comScore
ADVERTISEMENT

Chocolatey Christmas Log

Chocolatey Christmas Log
Yields
10 servings

Make your very own christmas log cake, following this simple recipe.Recipe Courtesy Caroline Mc Cann-Bizjak, Cook Like a Chef.

ADVERTISEMENT

ingredients

Cake for the Log

1
cup granulated sugar (250 ml)
1
cup all purpose flour (250 ml)
2
Tbsp cocoa powder (30 ml)
1
tsp baking powder (5 ml)
1
tsp baking soda (5 ml)
4
egg yolks
½
cup canola oil (125 ml)
½
cup water (125 ml)
1
Tbsp vanilla extract (15 ml)
6
egg whites
Flour, or icing sugar, for rolling the cake

Ice Cream

1
cup half and half (18%) cream (500 ml)
cup sugar (75 ml)
5
yolks
½
vanilla bean, sliced in half
2
small bosc pears, peeled and pureed
1
cup whipping (35%) cream (250 ml)

Ganache

¾
cup whipping (35%) cream (175 ml)
6
squares semi-sweet chocolate, chopped (6-ounces/170 grams)

Assembly

White chocolate ganache or butter icing, for decorating, optional
Plastic ever green trees, Santa Claus and/or snowmen, for decorating, optional
ADVERTISEMENT

directions

Step 1

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and slightly butter the paper. Make sure that the parchment is going over the edges of the baking sheet.

Step 2

Preheat the oven at 350 degrees F.

Step 3

In a bowl, mix the egg yolks, canola oil, water and vanilla.

Step 4

In another bowl, sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa and ¾ cup of sugar. Add to the wet ingredients and incorporate very well.

Step 5

In a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, whip the 6 egg whites until frothy. Add the remaining ¼ cup of sugar and continue to whip until egg whites form soft peaks.

Step 6

Pour one third of the egg white mixture in the egg yolk and flour mixture. Fold gently. When incorporated, transfer the egg yolk/flour mixture into the remaining whites and fold.

Step 7

Spread the cake batter with an off-set spatula onto prepared baking sheet. Bake until cake springs back, about 15 to 17 minutes. Let cool on rack for about 3 minutes.

Step 8

Flour a clean dish towel all over and flip the cake onto it, leaving the parchment paper on top. Remove the parchment paper. Let the cake cool for another minute. Roll the cake in the dish towel to form it into a log. Let it cool completely before assembling.

Step 9

In a pot, bring the ½ and ½ cream to a boil with the vanilla bean.

Step 10

In a stainless steel bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar together until they turn a slight pale yellow. While whisking the egg yolk mixture, slowly add the boiled cream. Transfer back to a pot and cook over medium heat, constantly stirring with a wooden spoon. Cook until the mixture thickens.

Step 11

Strain the mixture into a bowl. Add the 35% cream and the pear puree. Cool down completely and refrigerate for an hour. Process the chilled mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Step 12

Bring the cream to a boil. Place the broken chocolate squares in a stainless steel bowl. Pour the cream on top and let sit for 1 minute. Mix well using a wooden spoon or whisk but try not to incorporate too much air into the mixture.

Step 13

Unroll the cake and spread an even layer of the ice cream on top of the cake, leaving about 1-inch border free of ice cream. Roll it back up

Step 14

With a serrated knife, cut the 2 end pieces on the bias. Place on top of each end of the log. Secure with toothpicks (this will create a real log look). Place in the freezer for 1 hour.

Step 15

When frozen, place the cake on a cooling rack that is resting in baking sheet. Pour the ganache over the whole log. Wait until the ganache sets a little, about 3 minutes before starting to decorate the log.

Step 16

Decorate with a white chocolate ganache or a butter icing. To make the cake look more like an actual log, take a toothpick and spread the icing or ganache in a pinwheel pattern on top of the cake. Also pipe some jagged lines on the sides of the log to create the effect of bark. Finish decorating with a plastic Santa Claus, evergreens and/or snowmen.

Step 17

Keep frozen until ready to serve. Let thaw at room temperature for 10 minutes before slicing.

Rate Recipe

My rating for Chocolatey Christmas Log
ADVERTISEMENT