This month the Daring Bakers’ (headed by Lis at La Mia Cucina and Ivonne at Cream Puffs in Venice) are baking up a whole forest of delightful Yule Logs- also known as Buche de Noel. Most of their delights were posted on the 22nd or 23rd of December, with the two-day flexibility given for scheduling during this hectic month, check all of the beautiful logs out here. Unfortunately I was unable to make mine until the 25th and could not post about it until  today. So those lovely DBs have given me a little “lateness latitude” in the spirit of the season.

Once upon a time I vowed that I would never make another Buche de Noel. This was after making several hundred of them in the span of two weeks as a baker for a small patisserie. It was only the fabulous community of Daring Bakers that could induce me to make another. – I must admit, though, that it was fun to make one again. I guess I must have recovered by now. 🙂 You can see the challenge recipe on Ivonne’s blog so I won’t list it here.

I decided to make a chocolate cake and buttercream since I like the darker look-so I added 2oz of melted chocolate to the cake and 4oz to the butter cream. For the filling I used 8oz of cream cheese whipped with a 14oz can of sweetened condensed milk, 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice and a teaspoon of vanilla to make a “no bake” cheesecake filling. I spread a jar of Morello cherry preserves over the cake and then the well-chilled cream cheese mixture before rolling it up.

Then I had fun “tarting it up” with different fungi and forest decorations. I made meringue Button Mushrooms and a red Toadstool and then used Marzipan for some Chanterelles, a scale Lichen and a Morel mushroom. (I know they are not realistic to be growing there all together in the season but I was having fun) The acorns are modeled from caramels with tootsie roll caps. The holly was made from lime leaves from my front porch that I trimmed in a holly shape and then added red cinnamon candies for the berries. White chocolate for the “Joyeux Noel” and some powdered sugar for a sprinkling of snow were added right before serving.

One of the old legends of Yule is that the Holly King and the Oak King battle for control of the light as we reach the longest night of the year on the Winter Solstice of December 21st. The Oak King wins control and the light begins to gain strength for a return to longer days. I think it’s a nice legend for those cold dark days of winter- to add a log to burn brightly against the night. I hope this Yule log fills you with cheer and the spirit of Joy and Peace. Many wishes for a bright new year to you all.

xoxo