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02 October 2013

Stand Mixer Review and Giveaway - Cuisinart 5.5-Quart 12-Speed Stand Mixer


Just in time for the biggest baking season of the year ...

A food blogger without a heavy-duty stand mixer? Shocking! I was probably the last food blogger on the planet who did not own one, but that has all changed. Yes, I've always made most of my breads, cakes, pies, cookies ... entirely by hand or with a partial assist from either my trusty food processor or my most definitely light-duty mixer. But the time had come to resort to a labor-saving, time-saving device. So the research began.

After considering the pros and cons of all the possibilities--and knowing what a reliable workhorse my Cuisinart DLC-10E food processor (that I've had since I was a mere girl) has been and still is--I decided on the Cuisinart 5.5-Quart 12-Speed Stand Mixer (it also comes in a 7-quart model).




The mixer has been highly recommended by some venerable testing labs, and I was eager to put it through its paces in my kitchen. Here are some of the features I appreciate:

  • Fairly reasonable footprint: at 15.5x10x12.5 inches high (and a hefty 21 pounds), it fits under my upper cabinets and doesn't take up too much valuable real estate in my average-size kitchen. 
  • Comes in three colors: white, black and brushed chrome. I went with white. Call me dull, but even if I had gotten a mixer that comes in a vast array of colors, I would have gotten white. 
  • Bowl and attachments can go in the dishwasher (ever since I got a dishwasher, I want to put everything in it!).
  • Great manufacturer's warranty: limited 3-year product warranty and a full 5-year motor warranty.
  • The 5.5-quart bowl can handle 12 cups of flour; double batches are no problem. Made a huge batch of cookie dough--enough to freeze dozens of ready-to-bake cookies!
  • When you tilt the head back, the splashguard comes up. And the splashguard has a really handy spout for adding ingredients.
  • Slow-start and gentle-fold (continuous or pulse) functions. Believe me, the mess-saving slow-start function will come in handy for someone whose husband sometimes calls her The Black Tornado (a reference to an old commercial for a cleaning product nicknamed The White Tornado). 
  • The 15-minute countdown timer with auto shutoff.
  • Optional accessories/attachments: pasta maker, mincer/grinder, citrus juicer, blender, small food processor. (Now I'm wishing my old blender would die so I can replace it with this one!)


 
If you'd like to win one of these fabulous Cuisinart mixers (color of your choice), see below. And come back next week for a recipe! I post every Thursday (but I posted a day early this time because I am so excited about this mixer and giveaway!). Follow me by email so you'll never miss another recipe (box in right column). 

Watch for my new recipes for big batches of cookies, breads, and more in the coming weeks.




Cuisinart Stand Mixer Giveaway 

This giveaway is open to US residents 18 years of age or older. Leave a comment below (one entry per person) that includes your color choice (black, white or brushed chrome) and the first thing you'll make with it. Please include your email address in the body of your comment. Must enter by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday October 9. 

Winner will be chosen by random drawing and be announced here in the comments before noon Eastern time on Thursday October 10. If I don't hear back from the winner of the random drawing by noon Eastern time Sunday October 13, another drawing will be held and a new winner selected from the original entrants (those who commented before the giveaway deadline).

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Disclosure: Cuisinart provided a mixer for review purposes and a mixer for the giveaway. I received no compensation. The views expressed here are entirely my own. I always tell my readers what I really think!

 



69 comments:

  1. I LOVE this mixer and after being married for over 30 years without a stand alone mixer this one would be perfect to whip up some of my fave fall pumpkin concoctions~bread, muffins or cookies. I love the brushed chrome!! And while I am begging, my birthday is in 2 weeks!! Carroll (cwreed@hotmail.com)

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  2. A black mixer would be just the thing to make a 4 layer walnut cake with cream cheese frosting! (JLJurries@gmail.com)

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  3. My hand mixer always sounds like it's going to fail me whenever I make cookies. Would love something durable like this (in black ;) ) I brought some store bought peanut butter cookies home last night and all the girls talked about was how good my homemade ones are, so I think first up would be peanut butter cookies.
    RuthSchiffmann@hotmail.com

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  4. Just in time to make my traditional English Christmas cake... yum yum! (Chrome please). Oops in my eagerness to enter I left out my email. sarahjoykoonce@hotmail.com

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  5. This looks like a wonderful mixer! A black one would make a good cookie experiment even better. Ommnomnom...dozens of Christmas cookies to give to friends and family.
    (tatianaoh83@gmail.com)

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  6. I would love the white mixer and would make Christmas Coffee Cake. Yum Yum!! fiveburnersataoldotcom.

