Dessert Recipes - Apple Charlotte Meringue Recipe

Ingredients

• 100 g/4 oz/1/2 cup caster (superfine) sugar

• 75 g/3 oz/1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened

• 6 thick slices of white or whole meal

• bread, crusts removed

• 550 g/1 1/4 lb cooking (tart) apples, sliced

• 15 ml/1 tbsp water

• A small piece of cinnamon stick

• Granulated sugar, to taste

• 2 eggs, separated

---

Method:

1. Beat together 15 ml/1 tbsp of the sugar and the butter or margarine and spread over the bread slices. Cut each slice into three strips.

2. Arrange around the sides and in the base of an 18 cm/7 in soufflé dish, buttered-sides out. Bake in a preheated oven at  180°C/350°F/gas mark 4 for 20 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, put the apple slices in a saucepan with the water and cinnamon stick. Cook gently, stirring occasionally, until pulpy and sweeten to taste with granulated sugar.

4. Remove the cinnamon stick. Beat the egg yolks into the apple. Turn the mixture into the soufflé dish. Whisk the egg whites until stiff.

5. Whisk in half the remaining sugar and whisk until stiff and glossy. Fold in the remaining sugar.

6. Pile on top of the apple mixture and return to the oven for about 8-10 minutes until the meringue is just turning color. Serve hot.