Cast Iron Cookware and Cooking - A guide - Start here if you are new to Cast Iron Cookware

Making the Most of Your Cast Iron Cookware

Making the Most of Your Cast Iron Cookware 

Have you ever wanted to explore the delicious possibilities of cast iron cooking? This guide will give you the essential tips for taking full advantage of this timeless cookware!

Cinnamon Rolls baked in a Cast Iron Skillet on a plate
Cinnamon Rolls baked in a Cast Iron Skillet on a plate

As an Amazon Associate, I am able to earn money from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are links to affiliate products. I work to present only relevant links to products I use in my posts, to help you find items to work with if you want to try my recipes. Some images have product links to help you find the products easier.

Article

Cast iron skillets, Dutch ovens, and baking pans have long been kitchen staples thanks to their versatility and durability. From one-pan meals to baked goods, cast iron cooking can be an incredibly rewarding experience—and this guide will show you the basics of how to get started.

Get Creative with Cast Iron Recipes!

Cast iron cooking isn’t just limited to searing proteins and roasting vegetables – you can also use your dishes to make some truly delicious and memorable cast iron recipes. Consider making a breakfast skillet with eggs, sausage, peppers, onions, and cheese for an indulgent start to the day, or whip up all-in-one pot pies for dinner. From pizzas to desserts, the possibilities are endless with cast iron cookware!

Cinnamon Rolls baked in a cast iron skillet!

Cast Iron Skillet
Cast Iron Skillet

When combined with a chilly autumn morning or afternoon, the combination of spicy cinnamon and sweet, yeasty rolls provides a warm and comforting feeling. Of course, cinnamon rolls can be enjoyed at any time of day or year.

Today's post is about baking cinnamon rolls in a cast iron skillet. This happens in my oven, and it was mostly about answering the question - Would baking cinnamon rolls ruin my cast iron skillet seasoning? This is a beginner's recipe for cast iron cooking. The idea is to walk you through a simple tasty treat and demonstrate just how easy it is to work with cast iron skillets.

Cinnamon Rolls with Icing - Organic

Immaculate Baking Company Organic cinnamon rolls are ooey gooey and will fill your house with the irresistible aroma of freshly baked cinnamon goodness. Plus, you and your family can enjoy drizzling a little extra sweetness with the yummy organic icing that comes with these treats. Did we mention they don't contain any preservatives, artificial flavors, or hydrogenated oils? What's not to appreciate about that?

Baking Instructions

1. HEAT oven to 350°F. Grease the cast iron skillet.

2. PLACE rolls 2 inches apart on a cast iron skillet.

3. BAKE 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove the rolls from the cast iron skillet; cool slightly.

4. CUT tip from the corner of the icing pouch; squeeze icing on rolls. 

Enjoy

Tools and Ingredients used in this post -

Immaculate Baking Company Cinnamon Rolls

Biscuits - Can be used instead of cinnamon rolls

Lodge Cast Iron Skillet

Paper Towels

4 Pieces Cast Iron Cleaning Kit

Kitchen Perfection Silicone Smoker Oven Gloves

Avocado oil

In this video, I demonstrate how I made cinnamon rolls in a cast iron skillet with no issues. It is a simple process when you use premade cinnamon rolls that were bought from the store. I am including a link below to buy them if you want.


Making homemade cinnamon rolls requires some time and several ingredients, including premium instant yeast, which reduces rise time. Flour: Flour provides the structure for the dough. The best flour for homemade cinnamon rolls is all-purpose flour. You could also use bread flour to make the rolls chewier. Sugar: White granulated sugar is required in the dough for flavor and to feed the yeast. Season with salt to taste. Whole milk: For the richest-tasting cinnamon rolls, use whole milk. Without making any changes to the recipe, buttermilk works just as well. Nondairy milk has been successfully substituted by many readers. In a pinch, use low-fat milk; however, avoid using nonfat milk. Butter: Because this is a rich dough, it contains fat to help ensure softness. Finally, an egg would be required: An egg, like butter, promises a softer, richer dough.

The reason I decided to present this recipe post and video is to demonstrate that you can easily make a delicious cinnamon roll in your cast iron skillet, and for the beginner if you wanted to easily slip into using your cast iron, you would not have a recipe that included yeast. Soon I will produce a homemade recipe post and video showing you step-by-step how to create delicious cinnamon rolls from scratch. For now, let's stick with the store-bought roll of easy-to-bake cinnamon rolls!

Plate with Cinnamon Rolls baked in a cast iron skillet
Plate with Cinnamon Rolls baked in a cast iron skillet


Let me talk a little about the History of Cinnamon Rolls 

Cinnamon has been documented in Chinese writings dating back to at least 2800 BC. The true cinnamon, also known as Cinnamomum verum, is native to Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and India. It is derived from tree bark, and its botanical name in Hebrew and Arabic includes the term 'amomon,' which translates to a fragrant spice plant.

This spice was used by medieval physicians and has some medicinal properties for healing, such as helping with sore throats or coughing. Cinnamon had made its way to Europe via Arab traders by the 16th century, and it is likely that this is when it began to be used in traditional baking styles.

Cinnamon rolls are thought to have originated in Europe following the introduction of cinnamon to the continent. During the early years of the twentieth century, the rolls became popular in Sweden.

It appears that in the 1920s, following World War I, the people of Sweden were once again able to afford luxury items such as spices, including cinnamon.

But it wasn't until a few decades later, after World War II, that the cinnamon roll really took off with the Swedish people, becoming a delicious tradition and part of their cultural identity.

