Charlotte Royale (Aka Brain Cake)

littlepetel's Note:

This has become a firm favourite at our home and wherever I take it; it's fairly straightforward to make (very easy, if your local supermarket sells jelly rolls - what I would usually call jam sponge rolls) and serves a lot of people (at least 12 large serves, usually 16). It's visually quite different and a delicious variation from the usual Charlotte recipe. I found the basic recipe on www.axis-of-aevil.org/, and varied it to suit. The recipe works well with either gelatin or agar-agar � both are easy to use; I usually go the vegetarian route, having one of those in the house.

• Total Time: 45 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 16

• 3 jelly sponge rolls

Custard

• 20 g gelatin powder or ¼ teaspoon agar-agar
• 2 ½ cups whole milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla essence or 1 vanilla pod or 2 tablespoons real vanilla sugar
• 8 egg yolks
• ½ cup icing sugar or 100 g icing sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Whipped cream

• 2 cups whipping cream , very cold
• ¼ cup icing sugar
• ½-1 cup fresh berries or ½-1 cup frozen berries
• 2 tablespoons liqueur (optional)

Directions:

1. Cut the cakes into about 1 1/2cm (half inch) slices.
2. Butter a bowl (or mold or springform pan) and place 1 1/2cm slices of jam roll around the sides, fitting them tightly together so that there are no spaces for the custard to seep through. Reserve some slices for placing on top of the Bavarian cream (which will be the bottom of the cake when removed from the mold). Refrigerate until you are ready to fill the mold.
3. If using gelatine, soak gelatine in 3 tablespoons cold water.
4. Heat milk with vanilla over a medium heat. Add gelatine (or agar-agar) to the milk and bring it gently to the boil, stirring continuously. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
5. While cooling, whisk together egg yolks, icing sugar and salt until smooth, and pour the yolk mixture into the milk while stirring constantly.
6. Stir continuously with whisk over a gentle heat until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. The mixture must NOT boil. Pour into a bowl and allow to cool, then refrigerate until the custard is cold and just beginning to thicken.
7. While the custard is cooling, whip the cream until it just starts to thicken, then add the icing sugar. Continue whipping to soft peaks. Fold in the fruit or purée and/or liqueur if using.
8. Fold cream together with the cooled, but not set, custard. (If the custard has cooled and set a bit too fast, use your mixer to make it creamy before blending it with the whipped cream.).
9. Pour into the prepared dish, top with reserved slices of sponge roll and chill overnight.
10. To unmold, briefly place the bowl into warm water, cover with serving plate and invert. Tap gently and ease the bowl off of the cake. Add whipped cream and fruit as a garnish if you like.
11. For vegetarian use agar-agar.

Reviews

[Kasha]

Just made this today, great recipe with explanations and photos. I filled mine with homemade choclate mousse instead and served on a glass plate in a pool of homemade chocolate sauce with spray can whipped cream decorations. A very old fashioned cake that deserves a comeback. Simple and fast if you can find a premade jelly roll or two.

[Lu, Falling.]

Looks good, but you forgot some steps - what prepared bowl? What reserved slices of sponge roll? Please edit so all the steps are listed, thanks :)

[Opossumgravy]

I havent't tried it yet but my thought taste buds know it will be grand. I fell in love with the presentation.It reminds me of a turtle's shell but that's just as I first saw it. I like the "brain cake" name better. Much more appealing. Can't wait to try.