Apricot And Apple Charlotte

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Peel and core apples, and cut them in two. Cut the two pieces into 8 chunks, and put in a saucepan. Add orange juice, zest, sugar and ⅓ cup apricot jam. Place pan over high heat and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook at a lively simmer until apples are soft but still keep their shape, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

2. Step 2

   Heat oven to 350 degrees. Brush butter onto bottom and sides of an 8-inch springform pan. Paint both sides of each slice of bread with butter (or dip briefly into butter) before lining pan with dampened pieces. Fit pieces of bread together like a jigsaw puzzle with no gaps. Paint joints with egg white to help seal them, and press them together.

3. Step 3

   Add egg yolks to cooled apple filling and spoon mixture into bread-lined pan. Layer with more butter-painted bread, and carefully spread remaining 3 tablespoons jam over top. (Jam may be heated, if desired, for ease in spreading.)

4. Step 4

   Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake until browned on edges and top, about 45 minutes. Place on a cooling rack until warm or room temperature. To serve, remove side of pan, and slice like a cake.