helix beaters that offer two times more surface area than your typical wire beater.

The Black+Decker Helix mixer is lightweight, so it’s not tiring to hold and it has five speeds, so you can start slow and work your way up to a faster speed for whipping or beating. The power boost button increases the power until you release it, so you can power through lumps and then continue mixing at the original speed. The beaters are dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.

The appliance comes with two helix beaters, two dough hooks, one wire whisk, and a storage case. While it's not super easy to get the attachments off and it does shake slightly while in use, we found it has good power, particularly for the price. It's available in a number of fun colors, including tangerine, teal, lime green, purple, red, black, gray, and white.

Number of Speeds: 5 | Attachments: 2 helix beaters, 2 dough hooks, and 1 wire whisk | Power: 250 watts | Weight: 3.26 pounds