Author Topic: Cupcake Chicken (Read 1788 times)

Winz · « **on:** June 25, 2016, 07:51:19 PM »

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 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 25, 2016, 08:16:45 PM »

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

How did your controller do?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

argentflame · « **Reply #2 on:** June 25, 2016, 10:20:11 PM »

Great looking cook Winz. The ATC looks awesome.

jcnaz · « **Reply #3 on:** June 26, 2016, 06:08:24 AM »

Beautiful!

THROUGH THE MUD BBQ TEAM · « **Reply #4 on:** June 26, 2016, 06:21:10 AM »

Those are definitely competition worthy!

The controller worked well?

Winz · « **Reply #5 on:** June 26, 2016, 10:10:42 AM »

Quote from: Travis on June 25, 2016, 08:16:45 PM

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)

Quote from: argentflame on June 25, 2016, 10:20:11 PM

Great looking cook Winz. The ATC looks awesome.

Thanks Alvin!

Quote from: THROUGH THE MUD BBQ TEAM on June 26, 2016, 06:21:10 AM

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 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 27, 2016, 08:26:10 AM »

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 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 27, 2016, 03:42:01 PM »

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

Winz · « **Reply #8 on:** June 28, 2016, 05:16:17 AM »

Quote from: WNC on June 27, 2016, 03:42:01 PM

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

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

Winz

G19 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 28, 2016, 05:49:26 AM »

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

Winz · « **Reply #10 on:** June 28, 2016, 07:32:35 PM »

@THUNDERDOME

Quote from: THUNDERDOME on June 27, 2016, 08:26:10 AM

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