Apple Charlotte Recipes

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.

APPLE CHARLOTTE WITH CINNAMON SABAYON

Steps:

• Begin by making the filling. Set a large saute pan or roasting pan over medium heat and add butter. Peel and cut cheeks off apples then cut into 1/2-inch chunks. Once butter has melted and just starting to foam, add apples, scraped vanilla bean and pod, lemon juice, and brown sugar and cinnamon. Toss to coat well and cook for 20 to 25 minutes until apples are just tender and liquid has evaporated. The sauce will caramelize slightly and should be a nice, rich dark color.
• In a shallow dish, make the batter by combining eggs, milk, sugar, and cinnamon. Stir with a whisk until fully combined.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and generously butter and sugar 4 (1-cup) ramekins.
• Invert a ramekin, or use a round cutter, on half of the bread slices to use as a guide to cut out circles. These will be the bases and top of the charlottes - you should have 8 in total. Cut the other slices of bread in half lengthwise.
• Working with the circles. lightly coat in the batter and place in the bottom of each ramekin. Lightly dip the other rectangles of bread in batter as well, then use them to line the walls of each ramekin - standing them upright around the perimeter leaving an overhang that you will later use to fold over and seal the charlotte. It should take about 6 strips per ramekin. Fill each mold with apples and some of the caramel from the pan. Fold over the edges to seal it up completely and sprinkle the tops with a little sugar.
• Bake in the center of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes. If the tops brown too quickly, cover loosely with foil. When done, the bread will have puffed up slightly, the edges will be brown and the sugar on top will have caramelized. Allow to cool slightly, then run a knife around the edges and invert onto individual plates. Serve with cinnamon sabayon.
• To make sabayon, combine ingredients in a large mixing bowl and set over a pot of boiling water on low heat, i.e. a double boiler. Whisk (you can use an electric whisk to make it easier) until the mixture becomes light and fluffy and the volume almost doubles.

APPLE CHARLOTTE

Steps:

• In a bowl, add brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and mace. Mix together. Reserve 1 cup of mixture to be used for topping.
• In a separate bowl, mix together apples and lemon zest.
• Cover the bottom of Dutch oven pan with bread crumbs and bits of butter. Layer bottom with some sliced apples and brown sugar with a few pats of butter on top. Repeat with another layer until the pan is filled.
• For the top layer, combine reserved cup of bread crumbs, melted butter and 1 cup reserved mixture. Sprinkle on top and top with more butter. Bake for 30 minutes until the golden brown.

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.

APPLE CHARLOTTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. Butter a 1 litre/1¾ pint pudding basin.
• Put the sugar and 3 tablespoons water into a saucepan set over a low heat. Cook gently until the sugar has dissolved and a light caramel has formed.
• Stir the chopped apples into the caramel. Add the calvados, orange juice, cinnamon and 20g/¾oz of the melted butter. Cover and bring to the boil, cook for 5 minutes, then remove the lid and cook for another 10-15 minutes, or until all the liquid has evaporated and the apples are soft. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
• Flatten the bread slices slightly with a rolling pin and remove the crusts. Dip the bread in the remaining melted butter, ensuring it is well covered. Use about four slices of the bread to line the base and sides of the basin, overlapping the bread slightly to ensure there are no gaps.
• Spoon the cooked apple into the bread-lined basin. Cover with the remaining bread and press down to seal, pinching the edges of the bread together.
• Put the pudding basin on a baking tray and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until deep golden brown and crisp on top. Leave to cool for 5 minutes, then carefully invert onto a serving plate.
• While the pudding is cooking, make the butterscotch sauce. Put the sugar and 4 tablespoons of water into a pan over a low heat. Bring to the boil, then simmer until the sugar is a dark golden caramel. Whisk in the butter, stir in the cream and continue to simmer for 5 minutes, stirring all the time, until the sauce is creamy and golden-brown. Remove from the heat.
• For the Chantilly cream, whisk the cream, icing sugar and vanilla extract together until stiff peaks form when the whisk is removed from the bowl.
• To serve, pour the sauce over the pudding. The Chantilly cream can be served on the side for guests to help themselves.

APPLE CHARLOTTE

Steps:

• Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add apples, lemon juice, vanilla bean and scrapings, sugar, and brandy or Calvados, if desired. Cook until apples break down and become a chunky applesauce, about 20 minutes. Continue cooking over low heat until mixture is stiff enough to hold its shape when you press a spoon into it, 10 to 15 minutes longer. Remove and discard vanilla bean. Let sauce cool, and refrigerate until cold.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Trim crusts from bread, and discard. Place 4 slices of bread together in a square, and place a 7-inch charlotte mold on top. Trace shape of mold onto bread with knife tip, and cut bread to fit in bottom of mold. Butter both sides, and fit into mold.
• Reserve at least 4 slices of bread for the top; cut remaining slices in half lengthwise. They should be about the same height as the mold. Butter rectangles on both sides, and fit them against walls of mold, overlapping like shingles. Fill with apple mixture. Cut reserved bread to fit top of mold; butter, and fit into place. Chill 15 minutes.
• Bake until bread is golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool in pan for at least 30 minutes. Unmold, and serve warm, with whipped cream, if desired.

APPLE CHARLOTTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Peel and core the apples and cut them in thin slices. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a saucepan and add the apples with the lemon juice and 2 tablespoons finely diced peel. Add sugar to taste (the amount depends on the sweetness of the apples) and just enough water to prevent the apples from sticking to the pan. Cook the apples for about 30 minutes, or until they begin to get mushy.
• Meanwhile, put the remaining butter in a small saucepan and bring to simmer gently, without browning. Skim off the foam that rises to the surface and set the butter aside.
• Remove the crusts from the bread. Using two medium-size ovenproof baking dishes with deep sides, dip the slices of bread in the butter and line the sides and the bottom. Arrange the cooked apples in the center and top with buttered bread. Bake, uncovered, for one hour.

APPLE CHARLOTTE

Steps:

• Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in chopped apples, apple butter, crystallized ginger, brandy, lemon zest and juice, salt, ground ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Cover and cook over medium-low heat until apples have softened, 15 to 20 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has evaporated and mixture has thickened, an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool while you prepare the crust.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt remaining 12 tablespoons butter in a small microwave-safe bowl, in 15- to 30-second intervals. Stir in remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
• Remove crusts from bread slices. Gently dip both sides of each bread slice in melted cinnamon butter and arrange inside a 9x5-inch loaf pan, cutting them as needed to line the bottom and sides of the pan completely. Overlap pieces slightly to ensure there are no cracks. Spoon in the apple mixture and cover with remaining butter-dipped bread slices.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bread is crisp and golden, about 50 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes. Place a plate or serving platter over the loaf pan and flip so the bottom has now become the top.