The Buche De Noel

Every year I make at least one Buche De Noel. They are one of my favourite things to make. They date back centuries. They are a cake that looks like a log. This was an offspring of the traditional Yule Log: an actual log. Buche De Noel means Christmas log, or Yule log. It is a sponge cake rolled up with a creamy filling, and frosted with chocolate frosting (to look like bark); it is often garnished with meringue mushrooms!

The un-assembled mushrooms

Cake, phase 1 (well third after baking, rolling, and filling. but first for actually assembly)

Cake Phase 2: Dirty frosted

And lastly, garnished with mushrooms and holly. I felt that I needed to get all decked out for Christmas, in order to match the cake.

There are many different flavor combinations. I think the most traditional is orange sponge cake, with chocolate filling and frosting. The idea was to have the cake look like fresh cut wood when sliced. I however, go a different route: Chocolate cake, mocha filling, and dark chocolate frosting.


Here is the one from last year:

 

Sorry about the picture quality.

Anyway, the cake is delicious, and French, so you know it will taste as good as it looks. There is a new trend, however, to make the cake with mouse covered in a chocolate shell. So, I can attempt to justify my traditional version as a more retro Buche De Noel!

What do you bake at Christmastime? Happy Christmas!