Electric pie makers and recipe ideas ;)

[andiesenji]

The Sunbeam Pie Baker debuted today with beef pot pies.  I used a slightly altered recipe that I usually use for my pasties.

First, I found that draping the bottom shell over a little cup made it easier to fit the stuff into the bottom of the baker without tearing it too much - my dough is fairly tender.




Each shell was filled with 1/3 cup of filling.


The book said they would hold 1/2 cup but that did not work so well - overrun.


The end result - very tasty.


I made 6, froze three, refrigerated 2 and ate one.  

Not bad for a first try.

[Bonsai]

Andie they look wonderful. I've always been nervous about using a mix with much sauce in it as it seems to seep through pastry easily unless they're eaten straight away. Maybe using shortcrust on the base might work better (have tended to be lazy and use frozen puff pastry, really no excuse as shortcrust is so easy to make and foolproof 

Have to try again with shortcrust base and a more saucy filling....

[judydawn]

Bonsai, you are certainly right there.  I was going to whimp out and buy shortcrust for the bases until Hally convinced me that our pastry recipe is so quick. Now I wouldn't do it any other way but will continue to buy puff pastry for the tops.  I think as you line the pie molds with pastry they start to cook immediately and by the time you have got around to the 4th one then start filling the first one, the heat would have done enough to stop any steepage - does this make sense or am I wrong in my assumption here. Anyway, I have not had leakage with my 2 tries and one was quite runny.

Your pies look great andie. Good to see you getting into the Aussie pie exercise.

[cookie1]

They look delicious Andie.

[maddy]

Andie, out of curiosity, what are is the measurements of the babycakes vessels?
I'm wondering if it's the same size as the sunbeam cupcake maker,



......... instead of the mini muffin I had just bought.

I bought the babycakes book for ideas (brilliant amount of choice), and should adapt well to regular size.

[andiesenji]

Maddy,
The Babycakes  cupcakes are half the size of a "regular" cupcake.  I don't know what size the Sunbeam makes.

The company calls them "Snack-Size"   Other companies that make similar appliances call them "mini" cupcakes.

Bella Cucina makes 7.

Breville  makes one but it was on the market here in the US for about five minutes and got terrible reviews.  This is the first one I have seen on eBay for two or three years.

MasterChef marketed this full size muffin baker about 12 years ago but it never caught on and I don't think many were sold.  I saw it demonstrated at Gottschalks department store, which has been out of business here for at least five years and the demo I watched was long before that - was done by a friend of mine. 

[maddy]

Thanks for that info andie  

Well BINGO!.....I found the equivalent here, to your babycakes  maker  
It's a Breville mini pie/cupcake  maker.


Breville party pie creations

.......now you know I will just have to buy this one too!    there are just too many yummy mini pies and cheese cakes in that cook book!

[fundj&e]

Some time to today i would like to try making cup cakes in the pie maker any tips maddy? 

[maddy]

Some time to today i would like to try making cup cakes in the pie maker any tips maddy? 

....sorry, just found your question.
Were you thinking the 4 pie maker?.......If yes, it may be a little big  not sure how it would turn out (length of time cooking/ if too baked on the outside before the centre has cooked).....is your oven not working?

[andiesenji]

Remember, you can open the pie maker when you think it is done and stick a probe thermometer into the center of the cupcake.

It should register at least 96° C. when done or a little higher.   Less than that and it will be gooey in the center. 

If you have "inclusions" in the cupcakes or muffins - raisins or   check in more than one spot as these will reach a higher temp more rapidly than the surrounding cake.

[Decadent Dot]

Andie, I just wanted to say that draping the pastry over a little tin before introducing them into the pie maker is a great idea which I shall be trying next time.

[andiesenji]

Andie, I just wanted to say that draping the pastry over a little tin before introducing them into the pie maker is a great idea which I shall be trying next time.

I'm now using a taller jar which is easier to hold than the shallower custard cup.  I can drape the dough over the bottom of it, plunk it into the pie maker and quickly go on to the next one. 
I may refine it more as I have a silicone tumbler that may fit the bottom better.  Still experimenting. 

I didn't take a photo but yesterday I made bread pudding and while most went into a loaf pan to be turned into my "mock French toast"
tomorrow, I had some left over and baked it in the Sunbeam pie maker.  Turned out lovely.

[judydawn]

What a great idea andie, individual bread and butter puddings in the pie maker.  Would never have thought of that 

[Yvette]

Loving my pie maker made Dot's chicken and mushroom pies the other day (minus the mushrooms) delish

[andiesenji]

What a great idea andie, individual bread and butter puddings in the pie maker.  Would never have thought of that 

I've made individual B&B puddings before, in the jumbo muffins tins.  I cut or tear the bread, usually brioche or challah, into bite-size pieces, make the eggy mixture, add sugar and spices and then add the lightly toasted bread, putting a plate to weight it down so it all soaks up the liquid.
Then I transfer it by the cupful to loaf pans, or other baking pans - sometimes I bake it in a Turk's head mold or other fancy type.

It took 10 minutes to cook in the pie maker.   I haven't yet tried it in the BabyCakes one yet, but as this turned out so well, am going to try it soon.
I have an idea that savory ones, with pre-cooked bacon and a nice sharp cheddar or other cheese will turn out very nice.