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The traditional French dessert for this time of year is the Buche de Noel. Served of course at Christmas, but also at New Year’s Eve dinners such as we’ll be having at the end of this week.
The beauty of this dessert is that it’s rich without being heavy, and – most brilliantly – can be prepared ahead of time.
Behind the fancy French name, which only means Christmas log, there hides nothing more than a chocolate flour-free cake, rolled with a chestnut and cream filling.
The ingredients I use are:
FOR THE CAKE
9 eggs separated
225g / 1.13 cups sugar
75g / 0.375 cup cocoa powder
FOR THE FILLING
350g / 1.75 cups chestnut purée
2 spoons cream
FOR THE DECORATION
10fl oz cream
50g dark chocolate
First preheat your oven to 180 C and line a baking sheet with waxed or greaseproof paper.
Separate the eggs, and beat up the yolks with the sugar, until they pale slightly. Add the cocoa powder to the egg and sugar. Mix well.
Beat up the egg whites until stiff, add a large spoonful of egg white to the cocoa/egg mixture This will loosen up the mixture and make it possible to fold in the rest of the egg whites gently.
Pour the mixture into the lined baking tin and bake until firm and springy. This takes about 25 minutes.
Sprinkle another piece of waxed paper with icing sugar or cocoa powder and turn the slightly cooled cake out upside down. Gently peel the paper off the back of the cake and leave to cool.
Soften the chestnut purée in a bowl, then blend in the whipped cream. Spread this mix over the cooled cake, then using the paper roll the cake up. At this stage I tuck the paper firmly in all around the cake and leave it to set for a while in the fridge. Even overnight, no harm can come.
When you’re ready to decorate, then unwrap, cut a piece off each end of the
roll and position to resemble cut branches on a log!!
Gently cover with whipped cream, and draw lines of melted chocolate to look like lines on the bark. Carry to the table and prepare yourself for applause and gasps of amazement; this one is guaranteed to impress!!
![[blank]](https://91056248.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/buche-de-noel-2008070411.jpg){kind=link}
18 comments
This looks so delicious, I can't wait to try it!
Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful New Years Eve party!
hugs,
Sue
Liebe Sharon, sieht das lecker aus! Das werde ich bestimmt auch mal versuchen!
Danke!
Ich wünsche Dir schonmal einen guten Rutsch und ein glückliches neues Jahr!
Ganz viele liebe Grüße, Yvonne
wow I have never seen anything like this!
We were sent some of that chestnut spread this Christmas by our french friends and I had no clue how to eat it so I'm glad to see that you put it in a yule log. I've just written a post on our yule log to come out tomorrow.
This is one my mother always made! You present it beautifully!
This looks amazing, I can't wait to try it. Now to find chestnut spread?
It's almost too pretty to eat! I've never seen anything like it. I'd love to try it for New Years. A year for firsts 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
This looks gorgeous. And you're right about it being easy, delicious and not too heavy. It's a perfect Christmas dessert. I'd like to try your version – if I can locate chestnut puree here.
Oh Sharon…what a beautiful dessert….it reminds of my mother, Jacqueline, who never made a cookie in her life…but oh my oh my….she made creme puffs by the dozen….the oh so French dessert!!!
Xo
Jo
We're gonna have this the next time we have company even if it's the Buche d'Easter! Great directions that I can follow. Thanks so much!!
Dearest Sharon,
Thanks for sharing this lovely version of a Bûche Noël!
Have a great Year's Ending and a Happy New Year!
Love,
Mariette's Back to Basics
hello Sharon I MUST MAKE this confection !! Your blog is beautiful and congratulations on your 1 year anniversary
I started mine 2 weeks ago and im really enjoying meeting so many lovely people and wonderful experiences I WILL be following .
Fay da firenze xx happy New Year
Thank you so much for giving us this recipe!
Congratulations on your blogiversary.
Candylei
Oh my mouth is watering just reading the recipe!
Another great chocolate & chestnut Noel dessert! Loved this year's small puddings; will have to try this buche next year!
Pile ce qu'il me faut pour mon goûter!
J'adore la crème de marron.
Definately going to give this a try looks delicious, Thankyou :)Beverley
Can't wait to try this one!