Make a Chocolate Yule Log

This delectable chocolate and cream sponge cake is ideal to serve over the Christmas period. The recipe is so simple and delicious that you'll probably want to make it at other times of the year also!

Serves 8

For the log:

 * 6 large eggs, unseparated
 * 140 g / 5 oz caster sugar (very fine grained processed sugar)
 * 60 g / 2 oz cocoa powder
 * 220 ml / 7.9 fl oz double cream

For the chocolate sauce:

 * 230 g / 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate
 * 2 large eggs, separated
 * 2 Tbsp water
 * Icing sugar for dusting
 * A knob of butter for greasing

Steps

 * 1) Preheat the oven. Set the oven to 180ºC, 350ºF or gas mark 4.
 * 2) [[Image:Yulelog2.png|160px|thumb|right]]Break the chocolate. To begin making the chocolate sauce, break the chocolate roughly into pieces into the metal bowl then add water.
 * 3)  [[Image:Yulelog3.png|160px|thumb|right]]Melt the chocolate. Place a saucepan onto a high heat, half filled with water and bring it to a simmer. Put the bowl of chocolate on top of the pan and allow it to melt, stirring occasionally. This will take about 5 minutes. Once melted, remove from the heat and mix into a smooth paste.
 * 4)  Mix in the egg yolks.  Pour the two egg yolks into a separate large bowl. Using the whisk, beat them lightly. Spoon in the melted chocolate and stir well.[[Image:Yulelog4.png|160px|thumb|right]] [[Image:Yulelog5.png|160px|thumb|right]]
 * 5) [[Image:Yulelog6.png|160px|thumb|right]]Whip the egg whites.  Tip the two egg whites into a large bowl. Using the mixer on a high setting, whip into soft peaks.
 * 6)  [[Image:Yulelog7.png|160px|thumb|right]]Add egg whites. Into the bowl of melted chocolate, spoon in the stiffened egg whites with your spatula and gently begin to fold in. This keeps the air in and creates a light, fluffy consistency.
 * 7)  [[Image:Yulelog8.png|160px|thumb|right]]Seal and chill.  Cover the bowl with cling film (plastic food wrap) and seal tightly. Place in the fridge and chill for at least 1 hour.
 * 8)  [[Image:Yulelog9.png|160px|thumb|right]]Grease the paper. Coat the paper on the baking tray with a layer of butter.
 * 9)  [[Image:Yulelog10.png|160px|thumb|right]]Make the sponge.  Add the six egg yolks into a large bowl and whisk briefly until they begin to slightly thicken. Add the caster sugar (fine sugar) and whisk again for roughly 30 seconds. Finally, add the cocoa powder and whisk well.
 * 10) [[Image:Yulelog11.png|160px|thumb|right]] Whip the egg whites.  Take the egg whites from the six eggs and put them into a large bowl. With the mixer on a high setting, whip until the whites form soft peaks.
 * 11) [[Image:Yulelog12.png|160px|thumb|right]]Add egg whites.  Add the stiffened egg whites to the chocolate mix and fold in with the spatula.
 * 12) [[Image:Yulelog13.png|160px|thumb|right]]Layer the chocolate mix. Pour the chocolate mix into the relined baking tray and smooth to the edges with the spatula.
 * 13)  [[Image:Yulelog14.png|160px|thumb|right]]Bake. Place the tray into the centre of the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until it becomes spongy.
 * 14)  [[Image:Yulelog15.png|160px|thumb|right]]Allow to cool in the tray for 5 minutes or so once it is baked, then roll the sponge up using a clean and dry tea towel dusted with powdered sugar. Then, allow the rolled up cake to cool completely for roughly 30-45 minutes.
 * 15)  [[Image:Yulelog17.png|160px|thumb|right]]Whip the cream.  Pour the cream into a bowl and with the electric mixer switched on to a high setting, whip the cream for roughly 3 minutes to form soft peaks.
 * 16)  [[Image:Yulelog16.png|160px|thumb|right]]Unroll the cooled cake carefully and remove the paper.
 * 17)  [[Image:Yulelog17.png|160px|thumb|right]]Spread the mix. Spread the chocolate mix evenly, all over the cooled sponge, then spread over the whipped cream.[[Image:Yulelog18.png|160px|thumb|right]]
 * 18)  [[Image:Yulelog19.png|160px|right]]Roll into a log. Carefully re-roll up the cake to make a log, rolling from the shortest side. Hopefully it won't crack as rolling it up while still warm will prevent this happening.
 * 19)  [[Image:Yulelog20.png|160px|thumb|right]]Dust and serve. Sprinkle some icing sugar over the Yule Log and it's ready to serve. Alternatively the roll can be covered with melted chocolate and then sprinkled with powdered sugar

Tips

 * Preparation time is approximately 15 minutes; cooking time 25 minutes.
 * If you turn out the cake while warm onto a clean tea towel dusted with powder sugar and roll once prior to adding the filling, the cake should not crack during the rerolling process. This is initially a chocolate sponge cake and should be treated just as one would a jelly roll.

Things You'll Need

 * 2 baking trays relined with parchment paper
 * 1 saucepan
 * 1 spatula
 * 1 whisk
 * 1 wooden spoon
 * 1 electric mixer
 * cling film (plastic food wrap)
 * 3 large bowls
 * 1 small bowl
 * 1 Clean and dry tea towel

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Make a Christmas Cake
 * How to Make Chocolate Frosting
 * How to Make Buttercream Frosting

Sources and Citations

 * VideoJug A video of making a Yule Log. Shared with permission.