Yule Log Recipe Tips
What is in a yule log?
A yule log cake, also called a Buche de Noel, is a rolled sponge cake shaped and decorated to resemble a wooden log. This fanciful dessert is holiday baking tradition that dates back to 19th century France, when folks baked a cake to symbolize the burning log that kept them warm during the Christmas season.
What are the traditional ingredients in a yule log?
A traditional yule log is a chocolate flavored cake with a cream filling. The cake’s exterior is often decorated to resemble tree bark and is even sometimes garnished with meringue mushrooms or moss made from chopped pistachios. Decorations can vary from simple frosting and festive garnishes—chocolate curls, sliced almonds, sugared cranberries, rosemary sprigs, crushed candies—to detailed treatments using chocolate bark or rolled fondant.>
What different flavors can I add to a yule log?
While most yule log cakes are chocolate, feel free to get creative by switching up the flavor of the cake batter or cream. Red velvet, gingerbread, pumpkin, white chocolate, mocha, peanut butter, peppermint, hazelnut and caramel are just a few flavor variations. You can also spruce up your cake by adding cherries, raspberries or strawberries to the cream filling or on top as a garnish. Or boost the flavor of your filling with dried cranberries, mini chocolate chips, crystalized ginger or a splash of Bourbon or Bailey’s Irish cream.
How do you roll a yule log without breaking it?
Yule logs are basically rolled sponge cakes. Since this cake is tender and can tear easily, work slowly when spreading the filling and rolling the cake in a clean towel. Cool the rolled cake seam-side down to prevent it from unrolling. Find more tips for
how to make a yule log.
Research contributed by Amy Glander, Taste of Home Book Editor Nutrition Facts
1 slice: 610 calories, 30g fat (10g saturated fat), 106mg cholesterol, 337mg sodium, 80g carbohydrate (64g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.
