Can a vitamix be used instead of dough hooks.

[Dame]

Well my multi-kitchen mixer with the dough hooks has worn out.  And I need to make oatmeal cookies, suppose it is more want to make oatmeal cookies (with date and cream cheese filling).  My hands complain when I do this by hand.

We have a VitaMix however I have never used it to kneed dough or mix very hevey mixes.  Anyone have any experience with this.  I would prefer to not have to clutter up the kitchen with yet another appliance.

[Atash Hagmahani]

Reputedly it's possible. I think it will have to be a vitamix-specific recipe though. Lemme look and see if my Vitamix(tm) cookbook has a cookie dough recipe.

[Lady Lilya]

I have a BlendTec, very similar to a Vitamix, and I can't imagine how it could make cookie dough.  The contents have to be moist enough to create a vortex, or it only chops up the bottom.  Cookies wouldn't be that moist.  Also, it would turn it into a puree.  Not the right texture for oatmeal cookies. 

I just looked in the book that came with it.  It has recipes for cookies, but they involve using pre-made dough from a tube, and then using the blender to make a topping/frosting.  There is one bread dough recipe in it. 

[ADSmith]

There's no way a VitaMix could do dough.  I used mine to make energy gel (for running) once in a pinch, and the motor tripped out because I made it a bit too thick.  With dough, I doubt if the motor would even start.

[Lady Lilya]

BlendTecs have more horsepower than Vitamixes.  Maybe that is why it says it can do dough.  But I don't think it means knead it for any length of time.  I think it is just a matter of combining the dough, before the gluten has developed. 

[opsec]

I've seen these things made by a company called "Hobart". I've used a full sized floor model in kitchens. They have a smaller countertop model. I'd bet that would do the job. I used the large ones to make pizza dough 100 lbs. at a time.

[Lady Lilya]

Dame, have you considered having your mixer repaired?  My mother has a KitchenAid and my father said he took it to have its motor replaced twice in its 30 years of service.

[Dame]

Motor is fine, many of the plastic parts have stress cracks.  When I bought the thing, I bought it to keep the weight down.  Think I will try the VitaMix with cookie dough before I buy another appliance to clutter up the kitchen.

[Dame]

Update!
The vitamix dry canister and blades will do dough, both cookie and bread.  And,  it is faster and easier to use my hands (wash first and after) than to clean any of these appliances.  Somewhere I seem to have bought into the need for fancy appliances and tools to do chores hands do best.

[Lady Lilya]

Dame, I only find it worth pulling out an appliance if I am going to do a very large quantity at once. 

For example, when I would make 6 pie crusts at once and then freeze them, it was easier to use my food processor and clean it.  But making one or 2 at a time, it is easier to just do it by hand.