Because Sweden is such a cold and dark country in the winter, cinnamon, a warm spice, is especially popular. Especially when paired with a warm, yeasty sweet roll straight from the oven. Many Swedish people remember coming home from school and eating fresh cinnamon rolls made by their mothers or grandmothers.

Cinnamon Roll Day was established in 1999 by Kaeth Gardestedt and the Swedish Home Baking Council (and it is also celebrated in Finland). The holiday was created to encourage more people to appreciate and enjoy a traditional American treat: cinnamon rolls. This day is unusually popular in Sweden, as it falls close to International Children's Day, which falls on the first Monday of October.

Swedes have adopted the day, in part because they want to strengthen their national identity, which in this case is associated with this traditional food. According to statistics, the average Swedish person consumes 316 cinnamon rolls per year. So it stands to reason that Cinnamon Roll Day is celebrated not only by Swedes but also by people all over the world!

Cinnamon was first documented in 2800 BC. According to Chinese records, cinnamon has been used as a spice and a medicinal agent for many centuries.

Cinnamon arrives in Europe in the 16th century. Exploration leads the Portuguese and Dutch to their own sources of cinnamon, resulting in a power struggle. Cinnamon rolls become more popular in Sweden in the 1950s. After the two world wars, spices became more widely available, and cinnamon rolls became a popular Swedish tradition. The first IKEA restaurant opens in 1960. This Swedish powerhouse begins with only coffee and cold items but eventually adds hot food, including their famous cinnamon rolls.

Cast Iron Skillet Link to another one of my posts - How to Season a Cast Iron Skillet, Pan, or other Cookware

The first Cinnabon store opens in 1985. This cinnamon roll tycoon begins in Seattle but will eventually expand to 1200 stores in 48 countries.

First Cinnamon Roll Day - 1999 Cinnamon Roll Day was established in Sweden with the goal of raising awareness for this food.

Take a Cinnamon Roll -

Cinnamon Rolls are widely available in bakeries and restaurants. Maybe it'd be fun to go to the bakery around the corner and get some delicious cinnamon rolls to eat at home with the family.

Perhaps satisfying the cinnamon roll craving requires a trip to the mall, where the local Cinnabon store may be offering a fresh batch of cinnamon rolls. Take a friend or family member with you and order a massive, ooey, gooey cinnamon roll with cream cheese frosting. Take two forks and dig in together!

Cinnamon rolls are delicious on their own or as part of a larger breakfast that includes coffee, orange juice, and a couple of eggs. It's a delicious way to start your morning. Cinnamon rolls can also be enjoyed as an afternoon snack or an after-dinner dessert by those who do not normally eat breakfast.

Discover How to Make Cinnamon Rolls

While they can be a little finicky and time-consuming, cinnamon roll recipes are completely worth it! Flour, sugar, eggs, milk, yeast, vanilla extract, and butter are the most common ingredients. The most important ingredient, of course, is cinnamon.

Making cinnamon rolls isn't difficult for an experienced baker, but the dough does require some kneading and rising time, just like any yeast roll. They usually rise in a couple of hours, but some people leave them in the refrigerator overnight. This allows them to be baked first thing in the morning, so they can be enjoyed for breakfast at a leisurely pace!

Give Cinnamon Rolls to Others

Of course, a cinnamon roll can be delicious on its own. This is the day to bring a pan of cinnamon rolls into work to share with coworkers, whether you make a batch at home ahead of time or pick some up from the local bakery on the morning of. Alternatively, go to the bakery early in the morning and bring them home to share with the kids as a special treat before school.

Those who are serious about their cinnamon rolls or cinnamon buns may want to go all-out cultural by visiting Sweden, where it all started. Almost any local bakery or cafe in Sweden will have a large tray of freshly baked cinnamon rolls ready and waiting for you! Every day of the year, Swedes eat these delicious, yeasty treats.

Is there dairy in cinnamon rolls?

Although many cinnamon roll recipes contain milk, they can easily be vegan-ized by using plant-based milk instead.

Can you freeze cinnamon rolls? Baked cinnamon rolls can be frozen, but frosting can only be added after they have been thawed.

When did cinnamon rolls become fashionable? Cinnamon became more widely available after WWII, and cinnamon rolls became more popular in Sweden and around the world.

Where did cinnamon rolls come from? Cinnamon rolls originated in Sweden, where they are known as kanelbulle, which translates as cinnamon buns.

Meal - scrambled eggs with beef franks Want to read more about cooking with cast iron skillets? Follow this link to my post on "Cast Iron Recipe Scrambled eggs with Beef Franks"


Are cinnamon rolls nutritious? Most cinnamon rolls are high in fat and sugar, making them less healthy than other snack options.

In this post, I mostly wanted to try to encourage you to make some delicious cinnamon rolls for yourself, using your cast iron skillet to bake them in. I am kind of on a mission to get more people interested in using cast iron cookware. There are some really good reasons to use cast iron when compared to other cookware. The fact that cast iron cookware can last generations, and be handed down over and over to new generations of family and friends is remarkable. 

For every kitchen cookware item that we do not have to replace, there is one less item of trash going into our landfills. For every piece of cookware that is handed down instead of being thrown away, there is more wealth passed from generation to generation. This is not a bad thing!

Thank you for reading this post, and I hope that you have enjoyed some of the information I have provided. I hope you try to make some cinnamon rolls in your cast iron skillet, just to say you can!

Enjoy and Cheers!



Comments