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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Published: Dec 1, 2021 · Modified: Feb 23, 2025 by Mélanie · This post may contain affiliate links · 18 Comments

    Yule Log With Chocolate Ganache

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    This delicious yule log with chocolate ganache is easy to prepare and is always a hit at the Christmas table. A simple roulé cake with a rich and creamy chocolate ganache makes an amazing recipe for your holiday season.

    This chocolate yule log is a classic dessert and it will be for sure be a crowd-pleaser. With an impressive presentation, this Bûche de Noël, as we call it in France, does not have to be intimidating to prepare. All the steps are broken down for you.

    After trying this French Christmas Yule, now you will need to give a try to these super easy but decadent chocolate truffles or also this traditional mendiants which is a French version of a bark.

    Close of of the chocolate yule log.

    Let's demystify this classic so you can make your own yule log for the holiday season.

    Jump to:
    • 🔪 Ingredients Needed
    • 🥣 Instructions To Prepare The Bûche
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 More Christmas Recipes You May Love
    • 📖 Recipe: Yule Log With Chocolate Ganache

    🔪 Ingredients Needed

    First, you need to tackle the rolled cake, let's gather the simple baking ingredients you need for it:

    • Eggs
    • Granulated sugar
    • Soft butter
    • Vanilla extract
    • All-purpose flour and baking powder

    For the ganache, you will need heavy cream and dark chocolate.

    Top view of all the ingredients to prepare the roule cake for the yule log.

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

    🥣 Instructions To Prepare The Bûche

    The cake

    The rolled cake is just a few steps away, nothing too difficult. Let me take you along step-by-step.

    Of course, let's preheat the oven and grab your stand mixer. You could use a hand mixer too.

    First of all, beat the eggs on low (speed 2) and bring them up to medium (speeds 4 and 6) with the sugar until fluffy. Then you can add the butter with the vanilla extract and mix fully incorporated.

    Then, add the baking powder and gradually, the flour.

    Prepare a baking tray covered with parchment paper and pour the batter into it. The baking is quite short, just 10 minutes.

    yule log: eggs and sugar and red stand mixer on the side.
    Yule log: Red stand mixer in action and a bowl of flour on the side.
    batter in the sheet pan. uncooked.

    Now, pay attention because once it comes out of the oven, you need to take care of the roulé right away.

    Prepare a clean dishcloth and flip the hot baked cake on it. Don't forget to peel the parchment paper from it. Now, while still warm, delicately roll the cake.

    removing the parchment paper from the cake.
    rolling the roule cake in a red dish towel in a shape of the yule log

    The chocolate ganache

    In the meantime, while the cake is cooling, let's prepare the chocolate ganache.

    In a pot, heat some heavy cream (check the recipe card for proportions) and cut some chocolate into small pieces.

    Then, in a bowl, place the chocolate and add the hot heavy cream to it and stir until melted. Allow it to cool down a little and add the remaining cold heavy cream. Set aside in the fridge until fully cooled.

    top view of a wooden board with chocolate cut into pieces

    Assembling the yule

    Assembling is an easy part!

    • Using a stand or hand mixer, whip the cooled ganache until you obtain firm peaks.
    • Delicately unroll the cake.
    • Spread the about haft ganache on it.
    • Roll back the cake.

    TIP: Don't spread too much on the edge of the cake as it will spread as you roll!

    Ganache spread on the roule cake to form the yule log.
    • Next, you can cut the edges of the rolled cake, similar to a slice, and place them on the side of the cake to make them look like a branch to the log.
    • Spread evenly the other half of the ganache on top of the log and its new branch.
    • Using a fork, make some marks on the log, length-wise, the make it look like wood.
    yule log rolled and the ends are cut.

    Lastly, keep in the fridge for a couple of hours. Take it out 30 minutes before serving.

    Decoration Ideas:

    • Icing sugar to make it look like snow
    • Small cookies
    • Small cuts of rosemary to make it look Christmas tree
    • Simple sprinkles
    • Mini meringues
    Chocolate Yule log on a a piece of wood. Pine cones around and a nutcracker in the back.

    👩🏻‍🍳 More Christmas Recipes You May Love

    • Make my sweet Christmas bread with an orange blossom flavour, so delicious!
    • The French mendiants are a super easy treat to make with the kids and also make a great hostess gift.
    • Chocolate Truffles are a classic
    • Feeling crafty? Make my Christmas calendar, kids and adults will love it!

    I highly recommend making my recipes using a scale but for your convenience, I have also converted the recipe using this website.

