When The Farmers Hand You Honeycrisp Apples...

The Market Inspiration

In the United States alone, there are 2,500 types of apples grown, and while I have only tried a small percentage of these, my favorite variety I have had are Honeycrisps. They are both sweet and tart and have a wonderful texture that isn't too mealy or mushy but has a wonderful snap when you bite into it. While there are many traditional apple desserts you can make with Honeycrisps, one of my favorites is a little lesser known in America but is a staple of English desserts known as Charlottes.

Charlottes are composed of bread, lady-fingers, or cake pieces dipped in butter and used to line molds, then filled with fruit. They can be made with any fruit filling, but apples are the most traditional filling. We've added some new flavors by adding toasted coconut and chocolate chips to this recipe. Comparable to a bread pudding, Charlottes can be made using semi-stale bread, which is useful for clearing out excess bits and not wasting food. In addition to being tasty and simple to make, Charlottes provide a refreshing change from standard desserts like brownies and cupcakes.   

The Recipe 

Apple Charlottes (Makes 6)

3 apples, thinly sliced

4 Tbsp. Butter + Extra for the bread

1/2 cup brown sugar

6 slices sandwich bread 

1/2 cup toasted coconut

1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 370. 

Remove the crust from the bread and flatten slightly. Butter one side of each slice of bread and press, butter side down, into each muffin tin. 

In a pot on the stove, melt 4 Tbsp. butter and add the brown sugar. When the sugar dissolves add the sliced apples and cook about 7 minutes until the apples soften slightly. Take off the heat and cool for a moment. Mix in the toasted coconut and chocolate chips. 

Divide the apple filling between the prepared bread molds and bake for 30-40 minutes until the bread begins to caramelize and brown. Serve with cinnamon whipped cream. 

Cinnamon Whipped Cream

1 cup cream

1 tsp Vietnamese cinnamon

1 tsp Vanilla extract

3 Tbsp powdered sugar

Whisk all ingredients together, until firm peaks form. 

The Pairing 

Charlottes are a very English dish and 1943's The Life and Death of Colonial Blimp is a very English movie. Shot in beautiful Technicolor, Colonial Blimp chronicles England in the early part of the 20th century through the eyes of a quintessential English gentleman, while pondering what it means to be English as the changing world enters the modern age via the World Wars. Charlottes are perfect to plan to have while watching Colonial Blimp because it is a longer movie and Charlottes are quick to make. -Z