OK, so thangs are about to get funky. Or Fünke, depending on whether you love Arrested Development. For no real reason, other than whenever someone says funky, I hear fünke in my head.
We should prolly talk about this charlotte, no? Because if you are in the grand old US of A, then I bet that you are looking at this like, that ain’t no charlotte! The American/French version of the charlotte is a delightful concoction of sponge fingers and whipped cream. I dig that. I really really do. So then, why you ask, did I make this crispy cinnamon toast covered pile of buttery apples?
Because it’s a BUTTERY PILE OF APPLES COVERED IN CINNAMON TOAST!!!
Really, what could be the more perfect dessert for the end of Winter? Or indeed (if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere) the beginning of Fall? This dessert is my last tribute to cold weather. It’s my way of saying goodbye cinnamon, goodbye buttery apples, goodbye wheaty bread.
Soon, I will be all about Spring. I’m gonna be like hello frozen yoghurt, hello ALL THE FRUITS, hello grilled everything. But, I’m not really in a hurry, if I’m honest.
Because who would rush away from a world where it’s acceptable to line a cake tin with buttered brioche, dust it with cinnamon sugar and then saute up a bunch of apples and cinnamon before tumbling them in? Who would want to hurry away from busting through a wall of crunchy oven-crisped toast to get to the gooey apple filling within?
Not me, babe. And my birthday is in September. So, you know, I’ve got a solid two weeks of celebrating to look forward to in Spring.
(happy pac man^)
OK, so it’s not so bad. OK, so I’m totally looking forward to my annual birthdaypalooza. And OK, I might be ready for a trip to the beautiful Aussie beaches only a hop skip and a jump away.
But for now, while the nights are still chilly, I’m diving into this Cinnamon Apple Charlotte.
xx Sarah.
Cinnamon Apple Charlotte Recipe
Serves 6
INGREDIENTS
1 loaf brioche or pain de mie
4 large granny smith apples
150g (1 1/2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
icing sugar, to serve
Preheat the oven to 200C (400F). Slice the brioche into 1cm slices, and remove the crusts, making sure to cut them away as finely as possible. Lay out the bread slices to dry out while you peel, core and thinly slice the apples. In a medium frying pan, place 50g (1/2 stick) of butter, half the sugar and half the cinnamon, and melt them down. Once the butter is foaming, add the apples and saute them until they are tender but still holding their shape. Set aside to cool.
Grease and line an 18cm (7 in) springform cake tin (a slightly larger one would be fine). Using a pastry brush, coat both sides of each slice of brioche lightly with butter. Line the sides of the tin with bread slices, overlapping them and pressing firmly. Next, line the base of the tin with more brioche, again overlapping and pressing firmly. Mix together the remaining sugar and cinnamon and then sprinkle about 2 thirds of it into the tin. Pour in the apples, sprinkle over the remaining sugar, and then cover the top of the tin with the last of the buttered brioche. Place on an oven tray, cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for a further 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, let cool for about 5 minutes, before un-springing the sides of the tin and inverting the charlotte onto a serving dish. Sprinkle thickly with icing sugar and serve!
Funky, FUNKE, tomato, tomahto. They’re kind of the same thing, yes? :P
I prefer your version of a charlotte. Cinnamon toast brioche covered anything is just a GOOD THING.
Buttery apples + Cinnamon toast?! I’m in love!
Dear Charlotte, I think I love you!! I need this to happen in my house like NOW!!!
Omg this sounds so good I can’t even handle myself right now. I’m just hitting the midmorning slump…this looks like exactly what I want to eat!! So funny to hear you say you’re getting read for spring just as we’re going into fall…sigh. Wish I could hop over to your side of the hemisphere right now. I’m excited to hear about your birthday extravaganza!
Yum! This dessert reminds me of Howard’s End.
I don’t think I’ve ever had an apple charlotte at all, American style or not! But this looks so easy and so good that it’s definitely going to happen soon–especially because apple season is just around the corner here. :)
That is a beautiful charlotte! I love that style, very winter/fall and very much comfort food.
Oh my….whatever it’s supposed to be called, I call it delicious. Your Cinnamon Apple Charlotte is truly gorgeous and sounds scrumptious. :) I would love a huge piece please!
Whoa! I’ve never seen such a dessert before. It looks so cool and seems pretty simple… love finding new things
You bake the best desserts! I haven’t had this before (nor heard of it) but I really really want to make it now. You’re the best.. I’m sure so many others have said and thought the same thing! :P x
That a great yummy sounding dessert. Thanks for a nice recipe.
what a classy way to kick off your birthday month. Cheers from california!!
This is the best comfort sounding dessert :D
Delicious!
Cheers
CCU
I love that pic with the cream on top. And I do love an arrested development reference. Every time I see blue cut offs I think of tobias! :P
Ohhh – I’ve never heard of a Charlotte before but this sounds amazing! My birthday is also in September but it’s going to be fall here so I’m just gearing up for cinnamon-bread-goodness!
I love any sort of apple cake and this looks seriously to die for. Especially with that cream. All that butter probably doesn’t hurt either ;) Oh.My.
I think I just found my new favorite dessert!
This looks so delicious! Over here, we are ending summer, so this would be great for the cooler months ahead. And happy birthday! Hope you get to celebrate all month :)
wow that looks amazing!
A buttery pile of apples covered in cinnamon toast? I am so in!
This background is soooooooooo pretty! who doesn’t love cinnamon toast?!
This looks so good! Brioche, apples, Butter, cinnamon – YES!
Hi Sarah, I haven’t visited your blog for quite a while and have to tell you the new look is amazing! Love your writing, as always, and photography – always a breath of fresh air. as a very hesitant and not very accomplished baker, this recipe looks doable for even me, and damn delicious, too. Loved the pacman quip :-) Cheerio from Cape Town!
Thanks Sonia – your comments are always lovely! And thanks for the heads up on the Pacman. ;)