Don’t you just love a Yule log, the great alternative to a Christmas pudding, chocolatly decedant and just plain great. I make one every year, occasionally I toy with the idea of doing something crazy, like a black forrest gateau version, or a white chocolate version, but every year the old reliable classic that my Grandma taught me comes out and every year it is excatly what I want. As they say if it aint broke, don;t fix it.

So here we go. You still have time to make it trust me, I am making mine today!

Ingredients

For Sponge
6 Eggs
5 oz Caster Sugar
2 oz Cocoa Powder

For filling
250ml Double Cream

For Icing
6oz Butter
12 oz Icing Sugar
150g Dark Chocolate Method

1. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees and line a rectangular shape inch deep tin (I actually use a roasting tin)
2. For the sponge separate your eggs placing the yolks in a big bowl
3. Whisk yolks until they thicken, then add the caster sugar and continue to stir until the mixture thickens further
4. Sift your cocoa powder in and mix together
5. In a separate bowl mix your egg whites until they form stiff peaks
6. Fold the egg whites into your chocolate mixture. Mix them in carefully so you don’t loose the air
7. Pour the mixture into your tin and bake for 20 mins
8. Once cooked remove from the oven and leave for 5 mins to cool
9. Before the cake has completely cooled take a clean tea towel and sprinkle with icing sugar. Place your sponge on the tea towel and carefully roll. Wrap the tea towel around and leave to cool. It is important to do this stage before the cake cools completely.
10. For the icing melt the chocolate in a double boiler and leave to cool
11. Cream butter and icing sugar together. When the chocolate has cooled stir in.
12. For filling whisk double cream until it is thick
13. To put together carefully unroll your sponge and place onto board fill with cream and roll back together again. If you have any cracks or breakages don’t panic as you can cover this with icing
14. Then ice your log. Run a fork through the icing to make it look more log like and sprinkle with icing sugar. 

So there you go, the Yule Log recipe as far as I am concerned. Have fun making!

And if I don’t write until after the Big day have a very Happy Christmas!!