Charlotte Russe Dessert Food

CHARLOTTE RUSSE WITH RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• Sprinkle the gelatin over 3 tablespoons water in a bowl and let stand, 5 minutes. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of barely simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water), stirring occasionally. Remove the bowl from the pot and slowly whisk in the milk; keep warm.
• Whisk the egg yolks, granulated sugar, salt and 1 tablespoon vanilla in a large heatproof bowl. Place the bowl over the pot of hot water and cook, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula, until smooth and slightly custardlike, 3 to 5 minutes. Slowly stir in the warm chocolate mixture and cook until it coats a spoon, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pot and whisk in the gelatin mixture until smooth. Transfer to a clean bowl, cover and refrigerate until the custard just begins to set, about 1 hour.
• Line the walls of an 8-inch springform pan with ladyfingers, standing them up (trim the bottoms, if desired). Beat the heavy cream in a large bowl with a mixer until it holds soft peaks; sift 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar on top, add the remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla and stir. Gently fold 1 1/2 cups whipped cream into the chocolate custard until smooth. Carefully fill the pan with the chocolate cream. Refrigerate until set, at least 3 hours.
• Remove the sides of the pan and transfer the dessert to a platter. Gently toss the raspberries with the liqueur and the remaining 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar in a bowl, then arrange on top of the cake.

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.

CHARLOTTE RUSSE (SHARLOTKA)

Steps:

• Lightly grease a 2 quart charlotte mold with light vegetable oil.
• Brush the ladyfingers with Grand Marnier. Line the bottom and the sides of the mold with the ladyfingers, arranging them flat side inward and tapering the sides, if necessary, to fit the bottom of the mold.
• Fold the 2 cups raspberries into the Bavarian cream. Fill the charlotte mold with the cream. Chill, uncovered, until the cream is firmly set, at least 3 hours.
• To serve, run a knife around the inside of the mold. Place a serving dish over the mold and invert, shaking lightly to loosen.
• Whip the cream until it holds stiff peaks. Spoon the cream into a pastry bag fitted with a decorating tip. Pipe over the top and sides of the charlotte decoratively.
• Decorate with additional raspberries and serve with raspberry sauce.
• For the Bavarian Cream:.
• In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over the cognac and let soak while preparing the next steps.
• In a medium sized saucepan, bring the milk to a slow boil. Remove from the heat.
• In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks and the granulated sugar until the mixture is pale yellow and forms a ribbon when the beaters are lifted. Gradually whisk in the hot milk.
• Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring, until the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes; do not allow to boil. Add the gelatin mixture and stir to dissolve for one minute. Set the saucepan in a large bowl filled with ice and chill, stirring frequently, until thickened, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Beat the cream until it forms stiff peaks.
• In a separate bowl, with clean, dry beaters, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Beat in the superfine sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, then beat until the whites are stiff and glossy, but not dry.
• Fold the cream and the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture gently but thoroughly, until well blended.
• For the Raspberry Sauce:.
• Strain the raspberries through a fine sieve set over a bowl, pushing them through with the back of a wooden spoon.
• Add the sugar, lemon juice, and Cognac, and mix well. Taste and adjust the sugar, if necessary.

CHARLOTTE RUSSE

Steps:

• Sprinkle gelatin over cold water in a small saucepan; let stand 1 minute.
• Cook over low heat until gelatin dissolves; cool slightly.
• Beat egg yolks and sugar in a large bowl at medium speed until thick and lemon colored. Stir in bourbon.
• Gradually add dissolved gelatin; stirring constantlly.
• Beat egg whites until stiff, but not dry. Fold into yolk mixture.
• Beat whipping cream until soft peaks form. Fold into the egg mixture. Split ladyfingers in half; line 3 quart glass bowl with ladyfingers. Pour in filling; cover and chill at least 8 hours.
• Garnish with fruit if desired.

CHARLOTTE RUSSE

Steps:

• Find a pretty glass serving dish and line the bottom and sides with ladyfingers (halfs).
• Warm the milk to about 98 degrees and set aside. (It should be blood warm, not hot.).
• Beat the egg whites until frothy.
• In a separate bowl, whip the cream until thick but not stiff.
• Fold in the sugar.
• Fold in the vanilla.
• Fold in the egg whites.
• In the meantime, dissolve the gelatin into the warmed milk. Working quickly, strain the milk/gelatin mixture into the bowl containing the cream/sugar/egg white mixture.
• Pour the mixture into the bowl lined with ladyfingers, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.