Christmas Yule Logs (Bûche de Noël)
The Yule Log is a Christmas classic, especially here in France.
In a few words, it is a rolled cake, and it is often decorated in fancy ways, for example to resemble a real wooden log.
The principles to make a Yule Log are not different from those to make a normal cake, but some combinations work better than others. So what can we use to make a Yule Log?
The base cake
- Roll cake (very easy and soft!)
- Spongecake
- Genoise
- Joconde
- Succés cake
The syrup
- Cointreau, Triple Sec
- Rhum
- Kirsch
- Vanilla
- …
The filling
- Buttercream
- Mousseline cream
- Ganache
- Chantilly
- Bavarian cream
- Chocolate or fruit mousse
- Jam
Topping
- Buttercream
- Ganache
- Meringue
- Chantilly
Decor
- Log-style decoration with a fork on buttercream + a slice of the log is added on top perpendicularly to resemble a real log
- Almond paste (to make leaves, trees, Santa Claus, ice men, etc…)
- Meringue mushrooms
- Chocolate decorations
- Pralines
- …
Ideas for Yule Logs based on recipes of this site
– Classic Yule Log: roll cake, rhum syrup, chocolate buttercream as filling and topping, meringue mushrooms and almond paste decorations