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  7. Good heavens, I haven't had the pleasure of using a stand mixer since my old one died 25 years ago! I'd love to have a shiny new black one on my counter, just in time to make pumpkin bread....er, butternut squash bread in my case. Or maybe I'd give in and treat the dogs to some homemade peanut butter molasses dog biscuits, or your delicious Angel food cake (which has become a staple in my house)......I could go on and on with the list of things I would make!

    anniebloom1@gmail.com

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  8. My, oh my ... it looks gorgeous! I really like the idea of the splash shield that lifts when you lift the beaters ... very handy. I'd love one in black and I'd make a double batch of chocolate chip cookies for my husband who adores them.

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  9. I would choose the brushed chrome and I would make a cinnamon bread.
    kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom

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  10. The first thing I would make would be pastry for my mother's old time Welsh recipe for iced squares, or what we found in the bakeries over in Britain were. Known as custards slices. If I were chosen as the winner I would love to have the white ones please! Thank you for the opportunity to enter, and have a great day!

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  11. I would make chocolate cookies and peanut butter cookies and date-nut cookies and someone would have to stop me! I would love a chrome one.

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  12. I'd pick the brushed chrome and the first thing I'd make would be... gingersnaps!
    rockydoo09@gmail.com

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  13. Great giveaway! I like the white one, and it's just in time to start making holiday cookies!

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  14. Oooh, ooh, I would adore this mixer! I'm hard on a mixer, and this year I have a new grandson, meaning we've infused new life into our holiday plans. That means new goodies! (hope@chopeclark.com)

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  15. I would love to win this! I'm getting married in May and this would be a perfect addition to our new kitchen. The brushed chrome is beautiful and the first thing I'll make is a cookie cake for my husband to be. My email address is erin.bolivar@gmail.com

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  16. What a great give away, Jean! My stand alone mixer was just giving me fits a few weeks ago!! I'd really like the chrome, although white would go better with the other appliances in my kitchen. And what would I make first? Goodness... so many choices, but it would probably be my favorite cookie - chocolate chip!!!

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  17. I would love to win this mixter.. I have four kids so it would be used a lot..

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  18. An awesome giveaway! Good luck too ALL!

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  19. Beautiful mixer, Jean.
    I too, have an old one. Upon pulling it out to use, I have received comments on how old it is. Like " Wow, I've never seen one that old." (Coming from someone a generation younger than myself, obviously!)
    If I am chosen to win, I'd like a black one.
    The first thing I would make would be gluten free scones.:)
    My e-mail:
    joymama@pacbell.net

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  20. Okay, Jean since it's true confessions, I'll admit I still don't have a microwave oven and my mixer is a puny hand-held one. Yes, I tend to do everything by hand.

    Okay a white mixer would do the trick. First use? Pumpkin Pie with whipped cream topping.

    LightartedSue@gmaildotcom

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  21. A chrome mixer would be lovely! I just downloaded a beautiful recipe for potato bread, so I would love to use this mixer for that!

