Charlotte is a type of bread pudding that can be served hot or cold. It is also referred to as an icebox cake. The dessert is made by lining a mould with ladyfingers or joconde sponge cake, and then filling it with Bavarian cream (bavarois), or some other mousse set with gelatin. The modern version of Charlotte was invented by the famous French pastry chef Marie-Antoine Carême. The earliest known English recipe for Charlotte is from the 1808 London edition of Maria Rundell's New System of Domestic Cookery. Charlotte Russe, a variation of Charlotte, is a cold dessert of Bavarian cream set in a mould lined with ladyfingers.
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Charlotte Russe is a variation of Charlotte that uses Bavarian cream
Charlotte Russe is a variation of the traditional Charlotte dessert that uses Bavarian cream. Charlotte is a type of bread pudding that can be served hot or cold and is often referred to as an "icebox cake". It is made by lining a mould with bread, sponge cake, crumbs, or biscuits/cookies, which is then filled with fruit puree or custard. The pudding can be sprinkled with powdered sugar and glazed.
Charlotte Russe, on the other hand, is a chilled dessert that uses a mould lined with ladyfingers and filled with Bavarian cream. It is a variation of the traditional Charlotte that originated in the 18th century and was created by the French chef Antonin Carême. Charlotte Russe is also known as Charlotte Parisienne or Charlotte à la Russe. It is a simple dessert that can be prepared without baking and is perfect for any occasion.
The process of making Charlotte Russe involves steeping ladyfingers in syrup and lining them in a springform pan. The filling is made by preparing a custard with eggs, sugar, milk, and gelatin, which is then mixed with whipped cream and candied or fresh fruit. The ladyfingers are soaked in syrup and used to line the bottom and sides of the pan. The filling is poured over the ladyfingers, creating layers of ladyfingers, Bavarian cream, and fruit. The dessert is then refrigerated for a few hours or overnight before being carefully removed from the pan and decorated with additional fruits, whipped cream, or sprinkles.
Charlotte Russe has gained popularity worldwide and is often served at birthdays, holidays, and gatherings. It offers a light and delicious experience with different textures and flavours, making it a favourite among dessert lovers.
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Bavarian cream is a French dessert
Bavarian cream, or crème bavaroise, is a classic French dessert. It is made with an egg-based cooked custard (milk thickened with eggs) and gelatin or isinglass, into which whipped cream is folded. The dessert is then set in a cold mould and unmoulded for serving.
Bavarian cream is believed to have originated in the 17th and 18th centuries, during the time when French chefs cooked for the Wittelsbach princes, a German family that ruled Bavaria from the 12th century until 1918. It is said that the dessert was named for Bavaria, or perhaps for a particularly distinguished visiting Bavarian, such as a Wittelsbach.
In the United States, Bavarian creams first appeared in Boston Cooking School books in 1884. From 1884 to 2022, there were over 95,000 references to Bavarian cream in US and Canadian newspapers, with the peak decade of its popularity being the 1930s.
Bavarian cream is often used as a filling for charlotte, a type of bread pudding that can be served hot or cold. Charlotte is made by lining a mould with bread, sponge cake, crumbs, or biscuits/cookies, which is then filled with a fruit puree or custard. The earliest known English recipe for charlotte dates back to 1808.
The variant Charlotte Russe, or Charlotte Parisienne, was created by the French chef Antonin Carême. It uses a mould lined with ladyfingers and filled with Bavarian cream. Carême is said to have created this dessert after realising he did not have enough gelatin for his Bavarian cream—he strengthened his collapsing cream with ladyfingers.
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Bavarian cream is made with eggs, milk, gelatin, and whipped cream
Bavarian cream, also known as crème bavaroise or simply bavarois, is a French dessert. It is made with eggs, milk, gelatin, and whipped cream. The dessert is prepared by making a custard from eggs and milk, which is then combined with gelatin and folded into whipped cream. The mixture is then set in a cold mould and served unmoulded.
The earliest versions of Bavarian cream, sometimes called fromage bavarois, did not include eggs or any actual cheese. One such recipe calls for crumbled amaretto cookies, chocolate, and other flavourings. Another recipe from the 1920s, published by a soda/pop company in Iowa, included only whipped cream, whipped gelatin, and ginger ale. This recipe did not require cooking and was a simpler alternative to the traditional egg-based custard.
Bavarian cream is often used as a filling for charlottes, a category of chilled desserts. The charlotte russe, or charlotte parisienne, is a type of charlotte that features a mould lined with ladyfingers and filled with Bavarian cream. The ladyfingers may be dipped or brushed with brandy, sherry, or fruity liqueur. The dessert is then garnished with fresh fruit, chocolate curls, or colourful jam.
