Yule Log
A traditional Chocolate Yule Log made with light cocoa sponge, rolled with chocolate buttercream, covered with more buttercream and finished with a simple bark effect and festive decorations.
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Servings: 8 slices
INGREDIENTS
For the Cake Roll:
- 3 Free-range Eggs (at room temperature; see Egg Size notes below)
- 125g Caster Sugar
- 100g Plain Flour
- 30g Cocoa Powder
- 1 tbsp Tepid Water
For the Buttercream:
- 160g Block Margarine or Butter (at room temperature; plus extra for greasing)
- 180g Icing Sugar (plus extra for dusting)
- 30g Cocoa Powder
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 tbsp Milk (dairy, soya, oat...)
EQUIPMENT
- Greaseproof Paper (Parchment Paper) (for lining the tray and rolling)
- Electric Hand Whisk (optional but recommended)
- Sharp Knife
INSTRUCTIONS
For the Cake Roll:
- Preheat your oven to 190°C (170°C for fan-assisted ovens, Gas Mark 5 or 375°F). Grease and line a 27×21cm (approx. 10½×8 inch) Swiss Roll tray with
greaseproof paper . Set aside. - In a bowl, sift the flour and cocoa together and then set aside while you prepare the rest of the cake roll ingredients.100g Plain Flour; 30g Cocoa Powder
- In a large, grease-free bowl, add the eggs and whisk lightly, then add the sugar. Whisk together until you have a light-coloured, creamy, thick batter. This can take a while by hand, so using an electric mixer is preferable. Add a tablespoon of tepid water and gently mix through.3 Free-range Eggs; 125g Caster Sugar; 1 tbsp Tepid Water
- Add the sifted flour and cocoa powder and gently fold to create a batter.
- Pour the batter into your prepared tin and evenly spread it to the sides and corners. Bake in your preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, until it looks dry on top and slightly spongy.
- Have an additional piece of
greaseproof paper ready on your work surface. Take the sponge from the oven, run a knife around the edges to loosen it from the tray and gently tip it onto the fresh piece ofgreaseproof paper . Trim the edges of the sponge and remove the baked-ongreaseproof paper . - On one narrow end, score the sponge about 1cm (⅓ inch) from the edge with a knife, being careful not to cut all the way through. Starting on this edge, use the
greaseproof paper to roll the sponge over itself, using gentle pressure to make sure there are no big gaps. Keep the cake rolled and wrapped in thegreaseproof paper , and let it cool completely.
For the Buttercream and Decorating:
- Once your cake is completely cool, prepare your buttercream. In a large bowl, cream the margarine/butter and
icing sugar until light and fluffy in both colour and texture. Add the cocoa powder, vanilla and milk and mix until you have a smooth, chocolaty buttercream.160g Block Margarine or Butter; 180g Icing Sugar; 30g Cocoa Powder; 1 tsp Vanilla Extract; 2 tbsp Milk - Unroll your cake and spread the inside with about ⅓ of the buttercream. Re-roll the sponge, this time discarding the
greaseproof paper , then place the cake seam-side down. - Cover the cake roll with the remaining buttercream, finishing with a fork for a bark-like effect. Decorate as desired with things like fondant holly leaves, pinecones or even a robin. Dust with some extra icing sugar before serving.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
All my recipes are developed using a digital scale and the metric system (grams and millilitres). Cup measurements are available as a conversion, but these, unfortunately, won't always be as accurate. For best results, I always recommend baking with a digital scale.
RECIPE NOTES:
Tin Size: This recipe has been tested using a 27×21cm (approximately 10½×8 inch) Swiss Roll tray. Using a different-sized tin will affect the thickness of the sponge and the baking time.
Egg Size: I recommend medium eggs in the UK, which are roughly equivalent to large eggs in the US. That's what this recipe has been tested with.
Rolling the Sponge: Turn the sponge out and roll it while it is still warm. Once cool, it will be less flexible and more likely to crack.
Cracks in the Sponge: Don't worry if the sponge cracks slightly while rolling or unrolling. The filling and outer buttercream will cover small cracks.
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