Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Charlotte Russe - Not Just a Store in the Mall

I always thought Charlotte Russe was a store for teenagers in the mall.  Until I was flipping through my vintage Virginia Hospitality cookbook and found a recipe titled Charlotte Russe.  According to Wikipedia, Charlotte Russe is a dessert created by French Chef Marie-Antoine Careme who named it in honor of his former employer George IV's child, Princess Charlotte, and his current employer Czar Alexander I (russe in this case being the French word for Russian) A dessert I'd never tried?  Well, then, I had to make it.

 Of course this dessert had all the elements of cooking I don't like.  The use of a double broiler, gelatin, heavy cream and raw egg.  Yuck!  But I wasn't going to let that stop me.

My first obstacle arose when I couldn't get the custard to set up.  Seems I cooked that custard for hours (not really - maybe 20 minutes).  Finally I took it off the heat and let it cool.  It still wasn't thick like a normal custard.


I got my heavy cream whipped up no problem, but I ran into an issue with the egg white.  It just wouldn't stiffen up.  I even got the boys ready for bed - all while whipping that white.  Nada.  Then I realized - I was supposed to put that raw egg white into the dessert and it would never be cooked.  Now I am a champion raw egg eater in the form of cookie dough, brownie batter, and cake batter.  I rationalized that the alcohol in the sherry (which also would not be cooked) might kill the salmonella in the egg white, but in the end, since it would not firm up anyhow, I just left it out. 

I mixed my concoctions together and they really didn't look very appetizing.  I didn't have much hope as I poured it over the ladyfingers and stuck it in the fridge for the night.  Overnight, a miracle happened.  The darn thing set up!
I'll be honest here.  It's not my favorite dessert.  If you love sherry (I do have an appreciation for sherry in food, thanks, Dad!) and you love heavy whipped cream, you'll enjoy this.  As for me - it's edible and not bad, but this is one recipe I won't be making again.  At least now, though, I can say I've tried it!

Readers, have you ever had Charlotte Russe?

29 comments:

Sunnybrook Farm said...

I think I would just try the sherry and let it go at that. My wife might get into all of that as I cook the meals and she does the desserts around here.

Melanie said...

No, I haven't tried it, but you have inspired me! Once my kitchen is back up and going, I will try it.

Tanya Breese said...

oh i didn't know that but i used to shop there all the time as a kid and now my own daughter does!

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

I've never heard of it before...but it seriously looks like work to me..(I'm just a lazy cook!)

mail4rosey said...

Different is nice, just to break away from routine, even if it doesn't turn out great. :)

Unknown said...

I want to try this. It looks delicious!

Out on the prairie said...

I use marsala, it isn't as strong

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

I thought it was a store in the mall also...yummy looking food

Sally said...

Well, I guess now we know; there's a store and dessert. :)

Gail Dixon said...

I love rich, creamy desserts, but sounds like a lot of trouble to make. That one is above my pay grade. :)

Buttons Thoughts said...

No never heard of Charlotte Russe but I do know I am going to try this. Yum. B

Lynn said...

I make my mother in laws Charlotte Russe which is one of my favourites, I'm sorry to hear you were all that happy with your results. I notice you layer your biscuits on the bottom my ladyfingers go on the bottom and around the entire round mould. My recipe is my MIL's and her recipe has a half litre of cream and milk, a cup of sugar, 8 eggs, just off the top of my head, a raspberry liqueur, plus we make a strawberry or raspberry purée to top it off with..sometimes she does a chocolate one too.It looks good in your photo ;-)

Betty Manousos said...

looks delicious!
i'd love to try this.

have a great day, lisa!
:)

Sandra said...

Been to the store, but never heard of the dessert.
Doesn't sounds like my type of dessert! It doesn't have chocolate ;)

Anonymous said...

Never, and I don't think I want to either!
My middle kid wants me to make Turkish Delight. He's been reading CS Lewis.

Busy Bee Suz said...

Nope...never even heard of it. {and I can't stand the store. :)}
I'd say you put a lot of work into making it work!

Michaele said...

I think I prefer the store. I am to lazy for this stuff.

Tina Fariss Barbour said...

It looks delicious! I'm like you about raw eggs--I'm funny about it unless I'm eating cookie dough. :-)

Our Neck of the Woods said...

Woah, I had no idea! I've heard of the store before but never knew there was more to the name. Fascinating!

Cat said...

May May used to make Charlotte Russe with some kind of apricot liquor...or maybe an apricot brandy.

Anonymous said...

It just sounds too complicated for me!!!!! I make the biggest mess in the kitchen these days!!!!!

Lin said...

Ugh. I hate it when I've put all that time and money into something and it doesn't turn out right or it doesn't taste good. :(

Renegades said...

Sounds like a ton of work for a ok dessert. Glad you tried it ......then I won't have to. I'll take your word for it.

LONDONLULU said...

I had no idea! I used to enjoy visiting Charlotte Russe waay back in my younger days:)

Tweedles -- that's me said...

First of all, I want to thank you for all the love you leave for me on my bloggy. I feel your love and am so thankful!
I like deserts,,,, I like animal cookies.
love
tweedles

Ercotravels said...

Wow, looks Yummy! I'll try to making it. thanks for sharing the recipe...

Nancy said...

I love trying out new recipes -- not ever knowing how they will turn out. Some are keepers, others not so much. :)

An Apel a Day said...

I've never had Charlotte Russe.

Valerie Boersma said...

Looks yummy-AND it looks like we have the same mixer, too! That's fun!