how to make a yule log cake

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    Chocolate Orange Yule Log Crepe Cake

    ha scritto per te

    Citrusy orange flavor adds holiday sparkle to this Chocolate Orange Yule Log Crepe Cake. Marmalade, whipped cream, and orange ganache-filled crepes are wrapped in a chocolate Swiss roll sponge.

    I couldn’t let the season pass without enjoying one of my favorite Christmas baking projects – the yule log cake, a.k.a. Bûche De Noël. It’s something I look forward to each year. Earlier, in spring, inspiration struck when I was browsing a confectioners’ periodical. I saw a sponge roll with crepes wrapped inside. It reminded me a little of tree rings. I knew I had to try the technique for myself. And I just knew it would make a fantastic looking yule log cake.

    With just a picture (and no recipe or instruction) I cobbled together my favorite tried-and-true cake elements. The Swiss roll sponge from my Pumpkin Swiss Roll Cake made a wonderful base for wrapping up all the other elements.

    A shortcut.
    If you’re feeling short on time from all the holiday hustle and bustle (I am) I’d like to recommend purchasing crepes ready-made from the grocery store. They can be found at most US grocery stores in the produce department. Sometimes they are placed alongside plastic clamshells of berries to encourage berry-filled crepe assembly at home. However, if you have time for scratch-made crepes, you’ll find the ingredients and instructions in the notes of this yule log recipe.

    Assemble the crepe center by smearing on a thin layer of orange-chocolate ganache on a crepe. Roll it up!

    Continue by rolling the first crepe into a second ganache covered crepe. Keep going until all the crepes and rolled up and you have a crepe baton.

    Assembly.
    Unroll the swiss sponge after it cools and cover it with prepared marmalade. Then, add a layer of homemade whipped cream on top. Spread it out evenly. Next, roll the crepe baton into the sponge. Refrigerate the roll until set. Which means the crepe center and whipped cream will firm up.

    White bark covering.
    Roll out some ready-made white fondant for the covering . A tree bark silicone fondant mat makes a beautiful bark impression in the fondant, which is what I used. Although sugar paste is my preferred covering for this cake, I understand that some people prefer buttercream. Double the orange buttercream recipe provided, and you’ll have enough to cover and decorate the cake’s entire exterior.

    Pipe a wavy line of buttercream on the top center of the cake using a large petal piping tip. Add some chopped toasted almonds around the sides of the cake for a ‘woodchip’ garnish.

    Seeing stars!
    Use this bartender trick I picked up while doing some freelance work food styling cocktails. Peel the skin off of an orange in one or two large pieces. Use mini fondant or cookie cutters (metal, plastic is too flimsy) to stamp out shapes from the peel. It’s such a pretty and natural garnish. Place the stars upright in the buttercream on top of the cake.
    Chocolate Orange Yule Log Crepe Cake

    The marmalade and whipped cream together help keep the chocolate Swiss sponge moist, and the crepe center has such a nice multilayered texture. The dynamic duo of chocolate and orange together evokes the essence of a special holiday. It has garnered much praise from all who have tasted it!
    Related recipe: Chocolate Mocha Yule Log Cakes

    Chocolate-Orange Yule Log Crepe Cake

    Heather Baird

    Rich chocolate Swiss roll is filled with orange marmalade, whipped cream, and a ganache-filled crepe center. It’s a delicious holiday centerpiece with bright citrusy flavor. Busy holiday cooks will appreciate using ready-made crepes from the grocery store in this recipe. You can usually find them in US grocery stores in the produce section next to the strawberries. If you’d rather make crepes from scratch, or just can’t find them ready-made, then see my crepe recipe in the notes section of this recipe.I use fondant to cover this cake, but you could use white (untinted) buttercream instead. If you use buttercream, use a small offset spatula to make long striations in the frosting, mimicking tree bark.

