Why should I beat butter & sugar with a wooden spoon versus using my stand mixer?

I used my stand mixer, and everything turned out great.

erin, maybe you could add ("or in a stand mixer with paddle") to your recipe.

Hi Megan, feel free to use your mixer-this is just a recipe that (for ease) can be mixed by hand. The butter/sugar don't need to be vigorously creamed like, say, for cookies. But if you love your mixer, go for it!!