20+ Pie Iron Dessert Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Are pie irons worth it? ›

One of the things I like about cast iron (which most pie irons are made of) is that it holds and distributes heat evenly, which is important when cooking over a campfire with uncontrollable heat. Food seldom burns, so even the novice can turn out a perfectly cooked meal every time.

Cook over coals for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping the pie iron over every five minutes. Remove from the fire. Open the pie iron and check for doneness.

Models with shorter handles can also be used on the stovetop, especially if you have a gas range. However, even electric stoves work well with pie irons.

If you buy your pie irons new, make sure that you season them well to create a nonstick surface and prevent rust. You can season them just like you would any cast iron pan: with repeated oiling and baking over an open campfire or grill. That way, none of your camp snacks will stick to the pans.

A pie iron—also called pudgy pie iron, sandwich toaster, snackwicher, toastie maker—is a cooking appliance that consists of two hinged concave, round or square, cast iron or aluminium plates on long handles. Its "clamshell" design resembles that of a waffle iron, but without that appliance's honeycomb pattern.

Additionally, Woods also debuted a new set of TaylorMade P-7TW irons (3-PW), which he co-designed to fit his exact specifications and preferences, and they replaced his former “TW Phase 1” blade irons.

The Benefits of Preheating

The skillet holds heat better than other materials, is incredibly versatile and actually adds a bit of iron to your diet. But despite some popular cooking myths, cast iron does not heat evenly—or quickly.

Tart dough gets firmly pressed into the metal tins, making sure to form a hard right corner at the base and molding around all the sharp points of the sides. As I noted in my Pear & Gruyere Tart recipe, you absolutely need to grease the stainless steel tart pan before pressing the dough in.

As the moisture inside pie dough evaporates, it releases steam, which is responsible for building light, tender layers of dough. 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).

What do you grease a pie iron with? ›

When you buy a pie iron, even if it says that it is pre-seasoned, you should still season it yourself to ensure that your food won't stick. To season it, you apply a thin layer of vegetable oil to the cast iron. The cast iron part will unscrew from the handle. Then bake it in your oven at 450 degrees for about an hour.

Preheating Suggestions: Lay your empty pie iron in the hot coals of your campfire for a couple of minutes to preheat. Always exercise caution when handling pie irons, especially around kids.

You'll want to start by cutting your parchment to be just smaller than the size if your pie iron. If the parchment is outside the pie iron, it will catch fire, and you definitely don't want that. You'll need two pieces of parchment for each cookie you want to make.

However, nailing the perfect pastry can be fiddly, and if you're short on time or are just after something to make dinner time that little bit easier, the investment in a good quality pie maker is a worthy one.

Pros of the Lodge Cast Iron Pie Pan

It crisps the crust beautifully: Cast iron gets much hotter than glass or aluminum, which means that my quiche crust was far and away flakier and more tender. If you're a crust person over a filling person, you're going to be very happy with a cast iron pie plate.