Bûche de Noël: The Classic French Yule Log Cake and Its Rich History

 
For the Sponge Cake (Génoise)

5 eggs

- 150 grams of sugar

- 120 grams of flour

- 30 grams of cocoa powder (for chocolate cake, optional)

- 1 teaspoon of vanilla

 extract٤

- A pinch of salt

For the Filling (Buttercream or Chocolate Cream):

- 200 grams of softened butter

- 150 grams of powdered sugar

- 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder (optional)

- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

- 100 grams of melted chocolate (optional)

For Decoration:

- Powdered sugar for dusting (to resemble snow)

- Chocolate shavings or dried fruits

Preparation Steps:

1. Prepare the Sponge Cake:

   - Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a baking tray with butter and line it with parchment paper.

   - Separate the egg yolks from the whites. Whisk the yolks with half of the sugar and vanilla until the mixture becomes creamy.

   - In another bowl, whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt until thick, then gradually add the remaining sugar until a meringue forms.

   - Gently fold the yolk mixture into the beaten egg whites. Then, gently add the flour (and cocoa powder if making a chocolate cake) and fold it in until combined.

   - Pour the batter into the tray and spread it evenly. Bake for 10-12 minutes until cooked through.

2. Prepare the Buttercream:

   - Whip the softened butter with powdered sugar until creamy and smooth. If making chocolate cream, add the cocoa powder and melted chocolate, and mix well.

3. Assembling the Cake:

   - Once the cake is out of the oven, place it on a damp towel and gently roll it into a log shape while it's still warm, then leave it to cool.

   - After it has cooled, unroll the cake, spread the prepared cream over it, and then gently roll it back into a log.

   - Cover the rolled cake with the remaining cream and decorate with chocolate shavings or powdered sugar to resemble a snow-covered log.

4. Serving:

   - Slice the cake and serve with coffee or tea.

History of the Bûche de Noël:

- Origin and History:   The Bûche de Noël dates back to the.  19th century.  غ  in France. It is believed that the cake was inspired by an old tradition of burning a Yule log in homes on Christmas Eve to bring good luck and warmth for the coming year.

- Creator:  It is difficult to pinpoint a specific individual who invented this dessert, but it is known that    French bakeries.   in the 19th century began crafting the cake in its modern form.