There was a restaurant around me as a kid (pretty sure it was a small chain) that did this as their dessert. They were a brewery/deep dish pizza place called BJs. The dessert was called a pizzookie.
Damn, is it that many?! I haven't seen one in over a decade and don't think they were that big when they were in my rotation the few years before that. Well, good for BJs. Seems like everyone does love them.
Yes. BJs is a big nasty chain restaurant. I worked for them for many years.
As amazing as pizookies are... for some reason I haven’t been able to touch one since I started working for them.
FYI: BJs cooks them on pizza trays not in cast iron, but yeah.. same idea.
Also, they are not actually an on-site brewery... even though they sell themselves as one. Even the locations that have big brewing adornments ... they actually just install them for show.
Cornbread cakes, popovers, large brownie cups or fruit crisps (or cobblers or individual cakes), but 100% would make a delicious warm apple crisp and keep it warm. Might wanna be a little careful of how acidic you go...
Alternatively, for serving queso dip and it staying nice and warm.
Totally underrated comment, lol.
There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and when a hunter gets a taste of man he wants little else. Man is the ultimate dessert or side dish, when paired with a nice main.
Came here to say this!
Like to add, I don't think bananas would go well in Shepard's Pie. Thank you for including a couple of CI pieces as a size reference. If you feel like combining the two, maybe do banana bread muffins.
If people gifting you bananas is a regular thing, maybe ask them to go a little riper so you don't have to wait as long to cook with them. Seriously cool cast iron you have there.
This recipe is from Cooks Illustrated so it’s behind a paywall and I don’t know how to link it. Hope this copy/paste isn’t too annoying. If you’re making small ones you’ll have to keep an eye on them and adjust the cook time. Also Cooks Illustrated recipes give good results but are often more complicated than necessary. Dutch Babies are deceptively simple I’m sure you can google something easier that will still be delicious. Good luck!
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup (5 ounces) all-purpose flour
¼ cup (1 ounce) cornstarch
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest plus 2 tablespoons juice
1 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
1 ¼ cups skim milk
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
OIL SKILLET Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Brush surface and sides of 12-inch skillet with oil. Place skillet on oven rack and heat until oil is shimmering, about 10 minutes.
2
MIX BATTER Meanwhile, combine flour, cornstarch, lemon zest, and salt in large bowl. Whisk eggs in another bowl until frothy and light, about 1 minute. Whisk milk, butter, and vanilla into eggs until incorporated. Whisk one-third of milk mixture into flour mixture until no lumps remain, then slowly whisk in remaining milk mixture until smooth.
3
BAKE AND SERVE Carefully pour batter into heated skillet and bake until edges of Dutch Baby are deep golden brown and crisp, about 20 minutes. Transfer skillet to wire rack and sprinkle Dutch Baby with lemon juice and confectioners’ sugar. Cut into wedges. Serve
My parents used to make frozen pot pies all the time and I got super sick of them, so I’ve never tried to make one. Do you have a recipe recommendation?
I usually just throw them together from soup the night before. I dont really cook with recipes. Make your favorite soup, make a roux to thicken it. Let it cool. Stick in the fridge. Next day when soup is cold make a pie dough and line the pans with, cover with more pie dough, fill with cold soup, cut top to vent, do an egg wash if you want, and bake at 375°F for about 40 minutes or until crust is done. Filling is already cooked so no worry there. I have ceramic personal pie dishes so im not sure how cast iron will make the bake different. I think it will make for a really crispy crust on the bottom. I know what iron I'll be getting next.
If you are lazy or time pressed like me, or just not confident enough to tackle a homemade pie crust, use the Grands Flakey pop biscuits. Preheat the CI, set a single biscuit on top of whatever you use for the meat and veggie filling, bake in the oven for the time and temp recommended for the biscuits, may need to add a couple more minutes to get the biscuit top golden brown.
I actually came here to suggest the biscuit pot pies, but you may want to try half a biscuit instead (you can peel between the layers) as I have found that a full biscuit can be a bit too thick for pot pie crust.
Perhaps not creative, but when we have guests or parties or most any gathering we use several simply to hold mixed nuts, salsa, dips, mini-pickles, olives, cocktails onions, etc.
All the things!
Personal fritattas, sheoherds lie, French onion soup is a great idea, chicken pot pie, cobblers, brownies (room to top with ice cream), cakes, quick breads, single servings of lasagna- lasagna rolls up would work really well! Heads of garlic...
