Visiting my parents and cooking for the party, I always take into account time and my effort. Of course, you can plan to cook even Croquembouche, but the probability of lonely Babel tower on the table is so high, that is better not to cook it once you’ve planed a whole set menu.

All snacks, salads and hot dishes (I’m still in thought what hot dish should be served) need time to prepare, so for dessert I decided to cook my favorite apple Charlotte without eggs (my parents have so many beautiful apples from their own garden). This Charlotte can be stayed in a fridge couple of days. Moreover it will become even more delicious and tastier. And to enjoy the little ones and give some kind of New Year’s spirit in the air just cut the cake in the shape of stars, Christmas trees, snowmen and Santa Clauses.

Apple Charlotte cake (eggs-free)

Ingredients:

Dry 

• 2 cups semolina
• 2 cups of flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup sugar

Filling

• 2 1/2 kg apples
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 150 g cold butter

Butter for greasing and breadcrumbs for sprinkling the baking dish 

Cooking method:

1. Pre-heat the oven up to 180 C. Grease the baking dish (25 x 40 cm) with the butter and sprinkle with the breadcrumbs.
2. Wash apples and cut out the core. Grate with the skin. Add sugar, cinnamon and mix well.
3. Combine all dry ingredients together and divide into 3 parts.
4. Put 1/3 of the dry ingredients in the baking dish, then – half of the apples (the apples must completely cover the dry mass). Next, put 1/3 of the dry ingredients again, then apples and finish with the dry ingredients. On the top put pieces of  cold butter.
5. Bake for approximately 40 minutes at a temperature of 180 C.

Note: if after the baking the cake still has some islands of dry ingredients (that’s when you put less apples than needed), then the situation can be saved by adding of apple juice. Just pour it on the island and put in the oven for a while.