The Yule Log Cake

Yesterday I posted about Pere Noel and some French traditions at Christmas. One of the most important is the Yule Log Cake. There are lots of versions of the Yule Log Cake as people have taken recipes and tailored them to their own tastes. Basically the cake is a jelly roll so you can make different fillings. There are all sorts of recipes that are super easy to super hard but here is one I think even I could tackle.

Yule Log Cake

6 eggs
1 box Devil's food cake mix
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 TB powdered sugar

Heat oven to 375. Line a jelly roll pan (10X15X1) with wax paper or foil. Spray with a baking spray (one that has flour in it).

In large bowl beat eggs with mixer on high speed until they are lemony color, about 5 minutes. Add cake mix, water, and oil and beat on low speed until mixed and then on medium for 1 minute. Scrap bowl often.

Pour 3 1/2 cups of the batter into the jelly roll pan. (The rest will make 6-8 cupcakes if you like)

Bake 14-16 minutes until cake is springy to the touch. Now comes the tricky part. Run a knife around the edges of the cake to loosen it. Sprinkle the powdered sugar on a kitchen towel (don't use terry cloth) and turn the cake upside down onto the towel. Remove the foil. While cake is still hot, roll the towel and cake into a log from the narrow end. Cool on wire rack for 1 hour.

While you wait, make your filling:
1 1/2 cups cold whipping cream
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and beat until cream is stiff.

Unroll cooled cake and spread filling on top. Roll again without the towel and place on dish to frost. Use canned frosting or make this creamy rich frosting:

Microwave a 1/2 cup whipping cream in a medium bowl for about a minute or just to the boiling point. Stir in 1 cup chocolate cups and 1 TB corn syrup. Let set 3 minutes then use wire whisk to gently beat until smooth. Beat in 1/4 tsp vanilla. Refrigerate for 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes.

Drag a fork the length of the log to make it look like roughened bark. Decorate with a few sprigs of artificial holly or pine.