Apple Charlottes

These old-fashioned desserts, which combine the flavors of apples, butter, and vanilla, provide a warming contrast when served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. You can make 12-ounce charlottes in the traditional molds with heart-shaped handles—each charlotte serves 2 or more—but you can also make smaller versions in ramekins. If you’re using ramekins, the overlapping of vertical bread strips may be too minute and tedious; instead, wrap a strip or two of bread, on its side, to line t