Buche de Noel

BucheDeNoel
Today has been a trial of nerves. This recipe has been tweaked until it works EVERY time. The original recipe was too frustrating.
Cake
3 eggs
3/4 c sugar
1/3 c water
1 tsp vanilla - LorAnn is the best
1 c flour
1/4 c cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Whipped cream
1 c heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla
4 T sugar
Whip the cream until it's fairly stiff and then fold in vanilla and sugar.

1/4 c walnuts -- finely chopped

Chocolate Frosting
2 oz unsweetened chocolate squares
1/2 c butter or margarine -- softened
2 tsp vanilla
2 c confectioner's sugar
2 tbsp milk

Line a 15x10x1 jelly-roll pan with well-greased foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang at each end of pan. In large bowl beat eggs until foamy; gradually add sugar and beat 10 more minutes. Stir in water. Sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Sift again into egg mixture and fold using a whisk making sure to break up any powdery lumps. Spread in pan and bake at 375° 12 minutes or until pick comes out clean. Don't overbake. Loosen edges and lift from pan by ends and invert on a flour sack towel (not terry) sprinkled with powdered sugar. Remove foil carefully. (Actually, mine fell right off as I turned it onto the towel.) Cool 5 minutes, sprinkle with powdered sugar, then roll with towel in between. Cool. Unroll and spread with whipped cream and sprinkle nuts on cream. Re-roll without towel. Place on plate and frost. If you're creative, draw bark lines or wood grains in the frosting with a toothpick to make the log look a little more realistic. Sprinkle some finely chopped walnuts on the frosting. Chill. Cut in 1-inch slices.

CHOCOLATE FROSTING: Melt chocolate in microwave. Cream butter until fluffy. Blend in chocolate and vanilla, beat in sugar and milk. This stuff is deadly. Try to get most of it on the Yule log. OK to lick beaters afterward. This freezes well, but SLICE BEFORE FREEZING OR THE FROSTING WILL CRACK.

Hint:  There's usually a little leftover frosting that you can spread between graham cracker squares for grandkid treats.  Chill in an airtight container.

1 comment:

  1. Oh my word this looks good! Aleigh is going to "try" to make it this weekend! I'll let you know...it's nice knowing "real" cooks..like you! love ya..Ang

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