Ukrainian Cherry Charlotte

Posted by Olga 7/25/02 7:49:58 am

The Ukrainians make a variety of cherry liqueurs.
For the charlotte, they use a sweet ratafia.
If you aren’t in the habit of making your own cherry liqueur, you can use kirsch or cherry brandy.

Serves 4 to 6

1 1/2 pounds pitted cherries
1/2 cup vanilla sugar (divided)
1/2 cup cherry liqueur or kirsch
1/2 pound (about 36) ladyfingers, preferably homemade
1 cup whipped cream
Extra whipped cream and sugar for serving

Put 1 pound of the pitted cherries in a bowl with half the of the sugar and 2 tablespoons cherry liqueur.
Liquidize in the blender the remaining cherries with a few tablespoons of water.
Mix with the rest of the liqueur and use it to MOISTEN the ladyfingers.

Line the bottom and sides of a springform pan with some of the moistened ladyfingers.

Fold the remaining sugar into the whipped cream.
Put a generous layer of cherries over the moistened ladyfingers on the bottom and cover them with a layer of whipped cream.
Cover this with a layer of ladyfingers.
Continue in this way, finishing with a layer of ladyfingers.
Chill in the refrigerator.

Unmold and serve with more sweetened whipped cream.