Charlotte au Chocolat

It is good to talk - My best friend and I had one of these phone conversation which I love. You know, your typical, free, every thing which comes through our head immediately relayed to the mouth, type of natter, during which she mentioned making a Charlotte au Chocolat for her guests last week-end; telling me with great enthusiasm that she will make one for me next time and how delicious it was. Well, I was not going to wait that long. We were going to be 6 around the table on Friday evening, as I was missing a dessert, Charlotte would do nicely. I, then embarked on finding a recipe. And that was  the complex part as indeed making a Charlotte is child-play. Talking about children, this is the kind of dessert, one can really do with children (minus the rum).

So without further ado, here is the recipe for a delicious, easy to create, no fuss, lots of leaking spoon and fingers type of pudding.

 Charlotte au chocolat

serves 6 to 8

30 finger biscuits
250 g  dark chocolat
50 g butter
60 g sugar
8 eggs
25 cl de rum

Preparation : 30 Min

hardly any cooking but overnight in the fridge

Method:

1. Melt chocolate, butter and sugar in a saucepan over low heat, stirring from time to time until you get a smooth mixture  add a drop of water or better rum if you are concerned about the chocolate catching.
2. In the meantime separate the eggs and beat the egg whites until they are stiff, this part is easier with a food processor.
3. Let the chocolate mixture cool down a little and add the egg yolks one by one. Then fold the egg-whites in, gently, leave the mixture while you
4. Pour the rum in a tumble glass and add water.
5. Dip finger biscuits in the glass one by one, rather quickly as they turn soggy easily.
6. Line the side and the bottom of a mould of your choice with the wet finger biscuits.
7. Now you need to layer chocolate mixture and biscuits, I went for 2 layers of chocolate mixture and 1 of biscuits
8. Cover with a plate and put a weight on the plate so that the pudding gets compacted.
9. store in the fridge for 24 hours
10. about 1 hour before serving turn the Charlotte over on its serving plate.

You can make Charlottes with custard, fruits compotes and coulis etc.