Introduction
Baking is an art that demands both creativity and the right tools to achieve perfect results. Whether you’re making delicate pastries, hearty bread dough, or fluffy meringue, having the proper stand mixer can significantly impact the outcome. When your stand mixer struggles with thick dough or large batches, it can be frustrating. That’s where the Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker XL (KVL65) comes in, designed to handle heavy-duty tasks with ease while providing professional-grade performance. But does it live up to its promise? Let’s examine its features and performance to determine its capabilities.
Retails around $1,200
Whipping
5/5
Kneading
5/5
Beating
4.5/5
Ease of usE
4.5/5
price/valUE
4/5
Key Specs at a Glance
- Motor Power: 1200W motor, providing ample power for heavy dough kneading.
- Speed Settings: 8 speed settings, plus a pulse function, allowing for precise control in mixing tasks.
- Bowl Capacity: 7.3 quarts Brushed Stainless Steel bowl for larger batches of dough
- Body Material: Made of die-cast metal, offering a sturdy and durable build.
- Attachments Included: Flat beater, dough hook, and wire whisk. Additionally, a K-beater is included for more delicate mixing tasks.
- Weight and Dimensions: 25.8 lbs and has a dimension of 9.4″D x 16.1″W x 13.5″H
- Warranty: 1-year manufacturer warranty,
Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker XL Build Quality
The Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker XL (KVL65) is a sturdy and stylish mixer that radiates quality from every angle. The machine is primarily made of metal, giving it a premium feel and long-lasting durability. The color options for the KVL65 are sleek, with a brushed metal finish that complements modern kitchens, giving it a premium look and feel.
The 7.3 quarts stainless steel bowl is large enough to handle various tasks, from mixing cake batters to kneading bread dough. Its design balances professional strength with home kitchen style. The polished finish gives it a sleek, modern look that suits most kitchens, whether contemporary or traditional.
It measures 9.4″ D x 16.1″ W x 13.5″ H and weighs 25.8 lbs, so it requires sufficient counter space and storage. Its large size means it’s best suited for dedicated counter space rather than storage.
Revolutionary EasyWeigh Scales Technology
The main feature of the Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker XL (KVL65) is its built-in EasyWeigh scales, which allow you to weigh ingredients directly into the 7.3-quart bowl or any attached accessory.
This eliminates the need for separate measuring bowls and helps keep the kitchen cleaner. The scales can measure in pounds and ounces or grams and kilograms, making recipe conversion easy.
Customizable PopTop Design
The Kenwood KAT65 Pop Top Head Cover is a functional and stylish addition that allows you to customize your Chef Baker XL stand mixer. Its simple design and variety of color choices enable you to coordinate it with your kitchen decor or give your mixer a fresh look for special occasions. The removable plastic cover sits on top of the KVL65 and can be easily swapped out without the need for tools, making it simple to update your mixer’s appearance whenever desired.
Kenwood offers eight different colors for the KAT65 Pop Top, including: Elderflower White, Sage Green, Ice Silver, Mulberry Purple, Champagne Cream, Juniper Blue, Apricot Pink and Poppy Seed Grey. It comes with champagne cream fitted as standard out of the box and other color options is available for purchase.
Power and Mixing Ability
At the heart of this machine is a digitally controlled 1200W motor that smartly adjusts to whatever you’re making, ensuring you only use the power needed. Whether you’re working with dense bread dough, mixing large batches of cookies, or whipping up meringue, the motor automatically adapts for optimal performance. This delivers strong, steady power without overheating and handles large batches with ease.
8-speed settings
The 8-speed settings are perfect for a variety of mixing tasks, from slow stirring to high-speed whipping. Additionally, the Chef Baker XL includes a pulse function for tasks that need a quick burst of power. Whether you’re adding ingredients quickly or whipping something to perfection, this feature is very helpful. The variable speed control allows for precise adjustments based on the recipe, making it a versatile tool for various cooking styles.
The tilt-head design adds convenience by allowing easy access to the bowl and attachment changes. The bowl stays securely in place during mixing, so there’s no need to worry about it slipping around while you knead thick dough or mix batters. The Chef Baker’s unique planetary mixing action covers the entire side, center, and bottom of the bowl. This is especially helpful when working with thick mixtures like bread dough or stiff cake batters, as it helps prevent the need to scrape down the sides frequently.
Several essential attachments come with the mixer. These attachments are crafted from durable materials and fit snugly into place, and each is designed to handle specific mixing tasks efficiently.
Included Attachments and Their Purposes
- K-Beater: Ideal for general mixing tasks, particularly for mixing batters, cookie doughs, and light to medium mixtures. The flat design of the beater enables effective mixing and scraping of the bowl sides.
- Whisk: Designed for whipping tasks such as egg whites, cream, and meringues. Its balloon shape allows for maximum air incorporation.
- Dough Hook: Ideal for kneading bread dough, pizza dough, and other dense mixtures. It ensures thorough and consistent kneading.
- Creaming Beater: Is specifically designed for the creaming process, which incorporates air into ingredients, such as when creaming butter and sugar. It is typically used for recipes that require a light, fluffy texture, such as cakes or cookies that rely on creamed butter.
Performance Across Different Baking Tasks
- Bread Making – The powerful motor and dough hook handle bread doughs exceptionally well, making light work of whole grain and enriched doughs that challenge lesser machines.
- Cake Baking – While excellent for mixing cake batters, users need to scrape down the bowl multiple times during the creaming process to ensure proper incorporation. The integrated scales excel in this area, allowing for precise ingredient addition without interrupting the mixing process.
- Pastry and Delicate Work – The mixer features a dedicated fold function for delicate mixes like meringues and mousses, ensuring you can achieve professional results with the lightest mixtures.
