Step by step

Method

5 steps

1. 1

   Adjust oven rack to the middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees.

2. 2

   Microwave the potatoes on high power for 16 minutes(stacking them if you have to), turning them over halfway through the cooking time. Transfer the potatoes to the oven and place them directly on the hot oven rack. Bake until a skewer glides easily through flesh, about 30 minutes, flipping them over halfway through the baking time.

3. 3

   Remove the potatoes from the oven, and cut each potato in half lengthwise. Using an oven mitt or a folded kitchen towel to hold the hot potatoes, scoop out all of the flesh from each potato half into a medium bowl. Break the cooked potato flesh down into small pieces using a fork.

4. 4

   Transfer half of the potatoes to the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat the potatoes on high speed until smooth, about 30 seconds, gradually adding the rest of the potatoes to incorporate, until completely smooth and no lumps remain, 1 to 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl as needed.

5. 5

   Remove the bowl from mixer and gently fold in two cups of the cream followed by the butter and 2 t. salt. Gently fold in up to ½ cup more of the cream as needed to reach desired consistency. Once the desired serving consistency is reached, gently fold in an additional ½ cup cream (the potatoes will be quite loose-to keep them from drying out). Taste for salt and serve when it looks done.