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    Prep Time 30 minsCook Time 12 mins2 hours resting 2 hrsTotal Time 2 hrs 42 mins

    Course DessertCuisine American

    Servings 8 people

    EquipmentBark motif fondant matRolling Pindisposable piping bagLarge petal decorator piping tipSmall star cookie cutters, 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch
    Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Swiss roll4 large eggs3/4 cup granulated sugar1 tablespoon oil2 tablespoon buttermilk1 teaspoon vanilla extract3/4 cup all-purpose flour1/4 cup dark cocoa powder1 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt1/4 cup powdered sugarGanache-filled crepes1 cup semisweet chocolate chips1/2 cup heavy cream1 tablespoon orange liqueur or 1/2 teaspoon orange extract10 ready-made crepes 10-inches roundFillings1/2 cup prepared orange marmalade1/2 cup heavy cream2 tablespoons granulated sugarFondant covering and buttercream1/2 lb. white fondant ready-madePowdered sugar for dusting1/2 cup unsalted butter3 cups confectioners’ sugarMilk or cream to thin buttercream if needed1 teaspoon orange extractToppings and garnishPeel of 1 orange removed in one large piece1/2 cup chopped almonds toasted
    Instructions Swiss rollTo make the cake, preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 15×10-inch jelly roll pan and line with parchment paper.Place eggs in large bowl; beat using electric mixer on high speed 5 minutes. The whipped eggs will become thick and lightened in color. With the mixer still running, slowly add sugar and oil, followed by buttermilk and vanilla.In a separate bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Slowly add to the liquid ingredients. Mix until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth evenly with a rubber spatula. Bake 12-15 minutes. Cake is done when it springs back when pressed with fingers.Sprinkle a tea towel with powdered sugar and rub sugar into towel with your hands. Immediately turn cake out onto the sugar-covered tea towel. Peel off the parchment paper and roll cake into the tea towel, beginning at the narrow end. Place rolled cake on a wire rack, seam-side down, and let cool completely.Ganache filled crepesCombine the chocolate and cream in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute at 100% power. Let the mixture set for 1 minute then whisk together until smooth. Whisk in the orange liqueur. Refrigerate until thick but still spreadable, about 10 minutes, stirring intermittently.Lay one crepe on a work surface and spread a thin layer of ganache over the entire surface. Roll the crepe up jelly roll style. Spread a second crepe with ganache; set the first rolled crepe at one edge of the second crepe and roll up. Repeat this process until all of the crepes are rolled up. Lightly cover with plastic wrap and set aside.FillingsStir the marmalade until loosened; set aside.Beat the heavy cream on medium-high in the bowl of an electric mixer. Gradually add in the sugar. Beat until the mixture is whipped thick and spreadable.Unroll the Swiss roll cake. Spread the marmalade over the surface. Add the whipped cream over them marmalade and spread until even. Place the crepe roll at the most curled end of the cake and roll up. Place the cake on a serving platter. Refrigerate until chilled and set, about 30 minutes. When the cake is chilled, trim away 1 1/2 -inch slices from each end of the cake so the crepe center is revealed.Fondant and buttercreamDust a work surface with powdered sugar. Knead fondant well and roll to 1/2 inch thickness. Place the fondant on top of a dusted woodgrain impression mat. Use your fingers to press the fondant into the mold, then use a rolling pin to even the surface. Flip the piece over and trim the excess fondant away. Repeat this process once so that you have two wood grain fondant pieces.Remove the cake from the refrigerator. Lightly brush the surface with water so the fondant will stick to the surface. Lay one fondant piece over the cake, lining up the edge with the edge of the cake. Add the second piece so that it touches the edge of the first piece; trim away the excess. There may be a visible line between the two pieces, this is normal.Cream the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add the confectioners’ sugar and mix again until combined. If mixture is thick, add milk or cream to thin to piping consistency. Beat in the orange extract. Beat on high speed until the buttercream is almost white. Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large petal tip.Pipe a dollop of buttercream on your finger and fill the visible line between the fondant pieces on the cake, if needed.Pipe and undulating line on top of the cake starting from the designated ‘back’ to the front of the cake. Position the piping tip with the thinnest edge pointed toward the sky as you pipe.Toppings and garnishUse the star cutters to stamp shapes from the orange peel. Place the stars standing upright in the buttercream on top of the cake. Garnish with chopped almonds around the edge of either side of the cake.Refrigerate the cake until set, 10 minutes. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Bring the cake to room temperature before serving.
    NotesHomemade crepe recipe
    4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
    6 large eggs 1 cup whole milk
    1/2 cup heavy cream
    1/2 tsp vanilla
    1 cup all-purpose flour
    1/8 tsp salt
    1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
    Place all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor or a blender and process until well combined. The mixture will be the consistency of heavy cream.
    Brush a 10 -inch skillet with melted butter and place over medium heat until butter just starts to smoke. Pour scant 1/4 cup of batter into the skillet. Swirl the batter with the pan lifted over the stove eye until the bottom is coated with a thin layer of batter.
    Place pan on the stove eye and cook until the surface of the crepe loses most of its glossiness and the top is set. At this point, most recipes will tell you to flip the crepes; mine were cooked through without flipping, so I just slid them out of the skillet and onto a plate.
    Repeat process until all crepe batter is used. If the crepes start to cook before you can get the entire bottom of the pan coated with batter, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Allow the crepes to cool completely.
    Orange garnish tip:

    After stamping out the shapes from the orange peel, place the stars in a zip-top bag and store in the refrigerator until ready to decorate. The orange peel will dry out if left uncovered at room temperature, and the ends of the stars will curl slightly. 