During our tests, when creaming butter and sugar, the mixer showed more wobbling than expected during the initial stages, even with soft, room-temperature butter. Once the ingredients were mixed correctly, it settled down and performed excellently.
Additional Attachments to Expand Functionality
Kenwood offers over 25 optional attachments compatible with the KVL65, allowing you to expand its capabilities:
- Food Mincer (KAX950ME): Grind meat, fish, or vegetables for sausages, burgers, or pâtés.
- Pasta Roller and Cutter Attachments (KAX980ME, KAX981ME, KAX982ME): Roll and cut fresh pasta at home, including fettuccine, spaghetti, and tagliolini.
- Slow Juicer (KAX720PL): Extract juice from fruits and vegetables, preserving nutrients and flavor.
- Spiralizer (KAX700PL): Create spiralized vegetables for healthy meals and garnishes.
- ThermoResist Glass Blender (KAH359GL): Blend smoothies, soups, and sauces with ease.
- Food Processor (KAH647PL): Chop, slice, shred, and dice ingredients quickly and efficiently.
These attachments, purchased separately, connect via the high-speed or slow-speed outlets, adding extra versatility beyond simple mixing.
Ease of Use
The Chef Baker XL is very easy to operate. The learning curve is minimal. Most home bakers will find it straightforward to use, and for more experienced bakers, the variable speed control offers enough flexibility to try complex recipes. The clear, easy-to-read display shows which speed setting you are using, and the pulse function is a helpful feature when you need an extra burst of power.
Assembling the stand mixer is straightforward, with the bowl twisting to lock into the base and attachments snapping into place on the underside of the tilt head. The tilt head release button is conveniently positioned at the back of the machine, and Kenwood’s Light Lift head responds fully with only a gentle touch.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker XL Cleanup
Cleaning the mixer is fairly straightforward, but the large size of the bowl and attachments means it takes a bit more effort than smaller models. The 7.3-quart stainless steel bowl is dishwasher-safe, along with the attachments (flat beater, dough hook, and wire whisk). However, the die-cast aluminum body and motor base should be wiped with a damp cloth.
The planetary mixing action helps minimize mess by keeping ingredients contained within the bowl and preventing splattering during mixing. Overall, the cleanup process is fairly simple, but due to the size of the mixer and its parts, it may require some extra space in your sink or dishwasher.
Maintenance Tips
To keep the Chef Baker XL (KVL65) working well for years, regular maintenance is important. After each use, clean the bowl and attachments right away to stop food from piling up. Wipe down the motor base and metal parts with a soft, damp cloth to remove dust or food particles.
Check the attachments for any signs of wear, particularly the dough hook and beater, as these are the most frequently used. If you use the mixer for heavy doughs regularly, consider periodically inspecting the gears and mechanism to ensure smooth operation. Regular use of the pulse function can help reduce stress on the motor by avoiding overworking the mixer.
Overall, the mixer is low-maintenance, and cleaning is simple for most users.
Pros & Cons
PROS
Excellent build quality with premium materials throughout, featuring a sleek, modern design.
Revolutionary built-in scales eliminate need for separate measuring equipment.
Powerful 1200W motor handles everything from delicate mixtures to heavy doughs.
8-speed settings offer precision for a wide range of mixing tasks.
Large 7.3-quart bowl perfect for batch baking and large families.
LightLift head mechanism makes ingredient addition effortless.
CONS
Learning curve for those unfamiliar with Kenwood’s interface.
No extra color options beyond silver—may not fit certain kitchen aesthetics.
Expensive for casual bakers or those with a limited budget.
Who It’s Best For?
The Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker XL (KVL65) is ideal for serious home bakers or small business owners who need a powerful, versatile stand mixer for various tasks. Whether you’re mixing large batches of dough, whipping cakes, or making meringue, this mixer handles it all effortlessly. The 8-speed settings and large 7.3-quart bowl make it perfect for those who often bake in large quantities.
Who Should Avoid It:
- Casual home bakers who don’t require a high-powered, commercial-grade mixer may find this model overkill.
- Those with limited counter space or who need a more portable option may find the weight (10.5 kg) a drawback.
Comparison with Other Mixers
The Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker XL (KVL65) is a leading model in the Kenwood stand mixer lineup. The Chef Baker XL features more power and a larger bowl than models like kMix KMX750A. The KVL65 offers a more powerful motor and increased durability, making it ideal for heavy-duty tasks or larger batches. However, the kMix KMX750A is a slightly more compact and budget-friendly option if you don’t need the extra power or capacity.
Compared to other stand mixers in the same price range, like the KitchenAid Artisan KSM70S and Cuisinart SM-70, the Titanium Chef Baker XL (KVL65) holds its own with a 1200W motor with smart control and a 7.3-quart bowl capacity. The KitchenAid Artisan KSM70S delivers similar performance but has only a 975-watt motor and a 7-quart bowl. The Cuisinart SM-70, although a good alternative, features a slightly lower motor power at 1000W and a smaller 7-quart bowl, making the Kenwood model better suited for larger batches.
Final Verdict
The Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker XL (KVL65) is a high-performance stand mixer that combines power, versatility, and durability. With a 1200W motor, 8-speed settings, and a 7.3-quart bowl, it can easily handle large batches of dough, thick batters, and delicate mixtures. Its durable design ensures stability during heavy-duty mixing, while its metal construction guarantees long-lasting durability. Although it may be heavier and more expensive than some other mixers, it’s well-suited for both serious home bakers and small businesses that need consistent, reliable performance.
Check out our Ultimate Stand Mixer Buyer’s Guide to discover key features that enhance your baking results.
Video Review
Credit – Kenwood
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