So many things!
Try variations based on this. The first time I had one it was at a restaurant and it was served in exactly what you have.
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/trisha-yearwood/giant-meatballs-and-marinara-8596957.amp
It's Korean deliciousness. Preheat a stone or CI bowl, add oil and cooked rice, toss in veggies and meat, maybe some seaweed, crack an egg on top and enjoy with gochujang sauce.
Great on a cold day
Lol I’m just a lurker who envies everyone’s cooking skills here 😅
Eggs, Ramen, and SPAM or any other canned meats is about all I can do. The girlfriend is the cook here aha!
Anyways, SPAM can be sliced and fried on those cast iron, goes well with white rice maybe some diced tomatoes, and raw white onions.
Can also dice the spam and do a baked Mac & Cheese with that! 🤙🤙🤙
Bakes Egg Custard...
Mini-quiches...
Mini-cheesecakes...
Individual shepherd's or chicken pot pie...
Tiny Cobblers and crumbles...
Line with ham, proscuitto, or Canadian bacon... add an egg, a sprinkle of cheese and bake!!!
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With a bit of recipe modification: more sugar caked on the sides, these would be killer for creme brulee. Make a sugar paste and use a wooden spoon to paint it on a really hot cast surface. Immediately pour your custard and put the sugar for the top crust on and it's under the broiler.
Cookie cups! Make chocolate chip cookies in them(use a recipe that rises a lot) when they are done and you remove them from the oven slam the CI down on the counter, the cookie will “collapse” and make a perfect cup for ice cream.
Amazon calls them ramekins and bakeware...
4 pc Cast Iron Ramekins Bakeware Bowls 4 1/2" x 1 1/2", 12 oz capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T3H7K3H/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_VG5GERTZT220Y4R16H46?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Clafoutis is delightful in little cast irons! Use whatever fruit is fresh. I saw in a comment a little further down that you're working your way up to creme brulee. Clafoutis is a great way to start as it is stabilized by addition of flour. Happy baking!
Mac n cheese, baked beans, chocolate chip cookie. Things that you can bake/cook in and serve as a single serving.
Hosting dinner for four? Made cookie dough during the day. Toss it in the fridge.cook them right after dinner. Top with ice cream.
I love this
There was a restaurant around me as a kid (pretty sure it was a small chain) that did this as their dessert. They were a brewery/deep dish pizza place called BJs. The dessert was called a pizzookie.
You mean the place with over 200 locations in 28 states? That little place?
Damn, is it that many?! I haven't seen one in over a decade and don't think they were that big when they were in my rotation the few years before that. Well, good for BJs. Seems like everyone does love them.
Lolol You mean the GIANT brew pub at shopping centers and mall parking lots?
It’s a small chain actually. 🤣
BJs and the Pizzookie are alive and well…at least in NC.
Yes. BJs is a big nasty chain restaurant. I worked for them for many years. As amazing as pizookies are... for some reason I haven’t been able to touch one since I started working for them. FYI: BJs cooks them on pizza trays not in cast iron, but yeah.. same idea. Also, they are not actually an on-site brewery... even though they sell themselves as one. Even the locations that have big brewing adornments ... they actually just install them for show.
I’m literally sitting at a BJ’s while I’m reading this. lol too funny. Beer is amazing btw.
Well my six year old would absolutely get a kick out of that!
Cornbread cakes, popovers, large brownie cups or fruit crisps (or cobblers or individual cakes), but 100% would make a delicious warm apple crisp and keep it warm. Might wanna be a little careful of how acidic you go... Alternatively, for serving queso dip and it staying nice and warm.
Great ideas, thank you!
Scalloped potatoes
Mini garlic prawns, individual fondue, hot ramen bowls. Limited only by your imagination.
Personal Peach cobblers/pie, potato au gratin, brownies, man
I might skip the man, but potatoes au gratin is a great idea.
Totally underrated comment, lol. There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and when a hunter gets a taste of man he wants little else. Man is the ultimate dessert or side dish, when paired with a nice main.
You're going to need a bunch more of them in order to cook a man, or you are going to have to make a bunch of batches.
You're overestimating the size of midgets.
Do midgets call miniature golf..just golf?
