Book Review - Sweet Cast Iron Creations

Sweet Cast Iron Creations: Dutch Oven Desserts

By: Doug Martin
Publisher: Hobble Creek Press
Publication Date: February 2015
ISBN: 978-1462114450
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
Review Date: July 5, 2015

I admit it – I have a serious sweet tooth. I’ve also dabbled around with cast iron cooking with limited success and have thought of giving it another try. So when I saw Sweet Cast Iron Creations come in for review, the book seemed a perfect fit for me and I grabbed it.

Before delving into the delectable recipes in this book, the author smartly chose to give the reader an introduction on cast iron cooking. Martin first discusses the art of selecting the best cast iron for your needs. Size, vintage vs. new and indoor vs. outdoor are covered with pros and cons of each addressed. Next up is ‘Stripping, Seasoning, Cleaning, and Storage of Cast Iron’ followed by ‘Cast Iron Cooking Methods.’ I found these sections to be very interesting and even the most seasoned of cooks is likely to discover some tidbits in here to help bring out the best in cast iron meals.

The bulk of Sweet Cast Iron Creations, of course, is devoted to cooking sweets. The author has divided the book into six chapters: Pies; Cakes; Crisps, Cobblers, and Tarts; Cookies; Sweet Rolls and Dessert Breads; Frosting, Ganaches, and Compotes. I selected one recipe from each chapter to test and am quite pleased with my results. For my first recipe, I chose Snickerdoodles. The cookies came out of my cast iron chewy and very tasty – I’ve since made them two more times. Next up was the Cheesecake Brownie Pie (I did mention I have a serious sweet tooth, right?). Different recipe with the same tasty results. In fact, all of the treats I prepared came out quite delicious. In addition, because I don’t consider myself a cook, what I truly appreciated was that each recipe was short, simple, and very easy to follow. A bit of advice – if you want to be THE most popular person at your next outing, then before you pack up your tent and camping gear, be sure to get a copy of this book.

Quill says: Tasty treats with simple, easy to follow directions makes Sweet Cast Iron Creations a winner.