Cinnamon Charlotte

Description

Delicious baked treat for the whole family. Despite the long and fascinating history of Charlotte, the version we know today features a simple sponge cake covering sliced apples arranged in a greased and breadcrumb-dusted springform pan or skillet. This delightful creation is baked in the oven, then cooled, dusted with powdered sugar, and served. Serve it cooled or slightly warm.

Instructions

1. 1

   Step 1

   Preheat the oven to 175 degrees. Prepare a springform pan: grease the bottom and sides with a thin layer of butter and coat with fine breadcrumbs.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Wash the apples, peel and remove the cores, cut each into 4 pieces, then slice thinly. Place in a bowl, sprinkle with lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of sugar, mix well, and let stand for 15 minutes.

3. 3

   Step 3

   In a small bowl, mix the sifted flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.

4. 4

   Step 4

   In a large bowl, use an electric mixer on medium speed to beat the eggs, adding the almond extract and the remaining sugar. This will take approximately 8–10 minutes, until the mixture turns pale yellow and becomes thick.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Add the dry ingredients to this mixture and stir until a smooth dough forms, but do not overmix.

6. 6

   Step 6

   Arrange the apples in an even layer in the prepared pan and pour the batter over them. Let it stand for 5 minutes before baking to allow the batter to spread evenly in the pan.

7. 7

   Step 7

   Bake the apple cake for about 1 hour, until a golden and crispy crust forms on top. Check for doneness by inserting a wooden skewer into the center of the cake.

8. 8

   Step 8

   Leave the finished charlotte (still in the pan) on a cooling rack on the table for 15 minutes. Then release it from the springform pan and transfer to a serving plate.

9. 9

   Step 9

   Serve the charlotte warm with cinnamon, sprinkled with powdered sugar.