Traditional Apple Charlotte Recipes

APPLE CHARLOTTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the apples, lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Cover and cook until the apples break down and the mixture becomes stiff, about 50 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool while you put together the bread.
• Arrange 4 of the bread slices in a square shape on a flat surface. Place the Charlotte mold upside down on the bread and trace the opening with a sharp edge. (Alternatively, use a 2-quart ovenproof casserole dish.) Cut the bread following the traced line and brush both sides with the softened butter. Fit the bread into the bottom of the mold. Cut 11 of the bread slices in half lengthwise. They should be about the same height as the mold. Spread the halved slices with the softened butter and place them against the inside of the mold, overlapping like a fan. Fill the mold with the apple mixture. Cut the remaining 7 slices of bread into triangles, brush with the softened butter and fan the pieces over the top, pressing to fit into the top of the mold.
• Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Allow the pan to cool 15 minutes. Run a knife around the inside of the mold to loosen it before unmolding. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

TRADITIONAL APPLE CHARLOTTE

Steps:

• Peel, core and thinly slice the apples first of all, rinse them in cold water and put them in a saucepan with the sugar and 1 oz (25 g) of the butter. Cook them over a low heat until they are soft enough to beat into a purée. Beat them and leave on one side to cool. Meanwhile melt the remaining 3 oz (75 g) of butter gently, and cut each slice of bread into rectangles. Next brush each piece of bread with melted butter (both sides), being careful not to leave any unbuttered patches, then line the pudding basin with approximately three-quarters of the bread (or as much as you need). Don't leave any gaps between the pieces - overlap them and press firmly. When the apple purée has cooled, beat the egg yolk into it and fill the lined basin with the mixture. Finally seal the top with overlapping slices of the remaining bread. Place a suitably sized ovenproof plate on top of the pudding and weight it down with a 2 lb (900 g) scale weight. Meanwhile, pre-heat the oven to gas mark 6, 400°F (200°C). After 30 minutes place the basin (with the weight still on it) in the oven to bake for 35 minutes. Then, with an oven cloth, remove the plate and weight, and bake the pudding for another 10 minutes to brown on top. Leave the pudding to settle in the basin for a minute after removing from the oven, then carefully invert it on to a warmed plate to serve.

EASY APPLE CHARLOTTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 6.5-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray and line with parchment paper. Spray parchment paper with nonstick cooking spray.
• Toss apples with lime juice and set aside. Mix flour, cinnamon, ginger, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
• Combine eggs with brown sugar, white sugar, and vanilla extract in a second bowl and beat with an electric mixer until creamy. Add dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Pour about 1/3 of the batter into the prepared pan. Add apples and top with remaining batter.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for 15 minutes.
• Run a knife around the springform pan, release springform, and flip apple Charlotte onto a plate. Immediately flip the cake onto a serving platter.

CHARLOTTE RUSSE

Steps:

• In a chilled bowl, whip the cream until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and vanilla. Whip to soft, fluffy peaks, about 2 minutes.
• FOR THE CAKE: Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Line a 12-slot muffin tin with large paper or foil cupcakes liners.
• Into a large mixing bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/2 cup of the sugar together--three times. Form a well in the center and add the oil, egg yolks, sherry, and apple juice concentrate. On low speed, mix together, just until blended.
• In a clean, dry mixing bowl, whisk the egg whites with the pinches of salt and cream of tartar until creamy, foamy, and barely able to hold peaks, about 2 minutes. While sprinkling in the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar, whisk until the egg whites have the consistency of shaving cream.
• Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the yolk mixture. Fold in the remainder of the whites. Fill the cups of the muffin tin no more than 2/3 full with the batter. Bake for 16 minutes, or until the center springs back when lightly pressed and a cake tester comes out clean. Cool the cupcakes on a rack.
• Cut 12 (2 1/4-inch) circles and 12 (2 by 8 1/2-inch) bands out of glossy card stock. Wrap the bands around the circles to form cups and secure with tape or decorative ribbon. Do not tape any part of the circle. It must remain free to move.
• FOR THE FILLING: Mix the preserves and apple juice until smooth. Split the cakes into 2 layers. Spread 1 teaspoon of the preserves in between layers. Place the cakes in the paper holders so that the cake top is even with the paper rim.
• Fill a pastry bag, fitted with a star tip, with whipped cream. Pipe it to rise 1-inch above the paper rims. Top each with a strawberry.

APPLE CHARLOTTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 9x5 inch bread pan with 1 tablespoon butter. Press bread slices onto the bottom and sides of pan, making sure there are no gaps.
• In a large bowl, combine apples, sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice and 2 tablespoons cubed butter. Place apple mixture in bread lined pan. Cover top with bread slices, and coat with nonstick cooking spray. Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes. Allow to cool for 15 minutes in pan, then invert onto serving dish.

APPLE CHARLOTTE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 375°F.
• Put the apples, cinnamon, lemon zest and juice and sugar in a saucepan.
• Cover and simmer gently until pulpy, stirring occasionally.
• Beat thoroughly with a wooden spoon, then cook, uncovered, over a high heat, stirring continuously, until any excess liquid has evaporated and the purée is very thick.
• Brush the butter all over the slices of bread.
• Line the base and sides of a greased 6 inch deep cake tin (such as a Christmas cake tin or substitute a coffee can or vegetables tin, as long as it does not have ridges) with the slices of bread, making sure that they overlap.
• Spoon in the apple purée and cover with more over-lapping slices of bread.
• Bake for about 30 minutes, until the top is golden brown.
• Serve at once, turned out and accompanied with real custard or fresh cream or clotted cream to pour over it.

APPLE CHARLOTTE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Butter a 1-litre pudding basin, then dust with sugar, making sure you cover the whole inside and tipping out any excess sugar. Put a strip of parchment parchment across it (so it's easier to remove the pudding later).
• Cut the crusts off the bread and flatten the slices with your hands. Dip in the melted butter, covering both sides. Use around 4½ slices of the bread to line the base and sides of the basin, overlapping them to make sure there aren't any gaps. Transfer the mould to the fridge while you make the filling.
• To make the filling, put the sugar in a large saucepan over a medium heat for a few mins until it turns a dark caramel colour - avoid stirring it. Add the butter and stir to combine, being careful as it will steam a little. Add the apples, orange juice, zest and cinnamon, and stir to combine. Cook over a high heat for 5-8 mins until the apple has softened and the liquid has reduced slightly, stirring occasionally.
• Remove the pudding basin from the fridge and pour the apple filling into it. Cover the top of the filling with the remaining bread and press down the edges of the bread to seal it together.
• Put the pudding on a baking tray and bake for 35-40 mins, or until golden brown. Leave to cool for 5 mins, then carefully tip upside down onto a serving plate and remove from the basin. Serve with custard or ice cream.