Sharlotka

Sharlotka – that’s how one of the popular apple cake in Russia called. I believe this cake is so widely-known that there is no a man in Russian who wouldn’t heard about it. When I was a little girl I ate sharlotka so many times that I hardly can count, I ate it at my home, at friends’ home.. And I still love it! It’s one of the easiest recipe that always turns out great!
There are many varieties of Charlotte dessert. Russian ‘charlotte’ was created by French chef Marie-Antoine Careme who worked for Russian Tsar Alexander I in 19th century in London. Believed that the dessert took its name from Queen Charlotte, wife of George III of the Intied Kingdom, who loved apples. For this dessert the bottom of baking mold was lined with sponge cake or savoiardi biscuits, then filled with Bavarian and whipped cream, and completely cooled. Originally the dessert was named ‘charlotte a la parisienne’ but lately became popular under the name ‘charlotte russe’ or simply ‘Sharlotka’.
In Soviet times the recipe was modified and became sponge cake with apples. Nowadays, the cake continues to be liked and cooked by many Russian women, including me. 🙂 It’s also a kind of ‘rescue’ sweets that you can prepare in minutes when your friends came around unexpectedly. Below recipe is my mother’s recipe, I haven’t change a word in it and the cake turns out perfect every time, I think it will make my mummy proud and happy. ❤

Sharlotka

Servings: 6
Time: 50mins
Difficulty: easy
Print

You can also roughly chop apples, stir into the batter and then bake.

I used 20cm/8inch cake spring-form.

Ingredients

2-3 large apples, peeled, cored and sliced

3 eggs, at room temperature (better to use large eggs)

80g white sugar

110g plain flour

2 tbsp water

1/2 tsp b.soda

1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar

a pinch of salt

icing sugar for dusting, optional

Preparation method

In a large mixing bowl, add 3 egg yolks, water and sugar. Put baking soda in a tablespoon, pour in lemon juice or vinegar, mix with a teaspoon to dissolve it, then pour into the egg mixture. Beat egg mixture until light and creamy.
In another bowl, beat egg whites with a pinch of salt until soft but steady peaks.
Gradually mix egg whites into egg yolk mixture. Don’t stir too much.
Gradually sift and fold in the flour.
Grease and dust with flour the baking form. Gently spread half of the batter into the form. Arrange apple slices. Pour in the rest batter, evenly spread.
Bake in preheated 180C oven for 30 minutes.
Sprinkle with icing sugar, if desired. Serve warm with a cup of freshly-brewed tea.

You can keep the cake in a box or on a plate covered with foil in the fridge up to 3 days.

Enjoy!

Sharing this tasty cake with Fiesta Friday and all lovely bloggers who is enjoying it!

47 Comments

A Home Cook says:

What a great way to make ‘apple cake’. We have a similar version, but with the apples chopped up and mixed throughout. I think I like the look of this one just as much.
May 9, 2015 at 01:02
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- milkandbun says:
  
  Forgot to mention, but we also make “mixed” version, it’s up to you))
  May 9, 2015 at 01:26
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cookingwithauntjuju.com says:

Perfect apple dessert or maybe for brunch or a snack… 🙂
May 9, 2015 at 01:52
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- milkandbun says:
  
  I think, you can enjoy apple cakes/pies anytime during the day 🙂 Thanks for commenting, Juju!
  May 9, 2015 at 23:03
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Lili says:

What a lovely cake MIla! I like that it has apples inside and it’s nice to see another kind of charlotte! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
May 9, 2015 at 04:04
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- milkandbun says:
  
  You can see, it’s more simple option.. 😀
  May 9, 2015 at 23:04
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MamaD1xx4xy says:

This looks scrumptious. I just made a german apfelkucken this week. Apple cakes are truly one of my favorite cakes.
May 9, 2015 at 04:32
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tinywhitecottage says:

What a delicious cake! I love making cakes like this. Not incredibly sweet an with fruit involved.
May 9, 2015 at 05:44
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- milkandbun says:
  
  Oh, you’ve got a new icon-it’s cute! 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
  May 9, 2015 at 23:05
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The Gourmet Gourmand says:

Ahh! I love apple sharlotka! I will have to try your recipe- looks slightly different from the recipe I used previously. Beautiful 🙂
May 9, 2015 at 06:06
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- milkandbun says:
  
  There is another recipe where eggs are not separated and you need to beat them as is, but I’m afraid the cake could not be risen as high as wanted.. 🙂
  May 9, 2015 at 23:08
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martafrant says:

There are so many apples in Russia in autumn that we just have to make this dessert almoust every day 🙂
May 9, 2015 at 10:05
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- milkandbun says:
  
