Bûche de Noël (Yule Log)
Yossy Arefi
Photo by MJ Kroeger
- Serves
- 10 to 12
- Prep Time
- 1 Hour 40 Minutes
- Cook Time
- 15 Minutes
There are just about a million ways to make a yule log, but they all have three main components: cake, filling, and frosting. (Well, four if you count all of the fun bits and bobs you can use for decoration.) This recipe is a mashup of Dominique Ansel's flourless chocolate cake and Cook’s Illustrated's coffee-mascarpone cream and chocolate ganache, combined with a bit of my own flourish.
Ingredients
Cake
- 6 egg yolks
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 5 egg whites
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder, sifted
- pinch Salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Ganche and Filling
- 6 ounce bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 12 ounce mascarpone, room temperature
- 6 tablespoon heavy cream
- 4 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
- 2 teaspoon instant coffee or espresso powder
- 1 vanilla bean
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
Featured Video
Crafting a bûche de Noël—aka, a yule log —is a feat befitting a holiday fête. While they’re rarely *easy* to make, this one is simpler than most. Because there are no super-lengthy chill times (as is common with yule logs), it comes together in one afternoon. The trickiest part of any yule log is perfecting the roll sans breakage. (Our test kitchen recommends using a soft dish towel to help aid the process as you roll, roll, roll.) The recipe is divided into three different ingredient lists and three different parts. First, you’ll bake the cake. While it cools (coddled adorably in its dish towel), you’ll prepare the ganache and espresso-mascarpone filling. Once cool, it’s time to assemble the yule log—and garnish it with meringue mushrooms, sugared cranberries, rosemary sprigs, and a generous dusting of powdered sugar. Technique aside, there’s a lot to love about this holiday staple (especially if you’re a chocolate lover). Our test kitchen loved the contrast between the creamy, espresso-spiked filling and the bittersweet ganache. You might even have a little ganache leftover, which you can use to make truffles or simply eat by the spoonful. Want to make a white birch log instead? Use white chocolate (such as our very own toasted white chocolate for baking, which is less-sweet than the kind you might be imagining) for a wintry effect. Pop a bottle of Champagne, play a Harry Connick Jr. soundtrack, and maybe even light up a real yule log as you slice this extra-special cake.
Directions
Instructions
- Step 1
For the Cake: Heat the oven to 375°F and line a 9-inch by 13-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Grease the paper.
- Step 2
In the bowl of a standing mixer, beat the yolks with half of the sugar on high until the mixture is pale and very fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the salt and vanilla, then the cocoa powder.
- Step 3
Wash and dry the bowl and whisk, then beat the egg whites on medium high until soft peaks form. With the mixer running, gradually add the rest of the sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
- Step 4
Stir 1/4 of the egg white mixture into the egg yolks to lighten everything up. Then gently fold in the remaining egg whites.
- Step 5
Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking sheet and bake until the cake springs back and is dry to the touch, 10 to 15 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan for 5 minutes (the cake will deflate a bit). Then turn it out onto a clean kitchen cloth that has been dusted with cocoa powder. Gently roll the cake, towel and all, into a long cylinder. Let the cake cool completely in the towel while you prepare the ganache and filling.
- Step 6
For the Ganache: Add the chocolate, butter, and salt to a bowl. Heat the heavy cream to a bare simmer, then add it to the chocolate. Stir until smooth and let sit at room temperature until it cools to a spreadable consistency.
- Step 7
For the Filling: Heat the cream to a bare simmer and turn off the heat. Add the sugar, salt, vanilla bean, and instant coffee. Stir and let steep for 20 minutes. Remove the vanilla bean pod, making sure to scrape out all of the seeds into the milk, then add it to the room temperature mascarpone and stir to combine.
- Step 8
Assemble the Cake: Gently unroll the cake/towel. Spread the mascarpone mixture over the top and use the towel to help roll the cake into a tight cylinder. Cut a 2- to 3-inch piece off of one end at a diagonal to use as a stump. Gently move the cake to a parchment-lined baking sheet (or a serving platter, if you’d prefer to only move the cake once). Use the cooled ganache to attach the stump to the log then you’ll want to go ahead and slather that ganache on the rest of the cake. Be generous with the amount you use and drag your spatula or knife over the surface to give it a “barky” look. Finish by decorating the plate with meringue mushrooms, sugared cranberries and rosemary sprigs, and a generous dusting of powdered sugar.