KitchenAid Limited Edition and Special Color Mixers

Best for
Collectors wanting a true limited edition

The KitchenAid KHM7210QHSD 100 Year Limited Edition Queen of Hearts Hand Mixer is the one true collectible in this lineup. It comes in Passion Red with a trim band covered in hundreds of miniature red hearts and sleek chrome accents, part of KitchenAid’s 100-year celebration. If you want a limited-edition piece that still gets used, this is it.

Performance-wise, it is a 7-speed hand mixer with a soft start that brings the beaters up to speed gradually to reduce splatter. It includes two stainless steel Turbo Beater II accessories for heavy ingredients, which are dishwasher safe, and a Pro whisk for whipping egg whites and cream. A lockable swivel cord lets you work from either side of the bowl. It has a 1 year manufacturer warranty. If you need a stand mixer for bread dough, this will not replace one, but as a display-worthy daily mixer it is the collector’s pick.

• 100 Year Queen of Hearts design in Passion Red
• 7 speeds with soft start
• Two Turbo Beater II accessories and a Pro whisk
• Lockable swivel cord

Best for
Bakers wanting a statement color

The KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt Tilt Head Stand Mixer, model KSM150PSVB, is the stand mixer most people picture, here in Blue Velvet. That is a special color rather than a limited edition, and the listing notes the Artisan comes in more than 20 colors. It uses metal construction and 59 touchpoints around the bowl for even mixing.

The 5-quart stainless steel bowl has a handle and can mix 9 dozen cookies in one batch, by KitchenAid’s measure using 28g of dough each. The tilt-head design gives easy access for adding ingredients and locks in place while mixing. It has 10 speeds and ships with a coated flat beater, coated dough hook, 6-wire whip and a pouring shield. The hub accepts more than 10 optional attachments. With a 1 year limited warranty, this is the best blend of looks and everyday capability. For more color options, see our pink KitchenAid mixer guide.

The KitchenAid 5 Ultra Power Speed Hand Mixer, model KHM512VB, is the matching Blue Velvet hand mixer. It is compact and lightweight, with 5 speeds: speed one for stirring in nuts and chocolate chips, and speed five for meringues, egg whites and heavy cream. It comes with two stainless steel Turbo Beater accessories, which are dishwasher safe.

A one-handed press of a button releases the accessories, and a lockable swivel cord keeps the cord out of the way. It carries a 1 year limited warranty. Compared with the Queen of Hearts, it has two fewer speeds, no soft start listed and no whisk included. It is the right buy if you want Blue Velvet to match the Artisan rather than a collectible.

Best for
First stand mixer on a sensible footprint

The KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, model K45SSWH in white, is the straightforward workhorse. It shares the Artisan’s metal construction, 59 touchpoints, tilt-head design and 10 speeds, with a slightly smaller 4.5-quart stainless steel bowl that mixes up to 8 dozen cookies per batch.

It includes a coated flat beater, coated dough hook and 6-wire whip; the listing does not mention a pouring shield. One feature line refers to “Model K455,” which appears to be a typo for K45SS. It works with the same 10-plus hub attachments and has a 1 year limited warranty. If you care more about function than finish, this is a smart first stand mixer.

Best for
Heavy doughs and big batch baking

The KitchenAid KSM8990CU 8-Quart Commercial Countertop Mixer is the heavy hitter. It is NSF certified for commercial use, finished in Contour Silver and built around a high-efficiency DC motor rated at 1.3 HP, which KitchenAid says delivers .44 HP to the bowl with less heat build-up during long mixing and kneading.

The bowl-lift design raises an 8-quart stainless steel bowl into position with a lever for stable mixing of heavy ingredients. It includes a stainless steel flat beater, spiral dough hook and 11-wire elliptical whip, and speed control protection helps prevent accidental starts when you wipe it down. It has 10 speeds, runs on 120 volts, and comes with a 2-year replacement limited commercial warranty. For serious bread bakers or small businesses, this is the mixer to choose; for a casual home kitchen, it is more than you need.

Best for
Home bakers needing bowl-lift capacity

The KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer, model KSM70SKXXCA, sits between the Artisan and the commercial unit. It has 11 speeds, including a 1/2 speed for folding delicate ingredients like blueberries and egg whites. KitchenAid says it has twice the power in the bowl of its tilt-head mixer, and a 3-point locking bowl keeps heavy doughs stable.

The 7-quart bowl can mix 13 dozen cookies, knead over 8.5 pounds of bread or mash over 7.5 pounds of potatoes. It includes a double flex edge beater that scrapes the bowl as it mixes, plus a coated flat beater, coated dough hook, 11-wire whip and pouring shield. The listing highlight names Candy Apple Red as the color. For home bakers who have outgrown a tilt-head, this is the natural upgrade. Our KitchenAid mixer guide covers more of the range.