Apple Charlotte With Apricot Sauce

Ingredients

1 tablespoon Unsalted butter, softened

1/2 pound + 3 tbs clarified unsalted butter

16 slices homemade white bread, crust removed

5 pounds tart red apples, peeled, cored and thinly-sliced

1 cup sugar

cup water

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

apricol sauce, for serving

Preparation

With a pastry brush, lightly coat the bottom and sides of a 1 1/2 quart, 3 to 3 1/2 inch deep charlotte or other straight-sided mold with the tablespoon of softened butter.

Pour all but 3 tablespoons of the clarified butter into a large bowl. With a sharp knife, cut three slices of the bread into 6 triangles by slicing them in half diagonally. Cut another 7 slices of bread in half. One at a time, briefly dip the bread triangles into the bowl of clarified butter and lay them side by side in the bottom of the mold. With a small, sharp knife, trim the triangles so that their points meet in the middle and no spaces show between the slices. Now d

Cut another 3 slices of the bread into 1 inch squares. Heat the reserved 3 tablespoons of clarified butter in a heavy 10- to 12-inch skillet set over high heat and drop in the bread squares. Turning them about constantly with a wooden spoon, cook the squares for 2 to 3 minutes, until they are lightly and evenly colored on all sides. Remove the browned bread squares from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside.

In a 4 quart casserole combine the apples, sugar and water. Bring to a boil over high heat , then cover tightly, reduce the heat to low, and simmer 30 minutes, or until the apples are tender and show no resistance when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife. Uncover and cook over high heat, stirring frequently, for about 15 minutes, or until most of the liquid has evaporated and the apples become a thick, coarse puree. Stir in the cinnamon and refrigerate the puree until well chilled.

When ready to assemble and bake the dessert, stir the browned bread squares into the apple puree and pour the mixture into the prepared mold. Do not be concerned if the filling rises above the rim of the mold; the apple puree will subside as it bakes.

Preheat the oven to 375F. Cut 2 of the remaining slices of bread in half, dip them in butter and place them on top of the filling. Cut the remaining slice into narrow strips, dip them into the butter and arrange them around the top to cover the exposed areas.

Bake in the center of the oven for 1 hour or until the bread is golden brown. Cool for 30 minutes at room temperature, then invert a flat serving platter on top and, grasping the plate and mold firmly together, turn them over. Let the mold rest in this fashion for another 30 minutes before gently lifting it off the cake.

Either pour the apricot sauce over the top and sides of the unmolded apple charlotte, or serve it separately in a bowl.