Mary Berry’s Victoria Sandwich Cake recipe is a delicate sponge cake filled with jam and cream – perfect for any occasion.
Although this sponge cake uses an all-in-one recipe, a stand mixer can make the method easier.
Having already reviewed the Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker XL stand mixer, I wanted to see how the Kenwood kMix stand mixer, a more budget-friendly version, compared. The Kenwood kMix stand mixer is one of the classics that comes in a range of colours including red, blue and metallic pastels.
Like all stand mixers, the kMix comes with a flat beater, dough hook and whisk. Also included in the box is a 5L bowl, spatula and splash guard (a plastic cover that attaches to the top of the mixer and allows you to mix ingredients without making a mess).
The appliance adds a nice splash of colour to the kitchen, but for those looking for something a little more understated, the stand mixer is also available in a black and white shade. Currently selling for £259 instead of £419.99 on the Kenwood website and £284.46 instead of £479.99 on Amazon, this stand mixer is one of the cheapest stand mixers on the market, but it doesn’t skimp on power.
After setting up the stand mixer, I washed the two attachments I needed for the recipe and started by placing the first attachment I was using into the stand mixer. This was a little tricky because there are two holes on the tilted head and you have to bend down to see which one will fit the attachment.
Ingredients
For the cake
Four eggs
225g caster sugar, plus extra for dusting or you can use icing sugar
225 g self-rising flour
Two teaspoons of baking powder
225g butter at room temperature, plus extra for greasing the pans
Serve
Strawberry or raspberry jam
150 ml double cream (optional)
Method
One of the main differences between the kMix Stand Mixer and the Chef Baker XL Stand Mixer is that the latter doesn’t come with a built-in scale, so I started by measuring my ingredients.
I then preheated my oven to 160°C and lined two 20cm round sandwich tins with baking paper and butter.
Next, it was time to combine all of the cake ingredients in the mixer—the most important test of any good stand mixer is whether it can do a good job of combining a cake mix, because that’s where many fail.
I used the aluminum K-Beater attachment and when I turned the dial the machine responded quickly. And I quickly got to work mixing the ingredients together into a smooth batter.
Although the mixer demonstrated great power, halfway through the mixing process I had to use the spatula to reach the flour around the top and bottom of the bowl that was not being reached.
While the stainless steel bowl adds to the overall aesthetic of the appliance, a glass bowl would make it easier to see if all the ingredients are mixed properly. However, Kenwood also has another kMix stand mixer that retails for £224, down from £299.99, which comes with a glass bowl instead of a stainless steel one.
Once the mixture was ready, it was easy to remove the bowl from the stand with a simple twist. I then divided the mixture evenly between the pans and used the spatula to remove all of the mixture from the bowl and gently smooth the surface of the cakes.
I baked the cakes on the middle rack of the oven for 30 minutes. Check them after 20 minutes as they may need less time. The cakes are done when they are golden brown and pull away from the sides of the pans.
I then let them cool in their pans for five minutes before running a spatula around the inside edge of the pans and carefully turning the cakes out onto a cooling rack.
While the cakes were cooling completely, it was time to prepare the double cream. To do this, I used the stainless steel whisk. The whisk needed no help to whip the double cream into stiff peaks, and the whole process was very quick.
With the cream whipped, it was time to assemble the cake with the jam and cream before topping it with a light dusting of icing sugar.
The cake was delicious and I was able to make it faster than usual with the help of this stand mixer.
While the kMix stand mixer is smaller and doesn’t come with as many accessories or features as the Chef Baker XL version, it certainly doesn’t compromise on power. Customers have even noted the same, as one review claims: “The machine works very well even when set to low temperature.”
So, is this Kenwood kMix stand mixer worth it? If you love cooking and are looking for a food processor that is small in size but adds an aesthetic touch to your kitchen, this is a great option.
Alternatively, if households are looking for something a little smaller, still simple to use and a little more budget-friendly, Express.co.uk has previously reviewed the Morphy Richards MixStar which is currently selling for £189.99 on Amazon.