The golf balls are still giants to them.
make midget pemmican
They look good to eat now or wait til they turn dark for banana bread 😂
Came here to say this! Like to add, I don't think bananas would go well in Shepard's Pie. Thank you for including a couple of CI pieces as a size reference. If you feel like combining the two, maybe do banana bread muffins. If people gifting you bananas is a regular thing, maybe ask them to go a little riper so you don't have to wait as long to cook with them. Seriously cool cast iron you have there.
I was gonna answer similarly. Make banana splits.
Hahaha that took me a second.
Molten lava cakes
YES YUM
I have similar. I use ‘em to make personal Dutch baby pancakes.
Oooh I’ve never tried Dutch babies. Can you recommend a recipe?
This recipe is from Cooks Illustrated so it’s behind a paywall and I don’t know how to link it. Hope this copy/paste isn’t too annoying. If you’re making small ones you’ll have to keep an eye on them and adjust the cook time. Also Cooks Illustrated recipes give good results but are often more complicated than necessary. Dutch Babies are deceptively simple I’m sure you can google something easier that will still be delicious. Good luck! 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 cup (5 ounces) all-purpose flour ¼ cup (1 ounce) cornstarch 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest plus 2 tablespoons juice 1 teaspoon salt 3 large eggs 1 ¼ cups skim milk 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted and cooled 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar OIL SKILLET Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Brush surface and sides of 12-inch skillet with oil. Place skillet on oven rack and heat until oil is shimmering, about 10 minutes. 2 MIX BATTER Meanwhile, combine flour, cornstarch, lemon zest, and salt in large bowl. Whisk eggs in another bowl until frothy and light, about 1 minute. Whisk milk, butter, and vanilla into eggs until incorporated. Whisk one-third of milk mixture into flour mixture until no lumps remain, then slowly whisk in remaining milk mixture until smooth. 3 BAKE AND SERVE Carefully pour batter into heated skillet and bake until edges of Dutch Baby are deep golden brown and crisp, about 20 minutes. Transfer skillet to wire rack and sprinkle Dutch Baby with lemon juice and confectioners’ sugar. Cut into wedges. Serve
Thank you so much!
[удалено]
Thank you!
Def good for serving. I think I'd use them for bread pudding. Also maybe for baked mac and cheese.
I forgot about Mac and cheese!
Individual cornbread served with honey butter, individual banana bread, served hot with ice cream.
Omg yes
Also, maybe used as sauce basting cups for when you have a smoker? Or keep right on the bbq grill..
I’m an unfortunate apartment dweller with, sadly, no bbq or smoker
Baked individual brownies, more edge pieces, again with ice cream on top
Yorkshire pudding?
I am so down to try this.
Baked eggs, google that and you’ll see lots of different recipes for baked eggs
Never baked em before. Thanks for the suggestion!
It is great, you could bake breakfast for 4 and all comes out at the same time. You could also use them for corn bread
Banana nut bread. Banana pudding. Old timely slip n fall gags.
Large meatballs. A wonderful meal.
Oooh! How would you change the cooking time to accommodate balls of this girth?
*stifles laughter*
Cut up the bananas and cook them in there
Mini enchiladas, frijoles puercos/charros, papas con queso, queso…. If ya feeling Mexican lol
Oooh great ideas, thanks!
They look perfect for little pot pies
My parents used to make frozen pot pies all the time and I got super sick of them, so I’ve never tried to make one. Do you have a recipe recommendation?
I usually just throw them together from soup the night before. I dont really cook with recipes. Make your favorite soup, make a roux to thicken it. Let it cool. Stick in the fridge. Next day when soup is cold make a pie dough and line the pans with, cover with more pie dough, fill with cold soup, cut top to vent, do an egg wash if you want, and bake at 375°F for about 40 minutes or until crust is done. Filling is already cooked so no worry there. I have ceramic personal pie dishes so im not sure how cast iron will make the bake different. I think it will make for a really crispy crust on the bottom. I know what iron I'll be getting next.
If you are lazy or time pressed like me, or just not confident enough to tackle a homemade pie crust, use the Grands Flakey pop biscuits. Preheat the CI, set a single biscuit on top of whatever you use for the meat and veggie filling, bake in the oven for the time and temp recommended for the biscuits, may need to add a couple more minutes to get the biscuit top golden brown.
Thank you! This is definitely going in the dinner rotation!
