Irene's Apple Charlotte

Submitted by Chef #359056

"This recipe came from pure experimentation. My boyfriend is a sweet tooth, and we always have apples in my house, so one day, I decided to make an attempt at baking an apple charlotte. The final recipe is a hit with my boyfriend and my family. The apple charlotte is also delicious with dried cranberries and/or pine nuts. The charlotte may be served warm with ice cream or cold as an any time dessert."

 

• Ready In: 50mins
• Ingredients: 8
• Serves: 8-10

ingredients

• 6 -8 large granny smith apples
• 6 -8 eggs (depending on size of the egg)
• 1 1⁄4 cups sugar
• 1 1⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• 1 cup dried cranberries (optional)
• 1 cup pine nuts (optional)

directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and thoroughly butter a 10 inch casserole pan.
2. Wash, peel, core, and quarter the apples. Cut each quarter into six slices and arrange the slices into the casserole pan.
3. Separate the eggs. In a mixing bowl, beat together egg whites and sugar on slow speed, adding one yolk at a time until you get a homogeneous mixture.
4. Add the first half of the flour into the eggs and sugar, then in a teaspoon, mix together the baking soda and vinegar and add that to the mixture. Stir in the remainder of the flour, scraping the bowl with a rubber spatula.
5. Pour the batter over the apples in an even layer. If desired, a sprinkling of dried cranberries and/or pine nuts can be added. Start the baking process on the lowest rack of the oven to allow the apples to bake, and move the charlotte to a higher rack to finish the baking process. The charlotte is ready when it has a light-brown color and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean and dry.