Did Whoopi Goldberg slander a baker?
“America Report” panelists Dagen McDowell and Brian Bremberg are reacting to allegations that a baker refused to make a cake for Whoopi Goldberg for political reasons.
A little-known dessert made headlines after Whoopi Goldberg claimed that a Staten Island bakery initially refused her order because of her political beliefs.
On her birthday, Nov. 13, Goldberg shared a Charlotte Ruth treat with her The View co-hosts, saying it was one of her mother's favorites as a child.
“She always talked about this stuff, they were called Charlotte Ruth,” she said. “It's a sponge cake with whipped cream and a cherry on top.''
2025 Hot Food Trends: Value Meals, Cold Beer, and Mushrooms
Ms. Goldberg went on to claim that the baker initially refused to bake her because of her political beliefs, which the baker vehemently denied.
But what are Charlotte Ruths, and how are they made? And why are they so special to New York?
Comedian and “The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg said a New York City bakery initially turned down an order for Charlotte Ruth's sweets because of her political beliefs. (Courtesy of Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri, Getty Images)
According to the Downton Abbey Official Cookbook, traditional Charlotte Ruth's origins date back to 19th century France, where it is a “cold, congealed sweet dish” served with Bavarois cream or jelly and “wrapped in a sponge finger biscuit.” That's what it means.
“Related to trifle, trifle is a very British dish, but this one is very French, invented by chef Antonin Carême in the early 19th century,” Downton Abbey Cookbook is stated.
Click here to sign up for our lifestyle newsletter
The cake itself appeared on the show, the book says.
Charlotte Ruth also appeared on Season 6, Episode 7 of “The Great British Baking Show,'' where contestants were tasked with creating a Charlotte Ruth for the “Featured'' round of the competition.
The traditional Charlotte Ruth cake features a ring of ladyfingers on the outside. (St. Petersburg)
The host noted that the dessert looked “a bit like a 1980s movie star,” but it was actually a Victorian-era dessert.
However, in New York City, Charlotte Ruth's form has changed slightly. According to the City Roar website, Charlotte Russe is not a slice of cake, but rather a “push-pop-style confection wrapped in a cardboard shell with a movable bottom.”
City Roar is an organization dedicated to fostering “New York City's, and America's, living cultural heritage through education and public programs that serve cultural equity and social justice,” its website says. listed.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Once a popular sweet in the early 20th century, Charlotte Ruth has become increasingly difficult to find, the same source said.
According to City Lore, Holterman's Bakery on Staten Island is currently the only place in New York City where you can regularly get these treats.
Halterman's Bakery on Staten Island is one of the last remaining stores in New York City selling the cardboard version (above) of Charlotte Ruth's sweets. (SILive.com/Pamela Silvestri)
Unlike the more traditional Charlotte Ruth cake, the New York City version eschews the ladyfinger ring and instead places a disc of sponge cake on the bottom, says City Roar.
For more lifestyle articles, visit: www.foxnews.com/lifestyle
The cake is topped with jam and “topped with a spiral of whipped cream and nut-crusted maraschino cherries,” City Roar said. “Pushing up on the bottom with your thumb when eating allows you to access the deeper layers of the pastry.”
