You don’t have to be a contestant on a reality baking show to appreciate the capabilities of a sturdy stand mixer. With one, you can plow through thick cookie dough and whip heavy cream into a frothy ...

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.

When I asked Chef Zac Young, one of the country’s top pastry chefs and a longtime judge on Food Network, for his insights on what makes the stand mixer one of the best appliances in the kitchen, his ...