CAMPFIRE PIE IRON RECIPES (& TIPS!):

Though I’ve been cooking with Dutch ovens over PIE IRON campfires for a long time, I’ve only just come to appreciate the fun of using pie irons for cooking. Pie irons, for those who may not be familiar, are two-sided cookers made of cast iron (and sometimes aluminum) that are mounted on handles on poles. Food is placed inside the container, clamped shut, and then cooked over the campfire.

You can make almost any food using this great camping meal prep technique, which also requires very little cleaning. Some call them pudgy pies or mountain pies, and yet others refer to them as vagrant pies. Whatever name you give them, they make cooking while camping a joyful and enjoyable experience. These are my favorite recipes for campfire pie irons and suggestions to make sure you are ready for your upcoming camping trip.

This post was sponsored by HomeRight, but all thoughts and comments are 100% mine. This post has affiliate links as well.

WHERE TO BUY PIE IRONS:

PIE IRON RECIPES:

Almost all sporting goods and camping stores carry these. There are also a ton of choices on Amazon.com. There is a lot of variation in prices, so it is best to look for the best deal. The place where I found mine was Walmart. For ten dollars, I bought one for every member of my family. They are a fun way to improve your cooking skills over a campfire.

SEASON YOUR PIE WITH IRON:

PIE IRON RECIPES:

Even though the cast iron pie iron’s package claims that it is already seasoned, you must still season it before using it. When examining the evaluations of different pie irons, the most frequent reason for a bad review was that the food became trapped inside the iron.

One can ensure their cuisine is as colorful as the one in this post by seasoning it yourself. Use vegetable oil or any other oil that can tolerate high heat to season your pie iron. For one hour, bake it at 450 degrees Fahrenheit in the oven. My preference is to have mine upside down to avoid having too much oil build up, which would cause the inside to become heavily coated.

PREPARE YOUR OPEN FIRE FOR COOKING:

PIE IRON RECIPES:

Whatever method works best for you is how you prepare your wood. My favorite method is the teepee method. Light your fire next. I use my HomeRight Electro-Torch to light my backyard fire pit with flames. I like that I can rapidly ignite my fire without using any chemicals. It takes very little time to generate a roaring open flame.

I adore my Electro-Torch very much. Look it up on Amazon.com.Waiting until the flames has somewhat subsided is advised. The cast iron will cook more evenly if you cook it over embers as opposed to flames.

TIP: Make sure the pie iron is as level as possible by keeping it horizontal. If the corner or edge is at an angle or sloping downhill, it will cook faster than any other location in relation to the coals. That being said, you can also use a boulder to keep the long handle in the proper place and avoid having to hold it constantly.

RECIPES FOR CAMPFIRE PIE IRONL:

PIE IRON RECIPES:

I am aware that my statement will be perceived as overly effusive; however, the potential is limitless. Everything from cinnamon pastries to burritos can be prepared. Your imagination is the sole constraint.

I have observed that the most prevalent method of preparing dishes in the pie iron is to use bread slices and subsequently incorporate your own filling. Bread slices are very convenient, particularly when camping. Nevertheless, I am particularly fond of utilizing dough, unless I am preparing a sandwich. If I am preparing a confection, I employ puff pastry. When preparing pizza, I employ pizza dough, while when preparing brunch, I employ biscuit dough.

TIP: If you are utilizing a pastry that expands during the cooking process, it may begin to leak from the sides if you add an excessive amount. I endeavor to maintain the dough at a reasonable thickness and within the square, avoiding the margins. No issue if it does seep out. Scrape it off with a knife and continue cooking. Next time, utilize a slightly reduced quantity of dough. The bread (or dough) should be cooked until it turns a golden brown color.

CLEANING A PIE IRON:

PIE IRON RECIPES:

Before adding more food, give the surface another coat of cooking spray and wipe it down with a paper towel after each usage. Just give it a quick rinse with clean water and a plastic or nylon scrubber when you’re done using it for the day. As with other cast iron skillets, you should avoid using detergent. You can also use salt as an abrasive to get rid of difficult, dried-out food. An aluminum pie iron should be sanitized using soapy water. To keep the cast iron from rusting, make sure it has dried completely before storing it.

IRON CHERRY PIE:

PIE IRON RECIPES:

Puff pastry wins the day! The simplest choice is this one. Layers of dough, canned pie filling, and then another layer of pastry are added to the greased pie iron. Pie crusts and croissant pastries can also be used. I did dust the outside of the dough with cinnamon sugar when I prepared these for the first time. But I found that the dough became sticky because of the moisture in the oil. I now take that into account after they’ve been ready.

So far, my favorite recipe is pie iron cherry tarts. Another option is to make a thin frosting ahead of time to drizzle over the cookies. This is a very easy way to make a delicious treat. Change up the variety of candy by adding other sweeteners, like chocolate chips, marshmallows, or nutella.