    Chocolate Yule log on a a piece of wood. Pine cones around and a nutcracker in the back.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 17 votes

    📖 Recipe: Yule Log With Chocolate Ganache

    Delicious chocolate yule log is easy to prepare & will be a hit at the Christmas table. Step-by-step recipe of the roulé cake and the chocolate ganache.
    Prep Time40 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    1 hour hr
    Total Time1 hour hr 40 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: French
    Servings: 8 people
    Calories: 395kcal
    Author: Mélanie

    Equipment

    • Stand mixer

    Ingredients

    For the cake

    • 4 eggs medium
    • ¼ cup sugar 100g
    • 2 tablespoon butter soft
    • 1 teaspoon almond extract (or vanilla)
    • Less than 1 cup flour (more than ⅔) 100g
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder

    For the ganache

    • 150 ml heavy cream ⅔ of a cup
    • 200 g dark chocolate
    • 150 ml heavy cream (cold) ⅔ of a cup

    Instructions

    For the cake

    • Preheat the oven at 400F.
    • In the bowl of the stand mixer, beat the eggs with the sugar until the colour is lighter.
    • Add the soft butter and vanilla or almond extract and mix until incorporated. Add the baking powder. Mix some more.
    • Add the flour progressively and keep mixing until smooth.
    • Prepare a parchemin paper on a baking sheet. (size 15 x12). Pour the preparation in it.
    • Bake 10 minutes at 400F.
    • Take it out of the oven and flip the cake on clean dish towel. While it is still warm, roll the cake with the dish towel.
    • Set aside and allow to cool.

    For the ganache

    • Cut the chocolate into small pieces and place them in a bowl. In a small pot, bring ⅔ of a cup of cream to a boil and pour it on top of the chocolate. Stir until fully melted.
    • Add the rest of the cream (cold) and set aside in the fridge.
    • Once out of the fridge and cooled down, using an electric whisk, whip the ganache until you obtain firm peaks.

    Assembling

    • Delicately, unroll the cake and remove the dish towel. Spread the ganache on it.
    • Spread heavenly the ganache and roll your cake. Cut the extremities.
    • Use the extremities to make a 'branch', spread the remaining of the ganache.
    • Decorate with sprinkle, chocolate pieces or mini Christmas items.

    Notes

    Remember to read the blog post where you can see all the step-by-step pictures. 
    petitporcini.com

    Nutrition

    Calories: 395kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 134mg | Sodium: 108mg | Potassium: 260mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 686IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @petitporcini or tag #PetitPorcini!

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    Comments

    1. Jessica says

      November 26, 2019 at 9:58 pm

      5 stars
      I've always wanted to try to make a yule log! Thank you for such a wonderfully detailed post. Saving the recipe to make in the future!

      Reply
      • Mélanie says

        November 27, 2019 at 1:52 pm

        Let me know if you do Jessica and send me a picture, I'd love to see :)

        Reply
    2. Colleen says

      November 27, 2019 at 4:16 pm

      5 stars
      A Yule log is certainly a classic, and your detailed step by step instructions are so helpful. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
    3. Trish says

      November 27, 2019 at 7:26 pm

      5 stars
      Beautiful cake! I didn't know how to roll it like that... so helpful. Thank you :)

      Reply
    4. Isabelle @ Crumb says

      December 01, 2019 at 11:36 pm

      5 stars
      Beautiful! I've been meaning to make a proper buche de Noel for a few years now, but the whole process of rolling the cake is just so daunting. I think your step-by-step photos might just give me the courage I need to finally try it out!

      Reply
      • Mélanie says

        December 05, 2019 at 8:04 am

        Send me a picture if you make it :)

        Reply
    5. Matt - Total Feasts says

      December 02, 2019 at 3:08 pm

      5 stars
      I've always wanted to make one of these, they look so festive! Thanks for the guide and recipe!

      Reply
      • Mélanie says

        December 05, 2019 at 8:05 am

        Thanks for stopping by Matt, let me know if you give it a try!

        Reply
    6. GUNJAN says

      December 16, 2019 at 10:25 am

      5 stars
      I wish I could bake a yule log in my lifetime. I always want to try my hands on it but too scared. I am not a baker. But your recipe is making me drool over these. I wanna dig into it right now.

      Reply
    7. Stephanie says

      December 16, 2019 at 1:07 pm

      5 stars
      Love all the step-by-step photos to help with this recipe! I can't wait to give it a try - it looks absolutely scrumptious!

      Reply
      • Mélanie says

        January 06, 2020 at 10:50 am

        Thank you Stephanie! Please send me a picture if you make it :)

        Reply
    8. Pavani says

      December 16, 2019 at 4:30 pm

      5 stars
      That is such a yummy looking yule log. Thank you for the detailed photos and recipes - I want give it a try for the holiday season.

      Reply
    9. Pavani says

      December 17, 2019 at 9:46 am

      5 stars
      What a festive and delicious looking Yule log. I've had trouble making Swiss roll cake but your step by step photos are going to be very helpful. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
    10. Kathy says

      December 18, 2021 at 8:00 am

      Can I use milk chocolate instead of dark? My other half doesn’t like dark

      Reply
      • Mélanie says

        December 18, 2021 at 9:23 am

        Hi Kathy, yes you can. I've done it before and it is delicious too!

        Reply
    5 from 17 votes

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    Bonjour! I’m Mélanie!

    I hope you are hungry, I’m here to inspire you to create tasty weeknight meals & easy desserts!

    I’m French, and you will quickly notice it!

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    Chocolate Yule log on a a piece of wood. Pine cones around and a nutcracker in the back.
    Close of of the chocolate yule log
    Close of of the chocolate yule log

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