KitchenAid Artisan Plus Stand Mixer review: I tested the brand's biggest mixer update yet

My parents gifted me my first KitchenAid stand mixer as a Christmas present my sophomore year of college. At the time, that shiny white classic KitchenAid mixer pumped out dozens of cookies and birthday cakes for friends and family. Years later, my mom still uses the same stand mixer in her home without any issues, a testament to KitchenAid mixers' longevity and heirloom qualities. Though, as my baking needs expanded as a professional baker, I swapped to larger mixers from the lineup. Now, there's a new KitchenAid I needed to look at, featuring the brand's most noteworthy design upgrade since 1955.

The new KitchenAid Artisan Plus looks remarkably similar to other 5-quart KitchenAid mixers in the Artisan series, but it's so much more than just a color refresh or the exciting addition of a bowl light for better visibility. It's a smarter version of the timeless classic with upgrades that actually matter, including better speed control and gentler starts, along with improved accessories that are built to last and that are much easier to clean, so you can keep baking.

What is the KitchenAid Artisan Plus?

The KitchenAid Artisan Plus stand mixer is the classic kitchen brand's newest release, which launched at the end of March 2026. At first glance, the tilt-head stand mixer still looks like the original KitchenAid design many bakers and cooks know and love, but it feels a bit more modern. The silhouette is familiar, but this new design adds a few key highlights.

For one, the stainless steel bowl now has a welded handle for a seamless structure, while a small light on the bottom of the motor head lights up the bowl during mixing. The control layout has a significant change, with 11 speed settings. This kicks off with a half speed and runs through one to 10. That half-speed setting lets you slow-start, which is super helpful when mixing dry ingredients and avoiding that dreadful flour puff. For even better precision and control, you can use half speeds in between from one to ten, which is unlike any other stand mixer I've used. That addition gives you 21 varying speeds for ultimate control. This mixer is priced higher than standard KitchenAid mixers of the same size, but with all the upgrades, it feels like a premium mixer at an appropriate price.

The biggest upgrade is control, not the light

a close up of the speed controls on a stand mixer

At first glance, the key highlight and upgrade to this Artisan Plus mixer is the inclusion of a light that points into the mixing bowl. I don't know of any other stand mixers that incorporate this feature, and I anticipate copycats to follow. While it can be useful, the precision speed control feature is the more meaningful performance upgrade.

With previous tilt-head KitchenAid stand mixer models, starting the speed control is "all or nothing." Because the mixers have powerful motors, they deliver a quick jolt of power from the get-go. That can be helpful in some cases, but in many circumstances, a slow start and better control are more important.

The slow start feature is helpful if you're prepping a cake batter that starts with a dry-ingredient base. This helps gradually mix the dry ingredients, without a big cloud of flour puffing out of the bowl from the sudden speed increase at the start of mixing. This can also be useful while folding in ingredients that need a gentler approach, rather than having to take the mixer bowl out and doing it by hand. There's a half speed to start, with the option to move from one to ten on the speed dial, along with the choice to adjust to half speeds in between. I like that bakers can be that much more precise in setting the mixer to the exact speed for the best dough and batter. It's a noticeable improvement from any other KitchenAid stand mixer I've used, no matter the number of speed settings offered.

The bowl light is still part of the story

There's no doubt that the flashiest addition to the Artisan Plus stand mixer is the bowl light. No KitchenAid has ever included this feature, and for some bakers, it may make all the difference. The light is situated above the bowl toward the back of the tilt-hand. It lights up whatever is in the bowl, allowing for better control when assessing texture changes in doughs and batters. I found it helpful for properly creaming butter to ensure the texture and color are correct, along with assessing the final texture of a batter or dough before it heads to the oven. It's a simple white light that isn't too overpowering or bright — just enough to light up the bowl. It turns on automatically when the mixer is plugged in and the tilt-head is lowered, without even needing to touch the speed setting. If it has automatically turned off, it can also be turned on by twisting the control knob. Overall, I don't think it's a crucial feature for a stand mixer, but it's still a nice addition alongside the other upgrades.

The attachments are equally impressive

The included attachments with the Artisan Plus are the best iteration of these attachments I've seen. I've used stainless steel options in my bowl-lift KitchenAid for years, but they've always been harder to clean. It's clear that the stainless steel attachments are constructed to last. They are easy to wash by hand or in the dishwasher. Plus, the inclusion of the Flex Edge with full surrounding rubber, instead of just one-sided, is a gamechanger.