  Absolutely agree! 🙂
  May 9, 2015 at 23:09
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Amanda | What's Cooking says:

Beautiful and delicious. A wonderful tribute. Xo
May 9, 2015 at 10:24
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- milkandbun says:
  
  Thanks, Amanda! xoxo
  May 9, 2015 at 23:09
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Ginger says:

This looks absolutely delicious! I make a very similar cake with sour cherries so I’ll definitely have to give this a try! Your cake is very befitting as I am currently stuck in Uzbekistan – not literally, I hasten to add, but by reading Solzhenitzyn’s Cancer Ward …
May 9, 2015 at 13:06
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- milkandbun says:
  
  Thank you, Ginger! I think this cake also can be made with cherries, I should try- I adore cherries. Your recipe is sponge cake or any other dough?
  May 12, 2015 at 20:41
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  - Ginger says:
    
    It’s very similar to yours, which is probably a type of sponge?
    May 13, 2015 at 08:47
Whisked Away says:

I love anything with apple in it! I’m pinning this right now and will have to make it ASAP 🙂
May 9, 2015 at 15:50
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- milkandbun says:
  
  Whenever I see post/recipe with apples I want to make it.. Love apples, too! 😀
  May 9, 2015 at 23:13
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Jhuls says:

This is so looking delicious, Mila. Happy FF and enjoy your weekend. 🙂
May 9, 2015 at 17:50
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- milkandbun says:
  
  It’s truly delicious cake, Jhuls! Hope you will try it.. 😉
  May 9, 2015 at 23:14
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CakePants says:

This looks marvelous, and I love “rescue” desserts like these! I think I have everything on hand to make one of these. At first I thought this post was a nod to the birth of princess Charlotte, but it appears to be a mere coincidence…how funny!
May 9, 2015 at 17:53
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- milkandbun says:
  
  This cake is a good treat to celebrate her birth, if you do so))) Can’t wait for your feedback! Have a great weekend!
  May 9, 2015 at 23:17
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Josette@thebrookcook says:

Looks absolutely beautiful & delicious!!
May 9, 2015 at 22:03
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- milkandbun says:
  
  Thank you!
  May 9, 2015 at 23:11
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carolinescookingblog says:

This looks lovely, I do really like apple in desserts and this seems a great way to bring their soft sweetness into a tasty cake. Thanks for sharing with Fiesta Friday!
May 10, 2015 at 04:38
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- milkandbun says:
  
  Glad you like it, Caroline! It’s very tasty and traditional cake 🙂
  May 12, 2015 at 20:41
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Hilda says:

I love this version of sharlotka – and enjoyed reading its history.
May 10, 2015 at 07:51
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- milkandbun says:
  
  Thanks, dear Hilda! 🙂
  May 12, 2015 at 20:42
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tentimestea says:

It was interesting to read about how the charlotte changed into the sharlotka…I had never made the connection before. This cake looks so beautifully light and still full of apples!
May 11, 2015 at 08:19
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- milkandbun says:
  
  Oh yes, long time ago French language, cuisine and etc were very popular in Russia.. The cake is really nice and puffy 🙂
  May 12, 2015 at 20:45
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polianthus says:

love mummy recipes! very good!
May 11, 2015 at 11:47
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- milkandbun says:
  
  Thanks for stopped by, Poli! 🙂
  May 12, 2015 at 20:42
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Yana says:

Love it! 🙂
May 11, 2015 at 14:44
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- milkandbun says:
  
  Thank you, Yana! 🙂
  May 12, 2015 at 20:48
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Bonnie Eng says:

Absolutely gorgeous…must try! 🙂
May 12, 2015 at 01:13
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- milkandbun says:
  
  So sweet of you, Bonnie! 🙂
  May 12, 2015 at 20:49
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Gather and Graze says:

This is such a beautiful cake Mila! I’m going to have to try it sometime soon…
May 12, 2015 at 03:51
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- milkandbun says:
  
  Oh, so glad to hear that! 😀
  May 12, 2015 at 20:51
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Justine @ Born and Bred in Brooklyn says:

That looks and sounds amazing!!! I’ve never had it before, but I will definitely give it a try 😀
May 12, 2015 at 07:06
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- milkandbun says:
  
  Go ahead! As you can see- it’s easy to prepare this lovely cake! 😉
  May 12, 2015 at 20:52
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Loretta says:

Oh my…. how absolutely lovely! This cake would be just perfect for tea or served as a dessert. I can only imagine that sauce oozing out. Just delicious 🙂
May 18, 2015 at 20:27
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Zoe Bordelon says:

It really looks yummy- I will give it a try!
May 30, 2015 at 11:33
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