Dessert Recipes - Coffee Cream Charlotte Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 X 75 g/4 X 3 oz/4 small packets of sponge (lady) finger biscuits

• 45 ml/3 tbsp milk

• 45 ml/3 tbsp brandy

• 50 g/2 oz/1/4 cup unsalted (sweet) butter, softened

• 100 g/4 oz/1/2 cup icing (confectioners') sugar, sifted

• 10 ml/2 tsp instant coffee powder or granules

• 10 ml/2 tsp hot water

• 300 ml/1 1/4 cups double (heavy) cream

• Walnut halves, to decorate

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Method:

1. Use some of the sponge fingers to line the base and sides of a 20 cm/8 in deep, round, loose-bottomed cake tin (pan), sugared sides out.

2. Mix together the milk and 15 ml/1 tbsp of the brandy and brush the exposed surfaces of the sponge fingers. Beat together the butter and icing sugar until smooth.

3. Dissolve the coffee in the water and beat into the butter icing (frosting). Whip the cream until peaking. Spoon half into a separate bowl and whisk the remaining brandy into the other.

4. Spread a layer of half the butter icing over the base of the lined tin. Top with a layer of sponge fingers, trimming to fit. Brush with some of the remaining milk and brandy mixture.

5. Top with half the brandy-flavored cream. Repeat the layers, finishing with a layer of brandy cream. Chill until firm. Trim the tops of the sponge fingers level with the top of the cream.

6. Remove the sides of the tin but leave on the base for easier serving. Place on a serving plate.

7. Use the remaining whipped cream to fill a piping bag fitted with a large star tube (tip) and pipe rosettes of cream all round the top edge.

8. Decorate with a few walnut halves and chill again until ready to serve. For an attractive finishing touch, tie a contrasting ribbon round the charlotte, if liked.