Reviving Cast Iron: Fixing Brownie Disasters

Cast iron skillets are a fantastic tool to have in the kitchen. They can be used for cooking a variety of foods, from bacon and eggs to cornbread and brownies. Baking brownies in a cast iron skillet produces a fudgy, chewy brownie with crispy edges that is hard to achieve with a regular baking pan.

The key to a successful cast iron skillet brownie is to ensure that the skillet is well-seasoned and that the batter is not overbaked. The brownies should be slightly underdone when removed from the oven as the cast iron will continue to cook the batter. Additionally, the type of cocoa powder and chocolate used can affect the taste and texture of the brownie. Using a good quality unsweetened cocoa powder and bittersweet chocolate will result in a rich, chocolatey brownie.

Cast iron skillet brownies are best stored at room temperature in an airtight container and can be frozen for up to 3 months if needed.

Preheat the oven to 350°F

Preheating your oven is an important step in the baking process. It ensures your oven reaches the desired temperature, so when you put your batter in the oven, it starts cooking immediately. This initial blast of heat sets the batter and kickstarts the leavening agent into creating airy bubbles.

The magic number for preheat time is 20 minutes. This is the ideal time to cover a vast variety of preheating needs. You could preheat for longer, depending on what you're baking. For example, if you're using a heavy steel or Dutch oven, you'll need to preheat for about 45 minutes to ensure the vessel itself heats up all the way through.

When preheating to 350°F, you're aiming for a temperature that will allow the Maillard reaction to occur. This is a chemical process that causes the proteins and sugars in your food to turn brown, creating hundreds of flavour compounds and making your food taste more complex and delicious. The Maillard reaction is known to happen at some point between 300° and 350°F, so setting your oven to 350°F ensures that the browning temperature is reached.

It's worth noting that not all bakes require a temperature of 350°F. For example, cornbread, pies, and muffins often require higher temperatures, while granola and meringues don't need such high heat. However, 350°F is a moderate temperature that will cook your food without burning it, as long as you bake it for a reasonable amount of time.

So, when preheating your oven to 350°F, set a timer for 20 minutes to ensure your oven reaches the desired temperature, and you're ready to start baking!

Grease the cast-iron skillet with butter

Greasing your cast-iron skillet with butter is an important step in the brownie-making process. Not only does it ensure that your brownies don't stick to the pan, but it also adds a delicious buttery flavour to your treat. Here's a step-by-step guide to greasing your cast-iron skillet with butter:

First, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). This is a crucial step as it ensures that your brownies bake evenly. While the oven is heating up, you can prepare your cast-iron skillet.

Next, take a stick of butter and melt it gently over low heat. Place your cast-iron skillet on a burner and add butter, ensuring that it melts without bubbling. Once the butter has melted, remove the skillet from the heat. You don't want the skillet to be too hot when you add the rest of the ingredients, so this step is important.

Now it's time to add the rest of the ingredients to your skillet. Start by stirring in the sugar and cocoa powder. Mix these ingredients well with the melted butter until you have a smooth mixture. You can use a fork or a whisk for this step.

At this point, you can also add any extra ingredients you like. For example, you might like to add vanilla extract or a pinch of salt to enhance the flavour of your brownies. Some recipes also call for eggs at this stage, so feel free to add them in and whisk everything together.

Once your batter is ready, it's time to transfer it to the greased skillet. Spread the batter evenly, making sure it reaches all the corners. You can also sprinkle additional toppings on top, such as chocolate chips or nuts, for extra texture and flavour.

Finally, place your skillet in the preheated oven and bake your brownies for 25-35 minutes. The exact baking time will depend on how fudgy you like your brownies, but as a general rule, it's better to underbake them slightly rather than overbake them. Enjoy your delicious, buttery brownies!

Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl

When preparing the dry ingredients for your brownies, it's important to combine them in a separate bowl before adding them to the wet mixture. This ensures that they are evenly distributed throughout the batter and helps to prevent over-mixing, which can lead to tough, dry brownies.

Start by measuring out your flour, cocoa powder, and salt into a medium-sized bowl. If you're using a leavening agent like baking powder, this is also the time to add it. Whisk these ingredients together until they are well combined. You can also sift the ingredients together if you want to ensure an extra light and airy texture.

If you're using any add-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit, you can add them to the dry ingredients at this stage. This will help to coat them with flour and keep them from sinking to the bottom of your brownies as they bake.

Once your dry ingredients are well combined, you can gradually add them to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to over-mix the batter, as this can develop the gluten in the flour and make your brownies tough.

By combining your dry ingredients separately, you'll ensure that your brownies have a consistent texture and rise evenly as they bake. This simple step will help you achieve the perfect brownie every time!

Mix wet ingredients in a large bowl

To mix the wet ingredients for brownies in a cast-iron pan, you'll need a large bowl and a whisk or fork. You'll also need to preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease your skillet with butter.

First, melt your butter. You can do this in a microwave-safe bowl or directly in your skillet on the stovetop over low heat. Be careful not to let it bubble! Once melted, remove from the heat.

Now it's time to mix your wet ingredients. In your large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, sugar, and cocoa powder. You can also add a teaspoon of vanilla extract for extra flavour.

Next, add your eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Make sure the mixture is no longer hot before adding the eggs, so they don't cook.

At this point, your wet ingredients should be well combined. You can now transfer the batter to your greased skillet and continue with the rest of your brownie recipe.

Happy baking!

Combine wet and dry ingredients

To combine the wet and dry ingredients for your brownies, you'll need to prepare your cast-iron skillet first. Place your skillet on a stovetop burner over low heat and add butter. Allow the butter to melt gently without bubbling and remove the skillet from the heat once melted.

Next, you can start adding your wet ingredients. Stir in white and brown sugar, whisk in your eggs and vanilla extract, and then stir in the cocoa powder. Make sure your pan isn't too hot when you add the eggs, so they don't cook. You can also add in a small amount of strong coffee or espresso to enhance the chocolate flavour.

Now it's time to add the dry ingredients. Stir in the flour and salt, and fold in any additional mix-ins like chocolate chips or nuts. Be careful not to over-mix the batter, as this can affect the texture of your brownies.

Once your wet and dry ingredients are combined, your brownie batter is ready to be baked!

Frequently asked questions