Beyond the Skillet: 5 Unique Ways to Use Vintage Cast Iron

Biscuits, brownies, breadsticks and sourdough. Five old pieces with plenty of baking left to do.

The holidays are getting closer, and we are talking about vintage cast iron gifts for the collector who wants something different and the person who seems to have everything. You know the one: tough to buy for, but always up for trying something different. Maybe they love cooking, history, or finding a new use for an old piece.

This week, we are starting with baking. Biscuits, cinnamon rolls, brownies and bread are familiar enough. Some of the pans below, and the ways we use them, might surprise you. You do not have to be a collector to enjoy them.

Here are five vintage cast iron pans worth considering for a gift, or for your own holiday kitchen.

1. The Griswold cookie sheet: biscuits and much more

Hands down, this is one of our most frequently used pieces in the kitchen. The Griswold pan commonly called a cookie sheet is also known as a Grill Pan. Think flat baking surface, not the ridged grill pan that name might bring to mind.

Biscuits, cookies and croissants are all good reasons to pull it out. It also handles everyday jobs like fries and hash browns, and can do double duty as a pancake griddle. That versatility is a big part of why we like it so much.

These can be tough pieces to find. If you are considering one, check its overall measurements, including the handles, against your oven rack. Give yourself room to lift it safely, too. A beautiful baking sheet needs to fit the kitchen where it will actually be used.

Explore Griswold cookie sheets. If none are listed, browse our broader cast iron griddles collection.

2. A square cast iron pan: brownies, cinnamon rolls and cornbread

A square pan earns its place quickly. For brownies, I like to preheat the pan and add butter just before the batter goes in. Those crisp, chewy edges with a moist middle are what I am after. Follow your recipe’s baking temperature and watch the butter so it does not scorch.

Then there are cinnamon rolls. Pack them into the pan according to your recipe, leaving room for them to rise, and you have the makings of a fresh, sticky weekend treat. Cornbread belongs on this list, too. Yes, it can be square!

Birmingham Stove & Range, Wagner and Griswold made some interesting square pieces, including the Wagner 1218 and Griswold No. 768 Square-Fry. Their shapes and depths differ, so compare actual measurements rather than assuming they match a modern square baking dish. If you plan to use yours on the stovetop too, read the individual flatness notes.

Browse square cast iron pans. If that search is empty, explore the broader skillets and fry pans collection.

3. A French roll pan: little cornbreads and brownie bites

French roll pans are a fun way to change up the presentation without changing the whole meal. Their individual elongated cavities work nicely for dinner rolls and little cornbreads. Personal-sized brownie bites give you another use for school lunches or parties.

Instead of cutting one large pan into portions, you are working with individual pieces from the start. That is handy for a holiday platter, too.

You will often see French roll pans described as No. 11 gem pans. Check the cavity count and measurements on the actual listing. Small portions may bake differently from a full pan, so use a suitable recipe and check for doneness rather than carrying over the same baking time.

Explore French roll pans.

4. A Griswold No. 22 bread pan: garlic breadsticks

This is another piece that makes people stop and ask what they would do with it. You may see the Griswold No. 22 listed as a corn bread pan or a breadstick pan. Those long, narrow sections are the appeal.

My pick here is sourdough garlic breadsticks. Roll or twist the dough into lengths that fit the channels, set them in the hot, buttered pan, then brush with garlic butter and seasonings. Leave room for the dough to expand and follow your recipe for baking. Put a basket beside dinner and the pan has made its case.

We have two other uses for this one: standing taco shells upright to fill, bake and serve, and cooking bun-length all-beef hot dogs in the heated pan on the grill while the rest of dinner cooks. About five taco shells fit, depending on their size. Breadsticks are the baking pick, but this pan is not limited to bread.

Browse Griswold No. 22 bread pans. If either bread-pan search is empty, try the broader vintage cast iron bakeware and gem pans collection. Selection changes as individual pieces sell.

5. A classic No. 8 Dutch oven: sourdough bread

You probably already picture soups and stews in a classic No. 8 Dutch oven. In our family, it is also a sourdough bread baker. We experimented with preheating, but now we start with the dough in a cold Dutch oven. We prefer the softer, less-hard bottom crust we get that way.

We bake covered for the first part, then uncover for a crunchy top. A covered Dutch oven traps steam released by the dough. That is how we use ours, not a complete bread recipe: follow a sourdough method designed for your chosen starting temperature. The lid’s drip pattern is not something we worry about for this use.

A silicone bread sling or insert can help with lifting the loaf, but use one specifically rated for oven baking at your recipe’s temperature. Check its manufacturer’s instructions, along with the pot, lid and any knob. Not every silicone accessory is suitable for high-temperature bread baking.

The No. 8 marking is a size designation, not a promise that every maker’s pot holds the same amount. Compare the listed measurements, lid fit and usable space with the loaf you want to bake.

Explore No. 8 Dutch ovens. For more options, including when that search is empty, browse our broader Dutch ovens collection.

A quick word about square lids

Matching vintage square lids can be hard to find. These baking ideas do not all need one. If your recipe does call for a cover, a glass lid is an option only when it fits properly and the entire lid, including its knob, is rated for the intended oven temperature. A lid that happens to sit on the pan is not enough.

Choose the piece you will reach for

For the collector, an unexpected shape might be the draw. For the adventurous cook or history lover who is hard to buy for, it might be a piece they can put to work in a way they had never considered. Picture what they would enjoy making, then choose the pan. These five are our baking starting point; there are plenty of other uses to explore another time.

If you are choosing a gift, our cast iron gift guide can help you match a piece to the person. And if you need a little encouragement to use the cookware you already own, read Don’t Be a Helicopter Cook. These pieces still have meals left in them.