Last week I made an apple-cherry crisp in my West Bend Slow Cooker-yummy. These crisps bake up really well in this appliance
The West Bend has always been my preferred slow cooker. Been using this brand of slow cooker for at least 30 years or more. They have just upgraded these too recently. I like the shape of it-will fit a nice roast or whole chicken and it has heat settings from one to five. The market interchanges the name slow cooker with crock pots. Crock pots have only two settings hot or low, and they usually have a ceramic insert. I have never cared for the crock pots much.
I bought one when we still had deer camp so I could have chili going all the time on low and would also free up my West Bend. I should try to sell that now.
I have been browsing Pinterest and online for baking recipes using slow cookers (since my oven broke awhile back) When they show the photos they are calling for a slow cooker but are using a crock pot with the ceramic insert instead-with only the two heat settings.
I wanted to experiment today with chocolate chip cookie bars-using keto sweeteners and gluten free Bob's Red Mill flour. When I read the comments most everyone said their cookies were burnt on the bottom and on the edges and not done in the middle. So I found the rack that fits into my West Bend that I lined with parchment paper. Then I found a bread pan that just fits inside on top of the rack-that I oiled a bit along with a piece of parchment paper on the bottom.
When I am baking outdoors in a dutch oven I always do the same-parchment paper than a trivet and then the pan on top-to keep the bottom from burning. So I am applying the same idea with my slow cooker.
I just set it up and will check on it every hour. The time of baking seems to be all over the place, and I set this on 4 1/2 instead of all the way up to the 5. Thinking will take a couple hours.
I decided to only use half of the cookie dough-for better baking-hopefully
Stay Tuned for the results-I am hoping this works.
7:15 pm
We have good results-and was surprised the parchment paper on the bottom under the rack did not brown at all
This took about 2 1/2 hours to bake.
This first photo is at the hour mark
I am not familiar with this time of slow cooker. I can slow cook on my instant pot, but I haven't tried it. I'm curious to see how your cookies come out.
ReplyDeleteI haven't work with the new instant pots. This west bend slow cooker has been around for a very long time. when my Husband and I got together over 40 years ago he had one and I had one too haha. It can also be used as a griddle without the pan but I have never done that. they are sometimes hard to find locally so then I buy one online. I was checking and they have upgraded these with a choice of a larger one. They seem to last me at least 10 years or more-this time I am being very careful not to scratch the surface by using only plastic utensils. these did come out really good
DeleteThat's a very different slow cooker. Will it work in a standard slow cooker? YOu know, just dumping them in the ceramic pot?
ReplyDeleteI tried baking a pineapple upside down cake in the crock pot with the ceramic pot but the problem was only two temperatures-one high and one low that's what I don't like about those. I had it on high for an hour and then put it on the low setting to finish so it would not burn-it was edible but not a success. perhaps it would work better if you could find a rack that fits inside and then a pan on top of that but the oval is a hinderance for the length needed
DeleteYour bars look so good. They are probably better baked in the slow cooker than they would be in an oven. I definitely need to try this gf bar,
ReplyDeleteI was pleased with the results
DeleteLove the beautiful stamps, and my mouth is watering thinking of your delicious baked goods, yummy. I have a slow cooker and have never used it, shame on me! I must try it soon. Thanks for the inspiration! Hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteI confess I've never even HEARD of a slow cooker. I have FOUR crock pots, two large and two small. I mostly use them when I serve fondue. I cooked a chicken in the crock pot once and it was so juicy, the juices leaked out over the edge and I had a heck of a mess to clean up. I'm so glad you like your slow cooker and I am glad it will take the place of your oven, especially now that the baking season will be on us soon. I loved that cookie dough cake. I don't really know what else to call it.
ReplyDeleteNice stamps, too, dear. Have a super weekend, Kathy.
slow cookers-crock pots are nice to use especially if serving food for a group of people. I am ready to have my oven back though haha with the holiday baking coming up. Happy weekend
DeleteGreat recipe to try, thank you
ReplyDeleteWest Bend is the brand of slow cookers I used for years.
this is my favorite slow cooker for sure
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