A stand mixer is a wonderful tool, but it is not the right tool for every dessert. Some doughs are happier with the gentle hand of a whisk, and some custards never see a mixer at all. Here are five of our favorites that need nothing more than a bowl, a whisk, and a spatula.
Brownies are the obvious one. Melted-butter brownies do not want any air whipped in. A whisk and a saucepan give you that fudgy, crackly-top brownie that no mixer recipe can match. Pots de creme are another: a whisk and a bain marie are all you need for a silky chocolate custard.
A simple chocolate mousse, a no-knead bread, and a tarte tatin round out the list. Each of these gets worse the more you mix it. The next time you reach for the stand mixer for a small batch dessert, ask yourself whether the recipe really wants more air, or just gentle hands. Save yourself the bowl-washing.