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Yule Log Cake

Prep Time 30 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine French-American Holiday
Servings 10 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Chocolate Sponge:

  • 6 large eggs separated
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Filling:

  • 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Ganache:

  • 8 oz semisweet chocolate finely chopped
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter

Instructions
 

  • Prep oven to 350°F. Line a 10x15" jelly roll pan with parchment and lightly grease it.
  • Make sponge: Beat egg yolks with both sugars until pale and thick (about 3 minutes). Add vanilla. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
  • In another bowl, beat egg whites to stiff peaks. Gently fold flour mixture into yolk mixture, then fold in egg whites in 3 additions.
  • Bake: Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until springy.
  • Roll: While warm, invert onto a tea towel dusted with powdered sugar. Peel off parchment and roll cake with towel inside. Let cool completely.
  • Make filling: Beat cream, sugar, and vanilla until soft peaks form.
  • Unroll, fill, re-roll: Gently unroll cooled cake, spread filling, and re-roll without towel. Chill 30 minutes.
  • Make ganache: Heat cream until steaming, pour over chocolate and butter. Let sit 2 min, then stir smooth.
  • Decorate: Spread ganache over cake, drag fork through to make bark texture. Chill to set.

Notes

  • Add a splash of espresso to the ganache for mocha flavor.
  • For a shortcut: use stabilized whipped topping.