Chocolate Charlotte Russe Food

CHOCOLATE CHARLOTTE

Steps:

• Filling: Place chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over 2 tablespoons milk; let stand until softened, about 5 minutes. In another medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks and granulated sugar.
• Bring 1/4 cup cream and remaining 1/4 cup milk to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add one-third of cream mixture to yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Add remaining cream mixture in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly; return to saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until custard coats the back of a spoon, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in gelatin mixture. Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into bowl with chocolate; let stand until softened, 1 minute. Stir until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto surface to prevent skin from forming; let cool completely.
• Whisk remaining 3/4 cup cream to soft peaks and gently fold into custard. Refrigerate until ready to assemble, up to 1 day.
• Ladyfingers and Cake Layers: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using a pencil and ruler, make a template that will be the guide for piping ladyfingers and cake layers: On a piece of parchment, draw two sets of parallel lines spaced 3 1/2 inches apart. On a second piece of parchment, trace three 5-inch circles. Place each piece of parchment, pencil-side down, on an unrimmed baking sheet. Sift together flour and 1/4 cup cocoa into a medium bowl.
• In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together egg whites, salt, and vanilla on medium speed until frothy. Increase speed to high and gradually add 1/2 cup granulated sugar, beating until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 3 to 5 minutes. In a separate bowl fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg yolks with remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar until thick and pale yellow, about 2 minutes. Gently fold egg-yolk mixture into egg-white mixture, then fold in flour mixture in three additions. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round tip.
• Pipe ladyfingers crosswise onto prepared templates, spacing 1/4 inch apart (you'll need about 16), then pipe cake rounds, starting in center of each circle and spiraling outward until you reach edge of template. Whisk together remaining 1 tablespoon cocoa and confectioners' sugar; sift over cake rounds. Bake ladyfingers and cake rounds until firm and springy, about 14 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks; let cool completely.
• Assembly: Place a 6-by-3-inch cake ring on a parchment-lined baking sheet; line ring with a 20-by-3-inch parchment strip to form a collar. Bring rum and granulated sugar just to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved; remove from heat. Place ladyfingers standing upright inside of ring, with domed sides facing out (use just enough to fit snugly). Place one cake layer at bottom of ring. Brush ladyfingers and cake with rum syrup. Pour half of chocolate filling into cake ring and top with a second cake layer. Brush cake with syrup and top with remaining chocolate filling. Top with final cake layer and brush with syrup. Refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Just before serving, whisk cream and confectioners' sugar to soft peaks. Carefully remove charlotte from bottom piece of parchment and transfer, still in cake ring, to serving platter. Remove ring and gently peel off parchment strip. Dollop whipped cream on top of cake and sprinkle with chocolate shavings.

LUSCIOUS CHOCOLATE CHARLOTTE RUSSE

Steps:

• You will need an 8″ spring form pan, or you can make individual versions if you like. If you use a larger pan, you might want trim the lady fingers to the height of the pan as you will have a more shallow russe, or fill the gap with lots of fruits and whipped cream (greek yoghurt is healthier).
• Add the kirsch to 1/2 cup of water in a shallow dish. Quickly roll one lady finger at a time in the alcohol and then stand up against the wall of your springform pan(s) with the rounded side facing outwards. Break the fingers into smaller pieces to place in the bottom to make the base (see photo). prepping your pans
• Separate the eggs, placing the whites in a clean mixing bowl to whip, and the yolks in a small dish which will be added to the chocolate mixture.
• Dissolve the gelatin in 2 tablespoons of water.
• Heat the chocolate and milk in a double boiler (on place a large shallow metal bowl on top of pot with simmering water. Melt until smooth but carefully watch so you don't get the chocolate too hot as it will scorch.
• Using a wooden spoon, add the butter, one tablespoon at a time, blending until smooth after each addition. Next, add the egg yolks, one a time, blending well after each. Beat the mixture for several minutes with the wooden spoon until smooth and glossy. Add the gelatin and remove from the heat.
• Beat the egg whites in a clean metal bowl until stiff and then beat in the powdered sugar.
• Using a chilled large metal bowl, whip the chilled cream until it forms soft peaks.
• Fold the chocolate mixture into the whipped cream, and then fold in the egg whites. Work gently and quickly to ensure you don't lose too much volume.
• Pour the mousse into the prepared pans, ensuring it fills all the gaps.
• Cover with plastic wrap and place in your refrigerator over night.
• To serve, simply remove the plastic wrap.
• Decorate with berries, whipped cream (or greek yoghurt), shaved chocolate. For presentation you can tie a decorative ribbon around the base.

CHOCOLATE CHARLOTTE RUSSE

Steps:

• Sprinkle gelatine over first amount of milk in medium saucepan. Let stand for 1 minute. Heat and stir until gelatine is dissolved. Bring mixture to a boil. Cool slightly.
• Stir first amount of sugar, cocoa and salt in small bowl. Add egg yolks, second amount of milk and vanilla. Stir into boiling milk until just thickened. Set saucepan in ice water. Stir mixture frequently as it cools. Chill, stirring and scraping down sides often, until mixture will mound slightly. This thickens quickly.
• Beat egg whites in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in second amount of sugar until stiff. Fold into gelatine mixture. Fold in whipped topping or whipped cream.
• cut 1 inch (2.5 cm) off 1 end of each ladyfinger. Stand enough ladyfingers, rounded or sugared side out and cut end down, around inside edge of greased 10 inch (25 cm) springform pan. Lay remaining ladyfingers and pieces in bottom of pan in single layer, breaking to fit. Spoon filling into pan, keeping ladyfingers from falling over. Chill for at least 4 hours.
• NOTE: You can purchase cream stabilizer which you sprinkle over the whipping cream prior to whipping. This will enable you to use whipping cream in this recipe, or also to frost cakes without fear of the whipping cream separating, or breaking after a few hours.

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.

ORANGE CHARLOTTE RUSSE

Steps:

• 1. Line the inside edge of a 9-inch springform pan with split ladyfingers standing on end, like making a round fence. Sprinkle them with liqueur.
• 2. In the top of a double boiler, blend the gelatin and sugar.
• 3. To the contents of the double boiler, add the milk and egg yolks. Using a rotary beater, blend the mixture thoroughly. Over simmering water, cook the custard, stirring constantly, until it coats a metal spoon. Transfer it at once to a large mixture bowl.
• 4. Stir in the orange rind, juice, and orange juice concentrate (thawed). Chill mixture until it just begins to set, perhaps an hour. If you wait too long, it won't mix properly.
• 5. Fold in the whipped cream. Pour the mixture into the springform pan, taking care that the ladyfingers remain upright. Chill the Charlotte Russe for at least 6 hours, or until thoroughly set. Umold the dessert onto a chilled serving plate and offer it in wedges (as you would cut a cake). The Charlotte Russe may be embellished with candied orange zest, if desired.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CHARLOTTE

Steps:

• Line a springform pan bottom and sides with ladyfingers (about 1-1/2 packages).
• Follow directions on pudding mix, using 2 cups of milk.
• Add cream (which replaces the other 2 cups of milk on the package directions).
• Beat until thick with heavy peaks.
• Pour into ladyfinger-lined pan and let set.
• If you like, finish off top with additional whipped cream.

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.