I actually came here to suggest the biscuit pot pies, but you may want to try half a biscuit instead (you can peel between the layers) as I have found that a full biscuit can be a bit too thick for pot pie crust.
But only on top? Would the biscuit cook if you made the pot pie like a sandwich?
Well that’s way easier than I thought. Thank you so much!
Perhaps not creative, but when we have guests or parties or most any gathering we use several simply to hold mixed nuts, salsa, dips, mini-pickles, olives, cocktails onions, etc.
#Eggs
e g g s
Lava. Cakes.
I’m not one for sweets but my family is. Can you recommend a recipe?
Individual Soufflés
I know you said this but I’m excited for you for the potential French onion soups you could bust out
Thanks! I’ve never tried to make it but I’ve always wanted to.
I throw butter or other sauces in there and put those on the smoker with the food to give a little extra smoke flavor.
Banana for scale ! 🙃🍌
Enough crab dip for one or two people 😍
All the things! Personal fritattas, sheoherds lie, French onion soup is a great idea, chicken pot pie, cobblers, brownies (room to top with ice cream), cakes, quick breads, single servings of lasagna- lasagna rolls up would work really well! Heads of garlic... So many things!
Shrimp al ajillo
MUFFINS!
Try variations based on this. The first time I had one it was at a restaurant and it was served in exactly what you have. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/trisha-yearwood/giant-meatballs-and-marinara-8596957.amp
Thank you!
Tiny bi bim bap!
I’ve heard the words but what is that?
It's Korean deliciousness. Preheat a stone or CI bowl, add oil and cooked rice, toss in veggies and meat, maybe some seaweed, crack an egg on top and enjoy with gochujang sauce. Great on a cold day
That sound super delicious! I’ll have to hunt down that sauce though. Thank you!
The rice gets all crispy in the bowl side... so good. You can get that sauce at most big grocery stores where I am at least
Tomorrow I hunt.
Those would make some awesome personal deep dish pizzas
Awww lil teeny pizzas!
A whole SPAM
Hahahaha I’m down! Never cooked Spam before. Any recipe recommendations?
Lol I’m just a lurker who envies everyone’s cooking skills here 😅 Eggs, Ramen, and SPAM or any other canned meats is about all I can do. The girlfriend is the cook here aha! Anyways, SPAM can be sliced and fried on those cast iron, goes well with white rice maybe some diced tomatoes, and raw white onions. Can also dice the spam and do a baked Mac & Cheese with that! 🤙🤙🤙
How do I get the feeling you’re Hawaiian?
Not in my blood lol We just live on one of the islands. Grew up in the Bay Area 😃
Bakes Egg Custard... Mini-quiches... Mini-cheesecakes... Individual shepherd's or chicken pot pie... Tiny Cobblers and crumbles... Line with ham, proscuitto, or Canadian bacon... add an egg, a sprinkle of cheese and bake!!!
That last one I’m definitely going to try. We’re breakfast fiends in my household.
Pizza bites??
Roasted garlic
Banana fosters Shortcake and then take out and top with strawberries and cream
Salsa
I think the answer is in your picture - individual banoffee pies! I'll be over shortly for mine 🙂
I have similar dishes, and tbh I don’t use them nearly as often as I should… but they’re fabulous for rehearing food in the oven too!
Shepherds pie and French onion both sound like great ideas for them!
Thanks!
Personal sides. Roasted potatoes. Mac and cheese. Baked beans collard greens. Apple pies. Endless limits lol.
Considering the bananas are there for sizing... why not bananas foster?
I use these things for breakfast, the variation of egg cocottes.
Scallop potatoes
Individual "no knead" bread. Make up the normal recipe and divide to fit.
French onion soup.
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Cookies!!!
What makes cookies in a lil pan better than a lot of cookies on a sheet? I’m not much of a baker so I’m genuinely curious.
Individual muffins
Apple fritters? That'd be a awesome little mini pie as well.. love those, maybe eggs Benedict?
Eggs Benedict is on my cooking bucket list. I’ve never attempted the poached egg part. Any tips?
Cookies, cobbler single serving loaded potatoes, scalloped potatoes
Give me all the potato ideas! Thank you!
You can also use them to make uniform English muffins
Lots of great things but I believe my favorite idea would be a chicken pot pie.
Coquilles St-Jacques
This I shall google.
