Now I use a stand mixer which I got as a wedding gift, but I have made many batches of cookies with a wooden spoon. (and I agree with 12:58s advice).

Thanks everyone!! I appreciate it!

I use a hand mixer. Can't wait until I have enough kitchen space for a stand one though! Probably not going to happen until I move out of the DC area...

I always use a hand mixer to mix cookie or cake dough, unless it's for shortbread then I use my food processor. I think I bought my hand mixer for $5 or so at Walmart. It has five speeds and does the job well enough.

I am a big baker of cookies/cakes/breads. I do not own a stand mixer.

The only hard part is creaming the butter and sugar. It takes a bit of work to do properly by hand. It should look creamy and fluffy, but you can't let it get too warm and soft, or the texture won't be right. I like to use a fork to start out, with the butter a little warmed - but not room temp, which is too soft. Then as I go along I switch to a wooden spoon and sort of squish the mixture together against the side of the bowl.

Once the butter is creamed, everything else is a piece of cake to mix.

it is not totally necessary. you can use a hand mixer. i wouldn't hand-mix it with a spoon though. cookie dough can be very stiff.

nope, not necessary. I use my stand mixer for things like --- meringues, cheesecake, etc... stuff that takes 15+ minutes of beating or that needs to be beaten to "stiff peaks"

Regular cookie dough doesn't require it. I don't even pre-soften my butter always, but it helps when you're using a hand mixer!

Anonymous wrote:just let the butter come to room temperature so the batter is easier to mix by hand

PP is right. You will still need to use a little elbow grease though.

just let the butter come to room temperature so the batter is easier to mix by hand

This is a really dumb question. But all the recipes I see for homemade chocolate chip cookies call for using a stand mixer. I want to make my own cookies (haven't in years, but when I used to make them all the time, I had a stand mixer.) I don't have one now. Is it totally necessary?? Can I make due without? Will they suck and be all lumpy or something?