13 Easy Cast Iron Skillet Dessert Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can you bake in cast iron skillet? ›

Your cast iron cookware is perfect for homemade cornbread and biscuits, sourdough bread, pies, and cakes.

Cake, pizza, brownies, steak, pork chops, chicken thighs, roasted potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, pancakes, crepes, shepherd's pie, roasted whole chicken, the possibilities are endless. Your cast iron is versatile in that you can use it on an open fire, oven, BBQ and stovetop.

Why It Works. Thanks to its low density, this cake batter requires no manual aeration. Acidic ingredients like coffee and brown sugar activate the baking soda, allowing the cake to rise. A 10-inch cast iron skillet is the perfect size to make, and bake, a fudgy cake to feed a crowd.

Before you bake, make sure to coat your cast iron with nonstick spray. Use a pastry brush to get the oil into the corners or sidewalls of your pan. We recommend using silicone brushes when you're spreading oil on hot, preheated cookware.

But despite some popular cooking myths, cast iron does not heat evenly—or quickly. That's why preheating is such an important (and often overlooked) step.

Eggs fall into the category of sticky foods that are not ideal for cast iron skillets that haven't built up their seasoning yet. While cast iron can become non-stick with sufficient use over time, a newer skillet will almost certainly cause your eggs to stick to its porous surface.

You'll use less oil, avoid harmful chemicals, and get a little extra iron in your diet.

For one, cast iron pans aren't perfectly smooth and foods like eggs may get stuck. For the best results, make sure to keep your cast iron pan seasoned, and preheat the skillet for a few minutes before you add any food to it. This allows the pan to heat evenly and prevents most food from sticking. Add fat as needed.

A thick-cut steak such as a ribeye or New York strip is best for cooking in a cast iron skillet because it can withstand the high heat of the skillet and develop a gorgeous crust, while remaining juicy and tender in the middle. Avoid lean cuts like flank steak or skirt steak, as they are prone to drying out.

Do you clean cast iron after every use? ›

Clean your cast-iron skillet each time you use it. Doing so prevents stuck-on food from staying on the skillet between uses. If the skillet is only slightly dirty, a quick wipe after cooking in it will work. If dirtier, or food is stuck, then scrubbing it is best.

Using cast iron means that the pan heats up quickly and retains a consistent temperature throughout baking. Which all adds up to beautifully baked bottom crusts (with no hint of sog). In short, ditch the pie plate and use a cast iron skillet instead.

All cooking oils and fats can be used for seasoning cast iron, but based on availability, affordability, effectiveness, and having a high smoke point, Lodge recommends vegetable oil, melted shortening, or canola oil, like our Seasoning Spray.

A cast iron skillet can be used for baking or as a casserole dish for your potatoes au gratin. I've also used a cast iron pan for biscuits, cakes, sticky buns, upside-down cakes, and giant cookies.

The humble cast iron skillet is one of those inexpensive but indispensable kitchen tools that can stand in for a sandwich press, a pizza stone, a baking dish or sauté pan. Don't be intimidated by seasoning them–Now you can buy the skillets preseasoned, so they're ready to cook the day you bring them home.

Can You Put Cast-Iron in the Oven? Yes, this is one of the big draws of cast-iron cooking. It is just fine to go from stove to oven or boiler.