Ever heard of a heating stand mixer? It'll change the way you bake

A heated stand mixer is one of those appliances you’ll wonder what you ever did without. Gone are the days of transferring mixes from the hob to the bowl to the oven and back again, the Kenwood Cooking Chef XL can do it all - and then some.

Kenwood have been behind some of the best stand mixers of all time, so it’s no surprise that they’re pioneering this one-bowl wonder. The Kenwood Cooking Chef XL promises to boast all the finesse of your old favourite models, but with a screen and heated element that’ll help you create advert-worthy caramels, sensational stir fries, and you might even manage to pop some corn at the same time.

In honour of giving this a proper, thorough test, I cleared my KitchenAid off the counter and turned to the Kenwood for a week. And I have to say, I was surprised with what I found.

Kenwood Cooking Chef XL Stand Mixer review

• RRP: £1,249.99
• Dimensions: 41 x 34 x 38 cm
• Weight: 19.75 kgs
• Bowl side: 6.7L
• Material: glass, plastic, stainless steel
• Motor: 1500 watts
• Accessories: dough tool, creaming beater, stainless steel beater, whisk, stir tool, steamer basket, spatula, dough scraper, splash guard, proving lid
• Pre-sets: 600
• Heat range: 20-200°C
• Dishwasher safe bowl: yes
• Bowl light: yes

Who would the Kenwood Cooking Chef XL Stand Mixer suit?

As the name suggests, the Kenwood Cooking Chef XL is a seriously cheffy machine. Its stand-out feature is a built-in heating element at the base of the bowl. This transforms it from a regular mixer into a multi-talented kitchen companion. You can melt butter and chocolate, temper sauces, make slow-cooked stews, or even whip up a quick stir-fry. So if you’ve been toying with the idea of both a stand mixer and a slow cooker, this may just be your dream hybrid.

It’s designed for cooks who love to experiment, the sort who never follow a recipe exactly and like to push their kitchen gadgets to the limit. Between its generous capacity, powerful motor, and collection of clever attachments, it’s a true all-rounder for anyone serious about cooking and baking.

Yes, it’s an investment, but the combination of power, precision, and versatility makes it feel worth every penny. This is a stand mixer for big kitchens and bigger ambitions, perfect for enthusiastic home chefs who want a machine that can keep up with their creativity.

Unboxing Kenwood Cooking Chef XL Stand Mixer

Stand mixers are heavy as it is, when you add in a bigger build and heating element, you get a box that's really hefty (nearly 20kgs). Luckily, I have been baking for a while, kneading bread and carrying big bags of flour, so I was happy to haul this around the house. However, if you aren't feeling strong, it's worth roping in some strong arms to help you with unboxing.

The good news is that all the packaging is either recycled, recyclable, or compostable. It's a rare treat in the world of stand mixers, as these tend to be a few steps behind other products in terms of sustainability. And yet Kenwood have honoured their commitment to the environemnt and kept things natural.

You'll see that the stand mixer doesn't just come on its own. Alongside the standard k-beater, dough hook, and whisk Kenwood sends a creaming beater, stir tool, steamer basket, spatula, dough scraper, splash guard, proving lid. It's a fair amount to think about storing, but you'll be grateful to have them when you're making your way through a recipe book of options.

What is the Kenwood Cooking Chef XL Stand Mixer like to use?

On the surface, the Kenwood Cooking Chef XL Stand Mixer is remarkably simple to control. The touchscreen lets you adjust the temperature, time, and speed and it’s large enough to read easily without glasses. Beneath the bowl (and bowl lights) sits a clever built-in scale that weighs solids and liquids directly, saving on washing up and keeping everything in one place.

Connect it to WiFi and you’ll unlock a library of guided recipes through the app, but even without that, there’s plenty to explore. The pre-set programs cover an impressive range, from delicate meringues to hearty doughs.

Test 1: cake batter

A classic cake batter test tells you everything you need to know about a mixer’s technique. The Kenwood Cooking Chef XL Stand Mixer creamed butter and sugar to a pale, fluffy perfection and incorporated the dry ingredients evenly. I was pleased to see that there were no unmixed patches clinging to the sides or bottom of the bowl.

Because I often forget to bring my butter to room temperature, I tried using it straight from the fridge and switched on a little heat from the base. The results were seriously impressive. Even with rock solid butter, I made a light, velvety batter that rose beautifully in the oven. It’s a small feature, but it makes a big difference for spontaneous bakers like me.

