Chocolate Charlotte Russe Recipes

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.

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.

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.

CHOCOLATE CHARLOTTE RUSSE

Steps:

• Line 8" springform pan with ladyfingers-rounded sides against pan.
• In saucepan mix gelatin, sugar & salt. Stir in milk, place over low heat, stirring constantly until gelatin & sugar are dissolved. Remove from heat & let cool to room temperature. Stir in vanilla. Fold in whipped cream & pour into pan.
• Chill until firm-about 2 hours.
• Remove pan & garnish with chocolate curls, maraschino cherries, whipped cream.

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.