Cupcake Chicken

[Winz]

I was excited to give my new Automatic Temperature Controller unit a try, so I decided cupcake chicken was in order.  Started with 8 chicken thighs - I removed the skin (to be used later) and removed the bone.  The thighs were brined overnight to ensure they would stay moist.  I scraped all the fat off the skins.  Here are the thighs and the skins ready for assembly:





I used cupcake pans with holes drilled in the bottom.  This allows the chicken to braise in broth while smoking.








Here is the ATC unit I built last week.  12V powered:





Wapiti gets the call.  It was a typically hot day in Phoenix requiring some shade to keep comfortable.  I cooked at 275 using cherry wood for smoke.





Almost forgot to get a picture of the final product!  Moist, delicious, tender chicken.  It takes at least 2 of these as a main course.  1 per person would work as an appetizer.  A very labor intensive cook if you choose to scrape the fat off the skin, but a fun cook as well:





Winz

[Travis]

Is that a bbq sauce served with it? Sounds interesting.

How did your controller do?


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[argentflame]

Great looking cook Winz. The ATC looks awesome.

[jcnaz]

Beautiful!

[THROUGH THE MUD BBQ TEAM]

Those are definitely competition worthy!

The controller worked well?

[Winz]

Is that a bbq sauce served with it? Sounds interesting.

How did your controller do?

Yep, some extra sauce on the side (not really needed)

Great looking cook Winz. The ATC looks awesome.

Thanks Alvin!

Those are definitely competition worthy!

The controller worked well?

Thanks!


The controller worked great up to 275 degrees.  I tried taking it up to 300, but it just would not get there despite the fan running constantly.  I think I know the problem:





I left the ball valve in place from my old fan setup.  The new reducer and pit viper adaptor lengthen the distance between the fan and the charcoal by quite a bit.  I am going to ditch the ball valve and hook the fan up much closer to the fire.  I believe it will have an impact on the ATCs ability to directly fan the flames.


At temps below 275, it was rock solid.


Winz

[THUNDERDOME]

Nice cookin Winz. I tried cupcake chix a couple years ago and was pleased. For comps I've been using this one.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/47/06/94/470694ce07b7f296f2be8e877d40aa61.jpg

[WNC]

Those look great!
What's in the bottom of the pan?

[Winz]

Those look great!
What's in the bottom of the pan?

Thanks. I used chicken broth. Keeps it nice and moist.

Winz

[G19]

I definitely have to give Cupcake Chicken a try.  They have been on my list for sometime .  Well done

[Winz]

@THUNDERDOME

Nice cookin Winz. I tried cupcake chix a couple years ago and was pleased. For comps I've been using this one.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/47/06/94/470694ce07b7f296f2be8e877d40aa61.jpg

Great tip - I picked up two of them today.  Besides the shape, I love the fact that you get 8 to a pan instead of six.  I can only fit one pan per grate on my 18.5" smoker - this gives me the ability to cook 16 at a time instead of 12.  Gracias.


Winz