KitchenAid’s New Artisan Plus Mixer Might Be the Smartest Upgrade I’ve Made in 15 Years of Baking – Yes, It Could Actually Make You a Better Baker
It has made me excited to bake again after months of low motivation
Just this week, the new KitchenAid Artisan Plus stand mixer landed on my doorstep for testing, and I can already tell that it is going to be the best baking upgrade my home has seen in over 15 years.
I have been baking for as long as I can remember, and started by helping my mom to mix everything lovingly by hand, nary a stand mixer in sight. The manual approach works, of course, but there is no denying that it slows you down a lot. It's certainly left me in a baking slump of late.
That's why I've been excited to start using the Artisan Plus, which is shaping up to be one of the best stand mixers on the market. It has retained all the best elements of its predecessor while ironing out the small, albeit annoying functional snags. The result? An appliance I am genuinely excited to see on my counter and use.
With an integrated bowl light, precision speed control, double flex edge beater, and stainless steel accessories, the Artisan Plus upgrade is the first big update to the iconic stand mixer design since 1955. Whether you run a baking business or bake casually on the weekend, it is an upgrade any baker will be thankful for. It is available in the most iconic colors, too, including Cardamom (pictured), 'Feather Pink', 'Blue Steel', and 'Mint Julep'.
I am yet to finish testing and write up my full review of the KitchenAid Artisan Plus stand mixer, but having unboxed it and trialled a few of my go-to recipes, I am already confident in saying it is shaping up to be a five-star investment.
Visually, not much has changed from the KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer we reviewed a few years ago. It follows the same iconic silhouette with the domed tilt-head and stainless steel bowl. Now, however, that bowl comes with a very practical handle and a built-in bowl-light so you can keep a much closer eye on your mix.
Like the original KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer we also reviewed, this mixer has the all-important half-speed setting. It emulates hand mixing perfectly, allowing for more careful folds to avoid beating the air out of fluffy cake batters.
The new mixer has a more powerful motor, however, allowing it to also tackle thick, heavy-duty doughs with ease. You have the choice to click between each of the 11 speed settings or slide between them for absolute precision.
It is a small detail, but anyone who bakes regularly will know that that level of control can be the difference between the perfect bake and an overmixed mess.
While you'll never be heating your stand mixer, nor its accessories, I am always conscious of the materials used. Where possible, I like to avoid plastic and pick the best non-toxic kitchen appliances.
With the Artisan Plus, all attachments are made of solid stainless steel (including the double-flex-edge beater, which features food-grade silicone). They're weighty and exude quality. I hardly worry when I toss them in a drawer that they might come out misshapen.
Speaking of storing bakeware, stand mixers are infamously tricky to tuck away. They are heavy, for one, and while the Artisan Plus is reasonably compact for an appliance that can do much more than mix cakes, it is not easy to tuck into a cabinet in a small kitchen.
Luckily, it looks so good on the counter that I find it rather pleasing to keep on display. Like my Modern Heritage Le Creuset Dutch Oven, it screams 'I know what I am doing' in the kitchen, and I like that baking badge of honor.
Besides, with 14 color options, including the new Sun Dried Tomato, Oat (the color I chose), and Feather Pink, there is a shade for every kitchen color palette.
It is possibly going to be my top kitchen addition for 2026, but I will be sure to give the full report when it comes time to review.
What to Shop
One of my favourite things about KitchenAid stand mixers is their versatility. The extensive ecosystem of attachments allows a single machine to transform into an ice cream maker, the best juicer, a pasta roller, or a meat grinder in a matter of minutes.
It is one of the rare countertop appliances that genuinely earns its space on your counter, so to help you make the most of your new investment, I’ve rounded up six of the most popular add-ons.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
This ice cream mixing bowl creates up to two quarts of ice cream, gelato, or sorbet in under 30 minutes after you have prepped the bowl (freezing it for 24 hours). It fits all KitchenAid Tilt-Head Stand Mixers, except Artisan Mini models, and all KitchenAid Bowl-Lift Stand Mixers, except K5SS, KSM50, KSM500, and KSM450.
Roll and cut fettuccine, spaghetti, lasagna, and more without stopping. Go straight from roller to cutter with no part change.
Dice, slice, shred, and julienne your favorite fruits, vegetables, and hard cheeses. It works with all KitchenAid stand mixers and has a wide feed tube for convenience.
With the KitchenAid Shave Ice Attachment, it's easy to create light, fluffy, and snow-like shaved ice to elevate a variety of desserts and drinks, and the customization options are endless: Freeze and 'shave' water, juice, coffee, milk, or dairy to a fine or coarse texture.
Juice citrus fruits quickly and easily with the power of your stand mixer. Simply attach the KitchenAid Citrus Juicer to the stand mixer hub and get juicing directly into a bowl, pitcher, or cup.
The all-in-one bread baking set allows you to easily mix, knead, proof, and bake with the bowl and lid. The durable ceramic mixing bowl resists chipping, cracking, and breaking.
Looking to inject a fun pop of color into your kitchen this year? KitchenAid's 2026 color of the year, Spearmint, might be the very appliance for the job.
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