The name "charlotte russe" may indicate a Russian origin, but the dessert is most likely French, dating back to around 1800. It was likely created to honour someone with Russian roots or connections, or a person named Charlotte who was important enough to warrant an elegant namesake dessert. The French chef Antonin Carême, who is sometimes credited with creating Bavarian cream, also created the charlotte russe variant, which uses a mould lined with ladyfingers and filled with Bavarian cream.
In summary, Bavarian cream is a French dessert made with eggs, milk, gelatin, and whipped cream. It is often used as a filling for charlottes, a type of chilled dessert. The charlotte russe is a popular variant of charlotte that features ladyfingers and Bavarian cream. The French chef Antonin Carême is associated with both desserts, and they are believed to date back to the early 19th century.
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Charlotte is a type of bread pudding
The earliest known English recipe for Charlotte is from the 1808 London edition of Maria Rundell's "New System of Domestic Cookery". Rundell's recipe calls for "very thin slices of white bread" to be "rub[bed]...thick with butter" and layered with apples and sugar. The dish is then baked slowly for three hours.
The modern version of Charlotte was invented by the famous French pastry chef Marie-Antoine Carême. According to legend, Carême ran out of gelatin while making Bavarian cream and used ladyfingers to strengthen his collapsing cream.
There are many variations of Charlotte. The variant Charlotte Russe, or Charlotte Parisienne, uses a mould lined with ladyfingers and filled with Bavarian cream. The Algerian Charlotte is made with honey, dates, orange rind, and almonds.
Most Charlottes are served cool and are therefore more common in warmer seasons. Fruit Charlottes usually combine a fruit purée or preserve with a custard filling or whipped cream. Some Charlottes, notably Charlotte Russe, use custard or Bavarian cream, and a chocolate Charlotte is made with layers of chocolate mousse filling.
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Charlotte is assembled by pouring mousse into a mould lined with cake strips or ladyfingers
Charlotte is a type of bread pudding that can be served hot or cold. It is also known as an "icebox cake". Charlotte is assembled by pouring mousse into a mould lined with cake strips or ladyfingers. The ladyfingers are often dipped or brushed with brandy, sherry, or fruity liqueur. The mould is then filled with a fruit puree or custard. The baked pudding can be sprinkled with powdered sugar and glazed with a salamander—a red-hot iron plate attached to a long handle. Modern recipes may use more practical tools to achieve a similar effect.
Charlotte Russe, also known as Charlotte Parisienne, is a variation of the classic Charlotte. It is a chilled dessert that uses a mould lined with ladyfingers and filled with Bavarian cream. This dessert is believed to have been created by the French chef Antonin Carême. The earliest known English recipe for Charlotte dates back to 1808 and was published in London by Maria Rundell in her book 'New System of Domestic Cookery'.
The modern version of Charlotte was invented by the famous French pastry chef Marie-Antoine Carême. According to legend, he ran out of gelatin for his Bavarian cream, so he strengthened his collapsing cream with ladyfingers, and the modern Charlotte was born.
- Prepare the mould: Line the bottom and sides of a springform pan with cling wrap.
- Prepare the ladyfingers: Steep the ladyfingers in a syrup made by boiling sugar and water together. Allow the syrup to cool before adding the ladyfingers, as they will fall apart in hot syrup.
- Cover the bottom of the pan: Place a layer of ladyfingers that have been steeped in syrup on the bottom of the springform pan.
- Make the cake filling: Prepare a Bavarian cream filling by mixing gelatin with water, then adding eggs, sugar, and milk. Place the mixture on a Bain-Marie and stir constantly until it comes to a boil. Remove from the heat, add the hydrated gelatin, and mix until the gelatin is dissolved. Allow the mixture to cool, then add whipped cream and blend.
- Assemble the cake: Pour half of the filling over the ladyfingers at the bottom of the pan. Cover the filling with another layer of ladyfingers soaked in syrup. Pour the remaining filling over the ladyfingers and smooth the surface with a spatula.
- Chill the cake: Place the assembled cake in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight.
- Remove from the mould: Carefully remove the edges of the springform pan and place the cake on a platter using a spatula.
- Decorate: Garnish the cake with fresh fruit, chocolate curls, or colourful jam.
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Frequently asked questions
A Charlotte is a type of bread pudding that can be served hot or cold. It is also referred to as an "icebox cake". Bread, sponge cake, crumbs or biscuits/cookies are used to line a mould, which is then filled with a fruit puree or custard.
Bavarian cream, crème bavaroise or simply bavarois is a French dessert consisting of an egg-based cooked custard (milk thickened with eggs) and gelatin or isinglass, into which whipped cream is folded.
Yes, Charlotte Russe or Charlotte à la Russe is a variation of Charlotte that is made using Bavarian cream. It is a chilled dessert that is set in a mould lined with ladyfingers.
Charlotte is often decorated with fresh fruits, chocolate curls or colourful jam. It is usually served chilled and sliced.