YULE LOG CAKE

YULE LOG CAKE
By:Sreedevi Jayadev

Yule log cake, is a traditional cake made during Christmas especially in France. The name of this recipe, BOCH DE NOEL, literally translates as “ CHRISTMAS LOG “ made from a vanilla sponge, baked in a swiss roll pan, rolled to form a cylinder and frosted both inside and outside with chocolate whipping cream...

FOR CHOCOLATE SPONGE CAKE :

All purpose flour ( maida ) - ½ cup
Baking powder - ½ tspn
Eggs - 3
Cocoa powder - ¼ cup
Sugar - ¼ cup
Vanilla essence - 1 tspn
Salt - a pinch
Cream of tartar - ½ tspn

FOR FROSTING :

Heavy whipping cream - 1 cup
Icing sugar - ¼ cup
Brewed coffee - 1 tbsp
Cocoa powder - 1 tbspn
Unsalted butter - 1/3 cup
Dark chocolate - 1,2 pieces ( chopped )

METHOD :

1, Prepare a jelly or sheet pan 17 by 12 inch ( 43 into 30 cm ) pan with wax paper and grease the bottom and sides with little butter and keep it aside.

2, Separate egg yolks and egg whites into 2 bowls. Do this when eggs are taken out directly from fridge, so that it can be done easily. Then keep this outside for room temperature for some time.

3, Preheat oven to 180 degrees for 10 minutes.

4, Beat egg yolks and sugar till fluffy. Add 1 tsp of vanilla essence and beat well.

5, Sift together maida, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder. Gradually add flour to egg yolk mixture till combined.

6, Beat egg whites in medium speed until foamy. Add ½ tspn of cream of tartar and beat well till soft peaks form. Add 1 tbsp of icing sugar and beat well till stiff peaks form. Gently fold this with the batter.

7, Spread the batter to the prepared baking sheet. Put it in the preheated oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the cake springs back ( do not over bake the cake ). Take it out and cool for 2,3 minutes.

8, Invert the cake to a linen towel dusted with icing sugar. Peel off the wax paper. Roll the towel like a cylinder shape along with the cake inside ( starting with a short side ). Keep the rolled cake aside for 12 to 15 minutes.

9, In a double boiler, soften butter and chopped chocolates. Add 1 tbsp of cocoa powder and 1 tbspn of brewed coffee and mix well. Keep it aside.

10, In a large bowl, whip the whipping cream with ¼ cup of icing sugar till stiff peaks form. Un roll the cake and spread whipped cream all over and re-roll the cake. Add the butter, chocolate mix to the left over whipping cream and cover the rolled cake. No need to make a perfect smooth top, If there are some lines or marks on top, its fine.. it’s a log cake. Using a fork, make lines on top resembling tree bark.

11, Chill the cake for atleast 1 hour. Sprinkle little icing sugar on top for a snowy effect.. Here I put some x’mas topper’s for decoration and made few flowers and leaves to make it look attractive... cut, serve and enjoy.