The upgrade to the bowl is a significant change as well. The welded handle makes for a more attractive bowl, but in general, the bowl feels lighter and easier to transfer, and it's of higher quality. Plus, it's that much easier to clean. The included pouring shield is helpful for a variety of uses, whether you're trying to prevent splatter or gradually adding dry ingredients, and the rubber feet offer a snug fit onto the bowl.

What I made

During my tests, I found the same consistent conclusion — all of these upgrades incorporated into one mixer made a difference. I've used five other KitchenAid models in a variety of settings, making items such as cookie dough, pizza dough, and whipped cream in each. This mixer made most tasks simpler.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

I used the Flex Edge Beater to make chocolate chip cookie dough. Creaming the butter and sugars on medium speed was quiet and worked smoothly. I loved that the beater has rubber edges all around, so there's no need to stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl — the beater does it for you. Creaming the butter and sugars in this mixture meant better incorporation, which was consistent once the egg was added as well. I lowered the mixer speed to medium-low while adding the dry ingredients mixture, and was still impressed by its flawless incorporation. Plus, no puff of flour! Once chocolate chips were added, the motor didn't struggle, and there weren't any "walking" or jolting issues, even with the chunkier dough.

Homemade whipped cream

Next, to make a batch of homemade whipped cream, I used the whisk attachment and one cup of heavy cream. I started at low speed and gradually ramped to medium, with no issues, which helped prevent splatter. This process was quick and efficient, taking only four minutes to whip until soft peaks, which is less time than with any other stand mixer I've used.

Pizza dough

When making pizza dough with the dough hook, I ran into the most significant issue. Once the yeast was proofed and I gradually added flour on medium-low speed, the heavier dough mixture began to truly test the mixer and its motor. Many stand mixers have an issue with tough doughs, causing them to "walk" on the counter because of the jerking movement. This stand mixer didn't have that issue at all. However, the motor was strained enough to warm up during use, and the tilt-head moved quite a bit. This jerking movement caused the locking mechanism on the tilt-head to loosen, making the task more difficult. I was still able to accomplish mixing the dough, but it did require holding down the tilt-head to ensure the dough hook could move through the dough for proper kneading. For softer doughs or enriched doughs, this may not be an issue.

What I did not love

The light is a key feature on this new KitchenAid model. While it may be helpful for some bakers, it isn't essential for others. I found it odd that the light turns on automatically when the mixer is plugged in and the bowl is in place, even if the mixer speed isn't turned on. While there is an automatic shut-off after five minutes, it seems like it would reduce the lifetime of the light. When the light burns out, it cannot be replaced on your own. Overall, this upgrade is a great choice if you're in need of a new KitchenAid, purchasing your first stand mixer, or buying a gift. However, the changes aren't significant enough or worth it to upgrade if your existing KitchenAid is still in great working condition. It's also not ideal for those who prep a lot of tough doughs, such as pizza dough, or knead dough at a higher speed, because the tilt-head mechanism tends to come loose.

What are your alternatives?

The classic Artisan 5-Quart mixer from KitchenAid is a step above the Classic 4.5-Quart, but neither has the same speed control or premium bowl and attachments as the Artisan Plus. All three are tilt-head designs, which let's the head of the machine hinge backward for easier access to the beater or adding ingredients. If you need a stand mixer for consistent, heavy-duty dough prep and use, it may be best to look at another option with a larger bowl and stronger motor, or consider a KitchenAid bowl-lift style mixer, which would alleviate this issue with extra stability. Our guide to the best KitchenAid Stand Mixers further compares the line up, and you can read my review of Artisan 5-quart review and the Classic Plus review.

The bottom line

I learned to bake with a KitchenAid mixer, and I opened my own bakery at 22 with two professional-sized KitchenAid mixers. I've tested countless of the best stand mixers, and this new Artisan Plus KitchenAid Stand Mixer is absolutely the most significant upgrade the brand has introduced in decades. The precision speed control is helpful, the light is an added feature, the attachments are built to last, and the bowl is that much easier to clean. It will delight home bakers and is built to last for years to come.