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  22. I would be using the chrome to make chocolate chip cookies (I won't say how many hand mixers I've burnt up over the years making cookies). This seems like it would be harder for me to "destroy," they could possibly even be chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.

    kpossum11@gmail.com

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  23. Since I've been doing a lot of canning lately, I'd probably put together a recipe for a Lemon Curd Meringue Semifreddo. The recipe I found sounds just heavenly. I'd love a chrome mixer as I have a hand me down Sunbeam that is probably 40 years old. And my birthday is Sunday, so it would be perfect. drags59@yahoo.com

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  24. What a nice giveaway! I found you from David Leite's RT.
    I don't have any sort of electric mixer, so this would be a quantum leap for me. If I am the lucky winner, I would choose white, please, and the first thing I'd use it for would be a big batch of dough for breads and dinner rolls.
    q.piper at hotmail dot com

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  25. I would make many loaves of bread! My favorite thing to bake! Also with fall upon us, a few pumpkin pies! Brian@lettucewed.com

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  26. Thank you for this give-away! If I won, I would get chrome, and the 1st thing I would make is for SURE some treat for my 8-year-old son! He has food allergies, and I make him most of his food, so this would be a great addition to my kitchen. Thank You, Cara carascarlett (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  27. I'd love the white mixer! I'd make all kinds of cakes and pies and sweets for halloween, christmas, easter. I think I will become the baking queeen if i I win this.I don't have a mixer at all! I make these fudge peanut butter brownies that takes forever to hand mix. this would be really great for that!!!

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  28. I don't have a mixer so this would be awesome! I would love to make many things. Pumkin bread might be the first thing I make with it! :)
    mmleal82(at) gmail (dot) com

    Thanks!

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  29. Cool WMD (Wonderful Mixer Doodad)! Think I could see one of those in the kitchen and another one in my basement workshop. And white works, though I think I’d take black…or maybe chrome…still, white – no, black. Definitely black. Red, though… Anyway, here’s my email mn222mn@earthlink.net . You do have a straightforward, dependable, exhaustive and objective approach, if I may say, Jeani. Love your reviews!

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  30. This looks lovely. It would go well making my favorite artisan bread recipe.

    Norman Helmer
    supersahd at gmail dot com

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  31. Ashley D. I'd have to pick black and I'd start with good ol' chocolate chip cookies. :)
    ashley(dot)a(dot)dahlen(at)gmail(dot)com

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  32. I would want a black mixer if I won and I would definitely make cookies with the kids! Much easier for them to use then a hand mixer.

    lisawedding2014@outlook.com

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  33. I would choose the brushed chrome & make Homemade Marshmallows first off! Thanks!
    hstorm799{at}gmail{dot}com

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  34. The Cuisinart 12 Speed Stand Mixer in brushed chrome would blast me through my holiday baking. The first thing I would make is mountains of holiday cookies of every variety in a jiffy!

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  35. I have so many pumpkins to use (breads, bars, I'm not sure what else). This mixer would be great. I usually go for the classic white, but maybe I should mix things up. *rimshot*

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  36. I love this mixer black in my kitchen is ideal. GREG

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  37. I would make a snickerdoodle cake - I found a recipe for it just today and it looks amazing!

    I may try it in cupcake form for a trial run tomorrow. :)

    tammigirl at gmail dot com

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  38. Jean, a lovely looking mixer.
    When I see a machine as nice as this I always think of my brother Michael. He did a physics degree and now specialises in ,"sound and vibration,"
    Does this mixer purr like a cat or roar like a Ferrari?
    All the best,
    Tony

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  39. That reminds me of something I forgot to mention in the post, Tony. This mixer is very quiet, purrs like a kitten!

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  40. The brushed chrome would be lovely :-)

    I've been enjoying teaching my children to bake, and winning a mixer like that would be such a blessed treat!

    ali @ anordinarymom.com

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  41. We love brushed chrome appliances. So classy. When I asked my husband about the first thing he would make (he's the chef, not me), he immediately responded "PASTA"! He has an Italian mom and grew up with homemade pasta of all kinds. He bemoans the fact constantly that we have no mixer to make the dough.