    Keyword american buttercream, black fondant, candied orange peel, crepe cake, orange buttercream, orange marmalade, orange whipped cream, swiss roll, yule log cake

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    • in Recipes

      Chocolate Mocha Yule Log Cakes

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      Nothing beats a beautiful and classic bake for the holidays, like these Chocolate Mocha Yule Log Cakes. This recipe makes two yule log cakes from one sheet of sponge; one to give, and one to keep.

      This is my first yule log cake of the year, but I love the tradition so much I may post a second one this month. It’s my absolute favorite bake for Christmas, and for me, it’s right up there with making a gingerbread house. Silky-smooth crème au beurre au café (coffee-flavored French buttercream) fills a classic chocolate Swiss roll in these Chocolate Mocha Yule Log Cakes, and both cakes are wrapped in chocolate marzipan ‘bark’.

      Swiss roll batter starts with well-whipped eggs. Beat them until they are pale, thick, and when the beater is lifted the batter forms a trail in the bowl. The mixture will deflate slightly when the other ingredients are added, but should still yield a thick yet pourable batter.

      Bake the sponge in a 15×11-inch jelly roll pan (or similar size). When done, immediately turn it out and cut it in half so that you have two 7.5 x11 inch pieces. Then roll each half up into a sugar-dusted tea towel starting at a short end and cool completely.

      Crème au beurre au café (French coffee buttercream).
      While you’re waiting for the sponges to cool, whip up a batch of coffee-flavored whole egg French buttercream. It’s a lot like regular French buttercream, but instead of using egg yolks, you use whole eggs. Get out the ol’ candy thermometer for this one. It’s an extra step but worth it, I promise. Because it’s so silky-smooth and luxurious!

      Unroll the sponge and let the most curved end stay curled. Pipe lines of buttercream onto the sponge, spread evenly and then roll it back up. Repeat this process with the second sponge.

      Wrap both of the swiss rolls , in a double thickness of waxed paper and then with plastic wrap. The waxed paper helps the cake keep its round shape, and the plastic wrap prevents it from drying out. Refrigerate until firm.

      While you wait for the cake to chill, knead some marzipan with unsweet cocoa powder. We’re going to make faux tree bark, and marzipan makes a tasty and beautiful covering.

      Tree bark impressions.
      First, you’ll need to acquire a tree bark silicone mold, which can be found here. It’s inexpensive and easy to store because it’s flat. Apply some unsweet cocoa powder to the mold to ‘dust’ it before pressing the marzipan. Gently roll the marzipan onto the mold and then turn it out. Trim away the plain edges.

      Drape the marzipan over the cake and and fit around the top and sides. It should adhere naturally. But if it seems too dry, brush the cake with a little water before applying the covering. Trim away any excess ‘bark’.

      You just can’t go wrong with the flavors of chocolate and coffee together! The silky coffee buttercream is a lovely contrast to the sponge texture. The marzipan tastes mostly of chocolate instead of almond, as the addition of unsweet cocoa will overtake the delicate almond flavor. And that’s preferred for this deeply chocolaty confection!

      I opted for a simple presentation without meringue mushrooms (but if you’d like to make some, see this post!). Instead, I used some cute red axe cupcake picks, purchased from Cranky Cakes Shop. Although they are currently out of stock, you can find some for purchase here instead. I think they’re so funny and cute. And they’re perfect with this woodsy cake.

      Chocolate Mocha Yule Log Cakes

      Heather Baird

      Nothing beats a beautiful and classic bake for the holidays, and Chocolate Mocha Yule Log Cakes tick both of those boxes. This recipe makes two yule log cakes from one sheet of sponge.For the textured ‘bark’ marzipan topping, you’ll need a silicone tree bark impression mat. See the blog post for shopping links. Or, if you’re not keen on purchasing an impression mat, crumpled aluminum foil will create a vague tree bark appearance if you lightly press it into the rolled marzipan.