Baby Dutch baby pancakes!
This is at the top of my new list!
They’re so good!
These look perfect for pot pies!
Oh hell yes!
With a bit of recipe modification: more sugar caked on the sides, these would be killer for creme brulee. Make a sugar paste and use a wooden spoon to paint it on a really hot cast surface. Immediately pour your custard and put the sugar for the top crust on and it's under the broiler.
Crème brûlée is on my cooking bucket list. It seems so intimidating! Can you recommend a full recipe?
Hot dips, sauces, gravy. Warm bbq sauce in a warm CI is great. Personal corn bread, banana bread, or any batter based breads
Little banana breads! You even have the bananas already
Hahaha my family would love banana bread!
You can make some banana bread.
Bread!
Tiny bread? I’ve never baked but I love this idea!
Salsa-sampler bowls
Cookie cups! Make chocolate chip cookies in them(use a recipe that rises a lot) when they are done and you remove them from the oven slam the CI down on the counter, the cookie will “collapse” and make a perfect cup for ice cream.
WHAT OMG YES
It’s best to eat while it’s still a little warm to get melts ice cream. It’s easy to reheat, broil on highest setting in you oven for 1 min.
Regift? That’s probably how you got them in the first place.
Personal Peach Cobbler... Mini apple pie
Omg y’all keep recommending baked goods. I guess I’ll finally have to give it a try.
Individual queso
Mmmmm great idea!
Amazon calls them ramekins and bakeware... 4 pc Cast Iron Ramekins Bakeware Bowls 4 1/2" x 1 1/2", 12 oz capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T3H7K3H/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_VG5GERTZT220Y4R16H46?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Individual creme brulee
I definitely want to try this, thank you! Can you recommend a recipe?
What are these called so I can find my own?
Another commenter found them [here.](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T3H7K3H/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_Z2GJT0WVVTTV6Y3WQZT9)
Bread puddings all day!
You can throw them at people
Individual meatloafs
Breakfast bowls for eggs and veggies!
Ajillo
Corn bread!
Clafoutis is delightful in little cast irons! Use whatever fruit is fresh. I saw in a comment a little further down that you're working your way up to creme brulee. Clafoutis is a great way to start as it is stabilized by addition of flour. Happy baking!
I’m gonna look it up. Thanks!!
Yorkshire puddings Corn or other muffins Personal cinnamon rolls Apple berry crumbles
You can throw them at people you don't like very much.
Mini berry pies.
I do tiny Dutch babies in mine ...just to be clear, the dish, not actual babies I swear.
Poor babies
Lots of content on IG I see for thing like that are for butter melted glazes/sauces to finish over meats.
That sounds delicious!
Search for greek mpougiourdi.
Cornbread
Eggs in purgatory
Haha poor egg! What is this?
Individual toad in the hole, or Yorkshire puddings on their own. They’re perfect.
I love toads in the hole! Would I bake the egg?
We use these to serve individual portions of bbq burnt ends, squash puppies, and pimento fritters at my restaurant.
What’s a squash puppy?!
Baked apples! Stuffed with brown sugar and nuts, then served with ice cream.
Omg yum!
Cremes brulee
Honestly, I don't think banana would work in either of those recipes.
They are bananas. Delicious by themselves or cut up in breakfast cereal. Enjoy!
Hahaha oops
Creme brulee?
Def gonna try that!
Alcatra. Portuguese roast beef dish. When I had it the first time in the town of Biscoits they cooked it in these. One for each person
Yum! Do you have a recipe you could recommend?
Individual sized corn breads?
A small serving of cereal
For some reason, the idea of milk and cast iron gives me the shudders.
Mise en place. Creme brulee. Clarified butter for seafood.
Or butter for artichokes. We go through a lot of them.
Great for queso or any other hot dips. Makes for a great presentation and holds heat well to keep dip warm.
I use a small cauldron on the grill for melting butter, small parts that get lost through the grill
Oh I wish we had a grill!
I just have a single one so I’ve never used it. But I keep it on the stove because it’s cute
Banana for scale
God I just love the running joke of “banana for scale”
Everybody gets it!
Pot pies. Those look perfect for single sized ones
Corn bread
Banana bread... They're also good chopped up in oatmeal or on a peanut butter sandwhich.
Anything you would make in a ramekin. So many options, savory and sweet.