Cast iron cookware is fantastic; it's naturally non-stick and retains heat well, resulting in a delectable crust for your desserts like pies and cakes.
Convenience is key when you're in the mood for a quick dessert without the hassle of dealing with multiple utensils and extensive clean-up. So, why not opt for a cast iron skillet and create one-pan desserts? Cast iron cookware is fantastic; it's naturally non-stick and retains heat well, resulting in a delectable crust for your desserts like pies and cakes. Your food will also stay warm for an extended period, which is especially comforting during the winter months when dishes tend to get ice cold quickly. Another benefit is that cast iron cookware's surface is not coated with any chemicals to make it non-stick, reducing your exposure to potential carcinogens. Try these three cast iron skillet recipes this winter:
Skillet Brownie
Ingredients:
- ½ cup melted, unsalted butter
- 1 cup white sugar
- ¼ cup Cadbury cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup refined flour
- 1 cup chocolate chips, or chopped Dairy milk dark chocolate
- ½ cup walnuts
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Grease your skillet with butter.
- Whisk together the melted butter, sugar, Cadbury cocoa powder, vanilla and salt in a bowl.
- Add the eggs one at a time.
- Sift the flour and chocolate chips or chunks and walnuts till you get a well-combined batter. Try your best not to over mix it.
- Pour the batter into your skillet. Top with more chocolate if you want.
- Bake for about half an hour. The center will be just done while the sides will be crisp.
- Remove the skillet from the oven and let it cool. Then enjoy the gooey brownie with some ice cream.
Skillet Cookie
Ingredients:
- 6 tbsp room temperature, unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup refined or whole wheat flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Cream the sugar and butter, then add the egg and vanilla extract.
- Add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix until well combined.
- Next, add a cup of chocolate chips. Mix well to evenly distribute the chips throughout the dough.
- Transfer the sticky cookie dough to the skillet and bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes.
- Cool before digging in. You can make so many different variations of this simple recipe - substitute flour for almond meal, use nuts, sprinkles, or chopped chocolate.
Dutch Apple Pancakes
Ingredients:
- 5 tbsp room temperature butter
- 2-3 apples sliced thin
- ¾ cup refined flour
- ¾ cup milk
- ½ salt (omit if using salted butter)
- ⅓ cup and 1 tbsp sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400 F and melt the butter in the skillet. Make sure it doesn’t brown too much or burn.
- Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon, salt, milk and eggs in a bowl.
- Place the sliced apples in the melted butter, then submerge them in the batter.
- Bake in the oven for about 20-25 minutes. You can have it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or some heavy cream.
- You can also use peaches instead of apples if they are in season. Mixed berries are also a delicious variation.
Tips to buy a cast iron skillet:
- Consider the size of the skillet before buying it. A 10 to 12 inch pan is usually the standard size for cooking a batch of food for two or more people.
- You can decide whether you want pre-seasoned skillets or whether you want to season them at home. Seasoning is what gives cast iron cookware that non-stick quality.
- The weight of the pan also matters, so line up your options and consider how heavy or light they are for everyday handling.If you have a medical condition or have undergone surgery, handling a heavy skillet may put considerable strain on your wrist.
- Cast iron skillets can last a lifetime if maintained properly, especially when chosen from a reputable brand. Take your time to do thorough research before assessing which skillet suits your needs best.
- Last but not the least, make sure that the skillet is within your budget. Prices depend from brand to brand so weigh your options carefully before making a purchase.