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      Prep Time 40 minsCook Time 12 mins1 hour chill time 1 hrTotal Time 1 hr 52 mins

      Course DessertCuisine American

      Servings 12

      Equipment15×11 inch jelly roll pan, or similar sizeTree bark silicone impression matKitchen dedicated art brushAxe cupcake picks
      Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Swiss roll1/2 cup powdered sugar4 eggs3/4 cup granulated sugar1 tablespoon oil2 tablespoons buttermilk1 teaspoon vanilla extract3/4 cup all-purpose flour1/4 cup dark cocoa powder1 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon saltFrench coffee buttercream1 cup granulated sugar1/3 cup water2 large eggs1 1/2 cups unsalted butter softened3 tablespoons instant espresso powder dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water1/4 teaspoon fine grain saltAssembly14 oz. marzipan1/4 cup unsweet dark cocoa powder plus extra for dusting
      Instructions Chocolate spongePreheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 15×11 inch jelly roll pan (or similar size) with flour-based baking spray. Alternatively butter the pan and line with parchment paper.Lay out two tea towels on a work surface. Sprinkle each tea towel with 1/4 cup powdered sugar and rub sugar into towel with your hands.Place eggs in large bowl; beat using electric mixer on high speed, 5 minutes with a timer set. The whipped eggs will become thick and lightened in color. With the mixer still running, slowly add sugar and oil, followed by buttermilk and vanilla.In a separate bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Slowly add to the liquid ingredients. Mix until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth evenly with a rubber spatula. Bake 12-15 minutes. Cake is done when it springs back when pressed with fingers.Immediately turn the sponge sheet out onto one of the sugar-covered tea towels. If you used parchment paper to line the pan, remove it, then cut the sponge in half width-wise so that you have two 7.5 x 11 inch pieces. Roll each cake into a tea towel from a short side. Place the rolled cakes on a wire rack, seam-side down, and let cool completely.Make the French coffee buttercreamIn a small heavy saucepan set over medium heat, dissolve the sugar in the water. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Continue to cook until it registers 240°F on a candy thermometer.In the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the eggs until they are thick and pale, about 5 minutes on medium high speed. While mixer is running, add the sugar syrup in a thin stream, carefully tempering the syrup into the eggs without cooking them. Beat until the mixing bowl is cool. Change to the paddle attachment and add the softened butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. The mixture will deflate and look runny, then curdled. Keep adding butter and mixing. This buttercream goes through several ugly stages before it reaches fluffy consistency. When all the butter is added, add the espresso mixture and salt. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy.Transfer buttercream to a piping bag with 1/2-inch hole cut in the end of the bag.Gently unroll a cake, letting the end remain curled. Pipe lines of buttercream over top of cake; spread evenly. Roll the cake back up and wrap in plastic wrap. Repeat with remaining cake and the remaining buttercream. Refrigerate until the frosting is firm, about 1 hour.Conservatively trim both ends of the cakes away with a serrated knife so the swirl is visible.AssemblyKnead the marzipan and dark chocolate cocoa powder together until the marzipan is consistently dark brown in color. Dust the tree bark impression mat with cocoa powder using a small kitchen-dedicated art brush to get into all the nooks and crannies of the silicone mat.Roll out half of the marzipan on a lightly cocoa-powder dusted work surface. Place it on the impression mat and roll so that the marzipan takes on the tree bark impression; don’t roll too hard or the marzipan will tear.Turn the marzipan bark out of the mold and place on top of one of the cakes. Cover the top and sides of the cake entirely, but do not cover the bottom. Trim away excess marzipan. Repeat the process with the remaining cake. Cut cake into rounds and add little axe cupcake picks, if using, before serving.Serve cakes at room temperature. Store leftovers in the refrigerator. Return cakes to room temperature before serving.
      NotesWhat to expect:
      This chocolate sponge is light in texture and deeply chocolaty. It does a good job of holding the rich coffee buttercream and supports the covering of marzipan very well. It’s a wonderfully rich coffee break treat. 
      I chose to serve this cake as a grouping, with one whole yule log cake as the centerpiece, and the second cake I cut into rounds and decorated with the mini axe cupcake picks on plates for easy serving. However, ’tis the season to give. You may decide to keep a cake and give one away.

      Keyword chocolate sponge cake, coffee buttercream, instant espresso powder, marzipan

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