Hi Dottie, it sounds like you're on the right track; it's just fine to use your mixer to bring the dough together briefly if you prefer. Your dough may have been slightly dry with this last batch. It should be soft and slightly sticky to the touch. You can certainly shape the dough into a ball after it has risen once. Next time, try holding back the last 1/2 cup of flour and adding it only if it seems necessary. For best results, measure your flour by weight using a scale if you're not already doing so. We hope this helps, and happy baking! Kye@KAF

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