How to Knead Dough with a Stand Mixer
Updated: Mar. 31, 2020
If you don't want to knead dough by hand, try this trick.
For less of an arm workout when kneading dough, try using a stand mixer. The process is super simple.
Step 1: Prep your mixer
When your dough is mixed and ready to knead, fit your stand mixer with the dough hook attachment. Place the dough in the bowl.
Step 2: Knead the dough
Turn your mixer on low speed. Allow it to knead the dough for 3 minutes, or until it clings to the hook and cleans the sides of the bowl. Continue to knead the dough 3-4 minutes longer. You’ll know your dough is kneaded enough when it feels smooth and elastic.
Test Kitchen tip: Check it often to prevent over-kneading. This can create too much gluten, which results in hard, doughy bread.
You Knead These Yeast Bread Recipes
Dutch Oven Bread
Crackling homemade Dutch oven bread makes an average day extraordinary. Enjoy this beautiful crusty bread recipe as is, or stir in a few favorites like cheese, garlic, herbs and dried fruits. —Catherine Ward, Taste of Home Prep Kitchen Manager
Apple Dumpling Pull-Apart Bread
I converted a basic sweet dough into this incredible apple-filled pull-apart loaf. The results are anything but basic. It takes time, but I guarantee it's worth it. Using both sauces is twice as tasty. —Gina Nistico, Denver, Colorado
Rosemary Garlic Braid
This moist savory bread pairs nicely with a variety of main dishes. It's great with soup...and makes a wonderful grilled ham and cheese sandwich. I came up with the recipe a few years ago when I wanted to use up the fresh rosemary in my garden. -Cori Oakley, Traverse City, Michigan
Brioche Rolls
At 10 o'clock each morning, it's coffee time at our house. Friends, neighbors and relatives stop by just to grab a bite of these brioche rolls fresh from the oven. —Wanda Kristoffersen, Owatonna, Minnesota
Maple Bacon Bread
Swirled with maple syrup, raisins, bacon and brown sugar, this crave-worthy maple bacon bread is one they'll remember. Plus, the dough is easy to work with and roll out! —Alicia Rooker, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
For a delicious roll at your Thanksgiving dinner table, try this roll. It is a very easy yeast roll recipe and are on the table in no time.—Connie Thomas, Jensen, Utah
Wild Rice & Cranberry Loaves
This is an incredibly fragrant bread with lots of texture from wild rice and dried cranberries. It's hearty enough for sandwiches, but with a touch of honey, I could even eat this for dessert! —Barbara Miller, Oakdale, Minnesota
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These cute pumpkin-shaped rolls are worth the effort. They're a festive fall favorite in my household. If you don't have pumpkin on hand, try using sweet potato. —Veronica Fay, Knoxville, Tennessee
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When I started making this bread, my husband and our six children liked it so much that I was baking every day! I was thrilled when the judges at our county fair gave these braids both a blue ribbon and a best of show award! —Nancy Montgomery, Hartville, Ohio
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These soft rolls are out of this world. The addition of oat makes them a little heartier than other dinner rolls. —Patricia Rutherford, Winchester, Illinois
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On a cold day, nothing is better than a warm, crusty Dutch oven raisin bread filled with walnuts. —Catherine Ward, Taste of Home Prep Kitchen Manager
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Most of the farmers in our area grow wheat, so this recipe definitely represents my region. I bake these rolls often, especially when I'm making soup or stew. —Celecia Stoup, Hobart, Oklahoma
Cinnamon Swirl Breakfast Bread
Field editor Peggy Burdick of Burlington, Michigan sends the recipe for this lovely breakfast bread. She notes, "My aunt gave me the recipe for these pretty, rich-tasting loaves many years ago. I use my bread machine for the first step in the recipe.
Sweet Potato Crescents
My family agrees that our Thanksgiving feast would not be complete without these light-as-air crescent rolls. They're a nice accompaniment to any menu. Baking them always puts me in the holiday spirit. —Rebecca Bailey, Fairbury, Nebraska
Honey-Squash Dinner Rolls
These puffy dinner rolls take on rich color when you add squash to the dough. Any squash variety works. I've even used cooked carrots. —Marcia Whitney, Gainesville, Florida
Gouda and Roasted Potato Bread
Our family tried roasted potato bread at a bakery on a road trip, and I came up with my own recipe when we realized we lived much too far away to have it regularly. It makes for a really amazing roast beef sandwich and also goes well with soups. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
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I developed this bread to celebrate our two favorite holidays, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah. Try it with flavored butters, and use leftovers for French toast or sandwiches. —Sara Mellas, Hartford, Connecticut
Glazed Cranberry Swirl Loaf
This is one of my favorite recipes to serve during the holidays. Without the filling, it makes a nice soft, chewy bread for any regular day! —Chris Carattini, Chadron, Nebraska
Braided Multigrain Loaf
I love this hearty, chewy loaf that uses oats, rye flour, rice and sunflower seeds. It's so robust, you could almost make a meal out of this bread with a little butter. —Jane Thomas, Burnseville, Minnesota
Soft Buttermilk Dinner Rolls
Warm, buttery dinner rolls are absolutely irresistible. I save time and use a stand mixer to make my dough. —Jennifer Patterson, Shoshone, Idaho
Maple Butter Twists
My stepmother gave me the recipe for a delicious yeast coffee cake shaped into pretty rings. When I make it for friends, they always ask for seconds. —June Gilliland, Hope, Indiana
