Recipes : Charlotte Russe : Food Network

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Charlotte Russe
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

1 packet unflavored gelatin
1 tablespoon cold water, for softening gelatin
1/4 cup milk, room temperature
3 cups heavy cream
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon homemade vanilla extract or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Homemade angel food cake or ladyfingers
2 tablespoons sweet sherry (don't use cooking sherry)
1/2 cup fruit preserves, optional
7 large egg whites*
Fresh berries or cut fruit, for garnish

Soften the gelatin in a bowl with the water. Pour in the milk and
completely dissolve the gelatin. Let it sit while you prepare rest of filling, stirring it every now
and again to keep gelatin from separating and settling to bottom.

Sweeten 2 cups of the cream with 1 cup of the sugar and beat it with a handheld electric mixer until
it is fairly stiff. Add vanilla and fold it in. Stir in dissolved gelatin and gently but thoroughly
fold it into whipped cream and set it aside.

Cut cake into ladyfinger-sized pieces, about 1/2-inch thick by 1-inch wide and as long as your mold
is deep. Line bottom and sides of a 3-quart mold or bowl with cake, being sure that there are no
gaps in it. Hold back enough cake to cover top of mold or bowl. Sprinkle cake with sherry and spread
it with a thin layer of jam or fruit preserves, if using.

Beat egg whites to stiff but not dry peaks with a handheld electric mixer, then fold thoroughly into
whipped cream and gelatin filling. Spoon filling into cake-lined mold, making sure there are no gaps
or air pockets between filling and cake. Press reserved cake on top of filling.

Chill until cream is set, 4 to 6 hours. When you are ready to serve, gently run a knife around edges
of mold to make sure that the Charlotte has not stuck to it, then invert onto plate. Carefully lift
off mold.

Lightly sweeten remaining 1 cup cream with remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until it is stiff. If
you like, you can put it into a pastry bag and pipe it onto the Charlotte, or simply spoon it on,
using it to cover any gaps or splits in outer layer of cake. Garnish with fresh fruit.