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Strawberry Charlotte Russe cake

Strawberry Mousse Charlotte Russe Cake

A no-bake Charlotte Russe cake: a ladyfinger shell filled with light, creamy strawberry mousse and topped with glazed fresh strawberries.
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Chilling 6 hours
Course: Dessert

Ingredients
  

Mousse
  • 1 pound fresh strawberries hulled (about 3 cups)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon unflavored powdered gelatin
  • 1/4 cup cold water
  • 2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 24 to 30 ladyfingers
Topping
  • 1 cup fresh strawberries and blueberries
  • 1/4 cup strawberry jelly or jam
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • Whipped cream for top store bought or my recipe for stabilized shipped cream

Method
 

  1. Assemble the Shell
  2. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with a round of parchment paper. Stand the ladyfingers upright around the inside edge of the pan, rounded side out, with the sugared sides facing out and fitting snugly. Trim a few as needed to fit the base, then arrange them in a tight layer on the bottom of the pan.
  3. Make the Mousse
  4. Puree the strawberries, granulated sugar, and lemon juice in a blender or food processor until smooth. You should have about 1 1/2 cups of puree.
  5. Sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water in a small bowl and let it sit for 5 minutes, until spongy.
  6. Warm 1/2 cup of the puree in a small saucepan over low heat until hot but not boiling. Remove from the heat, add the gelatin mixture, and stir until completely dissolved.
  7. Stir the warm gelatin mixture into the remaining puree. Refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cool and slightly thickened but not set.
  8. In a chilled bowl, whip the cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to medium-stiff peaks.
  9. Fold about one-third of the whipped cream into the strawberry mixture to lighten it. Gently fold in the remaining whipped cream until no streaks remain.
  10. Spoon the mousse into the ladyfinger-lined pan and smooth the top. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight, until fully set.
  11. Top and Serve
  12. For the glaze, warm the jelly and water in a small saucepan or microwave until pourable. Cool slightly.
  13. Toss fresh fruit in the cool glaze and arrange the berries on top of the set mousse.
  14. Run a thin knife around the edge, release the springform, and remove the parchment base if desired. Slice with a warm, clean knife.

Notes

Notes
Make it the day before for the cleanest slices.
Don’t add the gelatin mixture to the cream while it’s hot, since that deflates the mousse.
If the puree sets before you fold it in, warm it gently for a few seconds and stir.
Use crisp ladyfingers for a firmer shell, or soft ladyfingers for a more cake-like texture.
For a sturdier wall, tie a ribbon around the finished cake.
Brush the ladyfingers with a little strawberry syrup or simple syrup if you want them softer.
Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Do not freeze.