Yes, You Can Make Your Own Yule Log
Whether you’re a newb or a pro in the kitchen, you can wow friends and family with this classic Christmas dessert.
Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
As home cooks, the holiday season is about cookie swaps and other festive bite-size treats, but the yule log is a standout dessert, perfect for Christmas dinner. But you’ve probably never attempted one because they look super intimidating. Here’s the thing – they aren’t as hard as you think they are and (bonus) there are variations on the traditional yule log that you can make without even turning on the oven.
The tradition of the yule log originally stems from pagan ritual of burning a log to celebrate the winter solstice – literally chasing away the winter – which eventually morphed with a similar Christian ritual. A French patissier invented the Buche de Noel to honor the tradition around 1879 and it has been a staple of the holiday season since.
Surprise your friends and family with your culinary skills and make a festive yule log this Christmas.
Classic Buche de Noel (pictured above)
The traditional Buche de Noel, or yule log, is really just a gussied-up jelly roll cake decorated with marzipan mushrooms.
Teri Lyn Fisher
This variation – essentially an ice box cake dressed up as a yule log – requires no baking skills whatsoever. Use store-bought meringues and marshmallows to make the mushrooms and decorate with mint and cranberries as the holly.
Skip the cake-rolling process with this new take on the yule log. Three layers of chocolate cake are frosted with cream cheese frosting and stacked to mimic chopped wood. The secret to stabilizing the cakes is parchment-lined cardboard for each layer, plus extra stability from thick straws (think bubble tea or milkshake straws) that hold the layers in place.
Want more tips for your yule log? Check out some easy yule log decoration hacks.
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