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These versatile rolls are so welcome served warm alongside any dinner. I always make a big batch since my family enjoys them after they're cool, too, stuffed with a filling like egg salad or ham salad. —Mary Bickel, Terre Haute, Indiana
Everything Bread
I love to make bread from scratch and this has become one of our tried-and-true favorites to serve with any meal, casual or formal. —Traci Wynne, Denver, Pennsylvania
Old-Fashioned Brown Bread
This chewy, old-fashioned bread boasts a slightly sweet flavor that will transport you back to the old days. —Patricia Donnelly, Kings Landing, New Brunswick
Buttery Bubble Bread
Homemade bread can be time-consuming, difficult and tricky to make. But this fun-to-eat monkey bread, baked in a fluted tube pan, is easy and almost foolproof. If I'm serving it for breakfast, I add some cinnamon and drizzle it with icing. —Pat Stevens, Granbury, Texas
Savory Stuffing Bread
Poultry seasoning and celery salt make this hearty loaf taste like just like stuffing. It's the perfect bread to serve with turkey during the holidays, and it's nice for making sandwiches with the leftovers. —Betsy King, Duluth, Minnesota
Oatmeal Dinner Rolls
These fluffy rolls go perfectly with any meal. They have a delicious homemade flavor that's irresistible. I like them because they're not hard to make and they bake up nice and high. —Patricia Staudt, Marble Rock, Iowa
Autumn Sweet Rolls with Cider Glaze
I love cooking with pumpkin because it’s versatile, colorful and nutritious. Combining it with chopped apple and cider gives these glazed rolls their autumn appeal. —Jennifer Coduto, Kent, Ohio
Cranberry Whole Wheat Bagels
The bagel recipes I saw in a magazine inspired me to try creating my own. I've been making them like crazy ever since! My whole wheat version dotted with cranberries is a favorite. —Tami Kuehl, Loup City, Nebraska
Pumpkin Knot Rolls
These rolls are the lightest, most delicious ones I've ever tasted...and everyone else seems to agree. The pumpkin gives them mild flavor, moist texture and a pretty golden color. At our house, it wouldn't be the holidays without them. —Dianna Shimizu Issaquah, Washington
Sunflower Seed & Honey Wheat Bread
I've tried other bread recipes, but this one is a staple in our home. I won $50 in a bake-off with a loaf that I had stored in the freezer. —Mickey Turner, Grants Pass, Oregon
Milk-and-Honey White Bread
My dad has been a wheat farmer all his life and my state is the wheat capital, so this recipe represents my region and my family well. This bread never lasts too long at our house. —Kathy McCreary, Goddard, Kansas
Can't-Eat-Just-One Cinnamon Rolls
My cinnamon rolls have been known to vanish quickly. Once I dropped off a dozen rolls for my brothers, and they emptied the pan in 10 minutes. —Regina Farmwald, West Farmington, Ohio
Rosemary Focaccia
The savory aroma of rosemary in this classic bread is simply irresistible. This rosemary focaccia bread tastes great as a side dish with any meal, as a snack or as a pizza crust.
Contest-Winning Potato Pan Rolls
Beautiful color and a light-as-a-feather texture make these rolls our family's favorite for holiday meals. I won the reserve champion award at a 4-H yeast bread competition with this recipe. —LeAnne Hofferichter-Tieken, Floresville, Texas
Sage-Apple Cider Bread
Who knew sage and apple cider would create such a fantastic bread? This versatile loaf that has just a hint of sweetness makes wonderful sandwiches or stuffing. —Christine Wendland, Browns Mills, New Jersey
Caramel-Pecan Monkey Bread
The kids will get a kick out of pulling off gooey pieces of this delectable monkey bread. It's hard to resist a caramel-coated treat. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Rustic Rye Bread
This gorgeous rye bread has just a touch of sweetness and the perfect amount of caraway seeds. With a crusty top and firm texture, it holds up well to sandwiches, but a pat of butter will do the job, too. —Holly Wade, Harrisonburg, Virginia
Easy Potato Rolls
After I discovered this recipe, it became a mainstay for me. I make the dough ahead of time when company is coming, and I try to keep some in the refrigerator to bake for our ranch hands. Leftover mashed potatoes are almost sure to go into these rolls. —Jeanette McKinney, Belleview, Missouri
Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
I like to try different fun fillings in these soft rolls, and each one is packed with cinnamon flavor. They are definitely worth the overnight wait. —Chris O'Connell, San Antonio, Texas
Crusty Homemade Bread
Crackling homemade bread makes an average day extraordinary. Enjoy this beautiful crusty bread recipe as is, or stir in a few favorites like cheese, garlic, herbs and dried fruits. —Megumi Garcia, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Cinnamon Swirl Bread
Your family will be impressed with the soft texture and appealing swirls of cinnamon in this lovely cinnamon bread recipe. —Diane Armstrong, Elm Grove, Wisconsin
Cranberry Swirl Loaf
My mother's made this bread for years, but she uses date filling. I loved her bread so much that I made my own, with cranberries for a slightly tart filling with the sweet streusel topping—sometimes I add a simple icing. Each slice reveals an enticing ruby swirl. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
Triple Mustard and Gruyere Bread Thins
As a bread baker, I’m always experimenting with new flavor combinations. My mustard and Gruyere bread has become my all-time favorite for sandwiches. The bread elevates every sandwich to gourmet status. —Veronica Fay, Knoxville, Tennessee
Icebox Rolls
I remember my mom making these rolls almost every Saturday so they'd be ready to bake on Sunday for company or someone just dropping by. Although they take a little time to prepare, they're really not all that difficult to make. And there's nothing in the stores that can compare to them! —Jean Fox, Welch, Minnesota
Originally Published: March 31, 2020