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  42. I would pick the brushed chrome.
    The color makes it seem fancy to me. lol
    My dd and I would make red velvet cake for her daddy!
    kayleefaith1228@aol.com

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  43. I love baking! It has always been a passion of mine! The first thing I would make is Double Chocolate Mint Cookies! They're one of my favorite cookies and I would love the mixer in Brushed Chrome please!
    samimcsamsam@gmail.com

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  44. While I first thought I would most like the chrome finish, after visiting the Cuisinart webstore and seeing the black, I would select this color.
    I like the contrast between the dark of the stand and the steel color of the bowl, very sleek and posh.
    With the mixer I would attempt to make my first ever cheesecake. I have a recipe for one that is a combination PB and chocolate (like the popular candy). Even if it flops I am sure it will still be quite tasty. :)

    berlygirlmaui@gmail.com

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  45. I would like the brushed chrome, it would match everything in my kitchen.
    I would first make some breads for the upcoming holidays.


    vantagepointe@live.com

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  46. I would choose the brushed chrome and make a chocolate cake

    elena150980@yahoo.com

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  47. I would make cookies, and I would love black!

    darby.brazoski@gmail.com

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  48. I would LOVE to have a( brushed chrome) mixer...to make the first pumpkin cheesecake of the season.
    EmpresssLu56@gmail.com

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  49. i would love to have it in black if i win, thanks for the chance.
    sally0630@frontiernet.net

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  50. I would make cupcakes!
    Black
    holliister at gmail dot com

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  51. I would choose black and I would make a pumpkin roll with it! Makes my mouth water just thinking about it! ;)

    Shannon F
    shannonfaith3@gmail.com

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  52. I would choose the white and the first thing I would make is banana bread!

    rqballporter at gamil dot com

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  53. Would love the chrome.
    I would make cheesecake

    njharmonyg @ aol.com

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  54. I would love to make some gluten free chocolate sunflower butter cupcakes. They're too hard to do by hand!!
    Would love the black to match with the rest of my decor.

    antiwheatgirl@gmail.com

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  55. I would like brushed chrome and I would make a cake.

    rounder9834 @yahoo.com

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  56. Black and I would make fruity cheesecake with it.

    mands2612@gmail.com

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  57. I would choose the Chrome to make a caramel cake with Salted caramel icing. One can never have too much caramel!!

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  58. Oh wow a Cuisinart GIVEAWAY?!? I have wanted a stand mixer for so long now. I would get a black mixer because, even though I like white, white would get too dirty (especially seeing as how messy I am!)
    The first thing I would make would be cookies because I am terrible at making cookie dough. It's so firm and I always leave clumps or my hand gets tired!

    -Jessica
    abrahamlincoln35 [at] gmail [dot] com

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  59. I like the mixer in black and the first thing I would make would have to be banana nut bread. Everyone here loves it and I really love making it.

    cntryqueen21@aol.com

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  60. This is so cool. How did I not know that Cuisinart made stand mixers? I would like the black and the first thing I would make is whipped shortbread.

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  61. white!

    and I'd make pumpkin cookies

    katherinedibello (at) gmail (dot) com

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  62. I would love this mixer in brushed chrome. First product from this mixer: lemon squares!~ Lovelovelove lemon squares.

    (in.the.masquerade (at) gmail.com)

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  63. Any color. Gluten free cookies!
    Ladytaz@hotmail.com

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  64. I would love the black and the first thing I would make is probably a pumpkin cream cheese quick bread
    mummytotwoboys@yahoo.com

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  65. I would love to make a cake!

    Black please!

    pokergrl8 at gmail.com

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  66. I would choose the brushed chrome!

    I would make my famous marshmallow cake :)

    y.anzhie [-at-] gmail

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  67. I would choose the brushed chrome!
    I would make my grandmother's chocolate cake with chocolate / almond frosting!
    zuzu.wilson(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Thank you for the opportunity!

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  68. *Giveaway Winner Announced* - The winner, by random drawing, of the Cuisinart SM-55 heavy-duty stand mixer is Ann (theelegantshoestring). Ann, as soon as you send me, delightfulrepast at aol dot com, your name, address, phone number (required by shipper) and color choice, Cuisinart will ship the mixer to you. Congratulations!

    If I don't hear from the winner of the random drawing by 11:59 am Eastern time Sunday, October 13, another drawing will be held and a new winner selected from among the original entrants (those who commented before the giveaway deadline).

    Watch for my next giveaway! In the meantime, follow me on Google and Twitter (@delightfulrepas) and Pinterest. You can even use the Follow Me By Email button in the right column so you never have to miss another recipe, review or giveaway.

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