I do have one word of warning that comes with the second cake that I made in here. My mum and I decided to test it with a vegan chocolate cake batter, a rather thin mixture, and she forgot to add the splash guard whilst I was downstairs dealing with the dog.

Within seconds, our kitchen, my mum, and the Kenwood were decorated in cocoa splatter. A mess, yes, but also proof of its power. Once cleaned up, the cake was beautifully even and indulgently moist. We kept the splashguard firmly in place for all the other bakes.

Test 2: buttercream icing

The dedicated buttercream setting was irresistible to try, and it didn’t disappoint. Within minutes, my butter and icing sugar were transformed into a cloud-light frosting: glossy, smooth, and ready to pipe. The silicone beater left nothing behind on the bowl, which made cleaning up a breeze.

Test 3: whipped cream

I always start by whipping cream to test a stand mixer’s power and precision. The Kenwood impressed me instantly. My double cream reached thick, glossy peaks in just 1 minute 34 seconds, and I didn’t even need to go near the top speed. That’s serious performance.

Vegan cream, which can be a little temperamental, also whipped beautifully into soft peaks in under two minutes. The result was a smooth, stable texture that would make perfect frosting or fillings.

Test 4: meringue

This was where the Kenwood truly flexed its muscles. Using the balloon whisk, my egg whites began to foam almost immediately and transformed into glossy, stiff peaks in just under four minutes. The consistency was textbook-perfect: silky, stable, and voluminous.

The heating element also makes it ideal for Italian meringue: you can warm your sugar syrup directly in the bowl and pour it in without missing a beat. It’s the kind of precision that would make any pastry chef proud.

Test 5: bread dough

The dough hook is a dream. In less than five minutes, it had kneaded my bread dough into a smooth, elastic ball that came cleanly away from the sides of the bowl.

Then there’s the proving function: 45 minutes of gentle warmth that doubled my dough’s size perfectly.

Watching the dough rise while you prep toppings or tidy up feels really satisfying. I have to admit, I was sceptical that this would deliver a bread as light and fluffy as my normal loaf, but it did just that and then some. It’s the kind of convenience that spoils you for every other mixer.

Test 6: gingerbread

When it came to biscuit dough, the Kenwood made light work of my gingerbread mix. I melted butter, sugar, and syrup using gentle heat: they combined into a perfectly smooth caramel base.

Once the flour and spices were added, the dough came together quickly with no lumps or streaks. It’s a notoriously tricky dough, but the Kenwood handled it like a pro.

Test 7: stir fry

Cooking a stir-fry in a stand mixer felt novel, but the Kenwood handled it with ease. The instant heat brought tofu to a sizzle within minutes. While I gave it a little help with a spatula at first, once the vegetables went in, the stirring arm kept everything moving and evenly cooked. Ten minutes later, I had a perfectly glossy, saucy stir-fry: proof that this really is more than a mixer.

Test 8: slow cooks and risottos

Image 1 of 2

I used the same basic functions to make both a risotto and a vegetable casserole, starting with sautéing onions and garlic, then adding stock, wine, and vegetables. The heat settings were precise enough to let me layer flavours just like I would on the hob.

My stew came out rich and well-cooked, though root vegetables needed finer chopping to soften fully. The mixer arm did its job quietly in the background, not silent, but steady and reassuring.

Cleaning the Kenwood Cooking Chef Stand Mixer

The bowl and accessories for the Kenwood Cooking Chef XL Stand Mixer are dishwasher safe. You can wash them by hand, which I did, if there are stubborn burns at the bottom of the bowl, but my main reasoning is that it'll help the stand mixer to stay in better condition for longer.

The bowl wiped clean easily, and even after sticky syrups and doughs, there was no staining or residue. For a machine this powerful, it’s surprisingly low maintenance.

Should you buy the Kenwood Cooking Chef XL Stand Mixer?

The Kenwood Cooking Chef XL is more than a stand mixer: it’s a fully-fledged kitchen assistant. It whisks, kneads, cooks, and stirs with impressive precision, all while looking sleek and modern on the countertop.

Yes, it’s big, and yes, it’s an investment, but it earns its place. For home cooks who love to experiment, or anyone who wants professional-level results with a touch of everyday ease, it’s a game-changer. Once you’ve used it, it’s hard to imagine your kitchen without it.