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Have you ever tried whipping up a batch in a cast iron skillet? If not, you’ve got to give it a shot! The perks of making skillet brownies are worth tweaking your usual recipe.
Baking brownies in a cast iron skillet is a game-changer, and the extra effort is worth it. I’ll walk you through the process with super easy step-by-step instructions.
Guess what? You don’t need to be a kitchen whiz to nail this. It’s so easy that anyone can do it! Plus, this method is charmingly old-school, which makes it even more enticing. Ready to level up your brownie game? Let’s do this!
Why is cooking brownies in a cast iron skillet so good?
There’s just something special about cooking with cast iron that you can’t beat!
Cast iron cookware is experiencing a resurgence in popularity thanks to its numerous advantages. Cast iron ensures even heat distribution and prolonged heat retention, unlike aluminum or Teflon. Consequently, brownies prepared in a cast iron skillet will achieve that ideal crust on the top, bottom, and around the edges.
Furthermore, cast iron cookware offers health benefits compared to aluminum or Teflon alternatives. Unlike Teflon, which may release potentially harmful chemicals when heated, and aluminum, which can leach into food, cast iron provides a safer and healthier cooking option for you and your family.
A well-seasoned cast iron skillet will also release your brownies very cleanly, making it easy to remove them from the skillet when cooled.
Cast-iron skillets also make a great serving vessel. You can leave your brownies right in the pan and top them with ice cream! Just don’t leave them in the skillet for more than a few hours or a day; beyond that, they will zap moisture from the pan and leave it needing to be seasoned.
Not only are skillet brownies delicious, but they’ll also be moist inside! They’re rich and have that fudgy texture we all love.
Tips on Baking Brownies in a Cast Iron
- First, you’ll need to ensure that your brownie recipe is the appropriate size for your cast iron skillet. For example, if your cast iron skillet is an 8-10 inch size, choosing a recipe typically cooked in an 8×8 pan should work. Do not use a recipe designed for a 9×13 pan. You can also split your recipe into multiple small cast iron pans; grab the ones you want from your rack and continue. If a recipe is meant for an 8×8 pan, it’ll work great if you split it between two 4 or 5-inch skillets.
- Preheat the cast iron pan in the oven while it comes to temperature. This ensures that the heat in the pan is distributed evenly when your batter goes in.
- While the pan is warming up, add a pat of butter and swirl around the pan to ensure that brownies do not stick. This will allow them to slide out effortlessly.
- Adjust your cooking temperature. Another great benefit of cooking brownies in a cast iron skillet is its ability to retain heat longer than other materials. Brownies cook slightly faster in a cast iron, especially when preheated. They’ll keep cooking for a bit with the lingering heat, even after you remove them from the oven. If you prefer cake-like brownies, take them out a little early.
- Bake brownies in a 10″ skillet for approximately 30 minutes (as opposed to about 40 minutes in a glass pan). Smaller skillets, such as a 4 or 5-inch size, should be baked for closer to 20-22 minutes.
Now armed with the knowledge of baking delightful brownies in a cast iron skillet, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and start cooking! Remember to tweak your brownie recipes to make the most of this classic cooking method. I wish you a joyous and successful brownie-baking experience!
Do you have any secret tips or clever tricks for making perfect brownies in a cast iron skillet? Maybe you have the perfect recipe for skillet brownies that can be cooked on a wood stove? If so, don’t keep them to yourself! Share your insights in the comments below. We are all eager to learn and create delicious treats together!
Great Recipes for Cast Iron Skillet Brownies
Here are a few favorite recipes that work well for this method! A couple of our go-to recipes for our 8 or 10″ skillet include:
- King Arthur Flour Gluten-Free Quick & Easy Fudge Brownies – (I swap sugar for maple syrup in this recipe)
- Sally’s Baking Addiction Chewy Fudgy Homemade Brownies
- Smitten Kitten Infinitely Adaptable Blondies (yes, even blondies can be cooked in cast iron!)
Feel free to opt for a boxed mix for added convenience. Whether you follow a gluten-free diet, these brownies are a delightful, fudgy treat that will bring everyone joy!
For all of these recipes, remember to adapt the baking time to about 5-10 minutes less than the recipe indicates
Carrie Williams Howe is an educational leader by day and an aspiring homesteader by night and weekend. She lives on a small homestead in Vermont with her husband, two children, and a rambunctious border collie. She blogs about her family's homestead life at The Happy Hive.
