I made Yule Log for the first time in years and years this Christmas and realised I'd forgotten how much trouble it is to make! Much of Christmas Eve morning was spent in its making...but the sponge was so light and the taste so chocolatey, it was worth it.
Thanks to madre for the little decorations on top!
Recipe from BBC food
Ingredients
30g/1oz plain flour
30g /1oz cocoa powder
1/2 tsp of salt
3 large eggs, separated
¼ tsp of cream of tartar
110g/4oz caster sugar
2 drops almond essence
For the buttercream filling:
100g /3½ oz butter
150g/5oz icing sugar
55g/2oz cocoa powder
a splash of brandy or rum
icing sugar for sifting on top as snow
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350 Gas 4. Grease a 23 cm x 33 cm Swiss roll tin and line with baking parchment.
2.To make the sponge: sift the flour, cocoa and salt together and set aside. Sprinkle a large piece of greaseproof paper with caster sugar and set aside.
3. Put the egg whites in a clean bowl and whisk until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and whisk until stiff. Gradually add half the sugar until the mixture forms soft peaks.
4. Place other half of sugar in a bowl and the egg yolks and whisk until pale and thick. Add the almond essence.
5. Using a large metal spoon stir in the reserved flour and cocoa mixture. Finally, lightly fold in the egg whites until well blended - take care not to beat the air out of the mixture.
6. Spoon the mixture into the Swiss roll tin and level the top. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until sponge-like to the touch.
7. Turn the sponge onto the greaseproof paper dusted with caster sugar. Peel away the baking parchment and roll the sponge with the greaseproof paper inside. Wrap in a tea towel and leave to cool.
For the Buttercream:
1. Beat the butter in a mixing bowl until smooth and then gradually beat in the icing sugar and cocoa powder. Add the brandy and mix well.
2. Once the sponge has cooled unroll it carefully and spread it with half the filling and roll it up again - without the greaseproof paper this time.
3. Spread the rest of the filling over the cake to cover it. Score it with a fork to resemble a log and dust with cocoa powder. Decorate with a sprig of holly.
