Bûche De Noël With Ganache Recipes

BûCHE DE NOëL WITH GANACHE

Steps:

• In medium bowl, place chopped chocolate. In 1-quart saucepan, heat 2/3 cup of the whipping cream to simmering over medium heat. Remove from heat; cool 1 minute. Pour hot cream over chocolate; stir until smooth. Let stand 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until ganache is thickened.
• Heat oven to 375°F. Grease 15x10x1-inch pan with shortening. Line with waxed paper; grease paper with shortening. In large bowl, beat egg yolks and 1/2 cup of the sugar with electric mixer on high speed until thick and lemon colored. On low speed, beat in oil and vanilla.
• In medium bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, beating on high speed until stiff peaks form. Gently fold egg whites into egg yolk mixture. Sift flour, 1/4 cup cocoa and the salt over batter; fold gently until blended. Pour into pan, spreading batter to corners.
• Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center. Meanwhile, generously sprinkle clean towel with cocoa. Immediately loosen cake from edges of pan; turn upside down onto towel. Carefully remove waxed paper; trim off edges of cake if necessary. While hot, starting with long side, carefully roll up cake; place on cooling rack. Cool at least 30 minutes.
• In chilled medium bowl, beat remaining 1 cup whipping cream, 2 tablespoons sugar and liqueur on high speed with electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Unroll cake; remove towel. Spread whipped cream over cake. Roll up cake. Cut 2-inch diagonal slice from 1 end of cake roll. Place cake on serving platter; position cut piece against side of cake roll to look like a knot, using about 1 tablespoon ganache to attach to cake. Frost cake with remaining ganache. With tines of fork, make strokes in ganache to look like tree bark. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Garnish with sugared cranberries and rosemary sprigs.

BUCHE DE NOEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whip cream, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until thick and stiff. Refrigerate.
• In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat egg yolks with 1/2 cup sugar until thick and pale. Blend in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla, and salt. In large glass bowl, using clean beaters, whip egg whites to soft peaks. Gradually add 1/4 cup sugar, and beat until whites form stiff peaks. Immediately fold the yolk mixture into the whites. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the cake springs back when lightly touched. Dust a clean dishtowel with confectioners' sugar. Run a knife around the edge of the pan, and turn the warm cake out onto the towel. Remove and discard parchment paper. Starting at the short edge of the cake, roll the cake up with the towel. Cool for 30 minutes.
• Unroll the cake, and spread the filling to within 1 inch of the edge. Roll the cake up with the filling inside. Place seam side down onto a serving plate, and refrigerate until serving. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.

BUCHE DE NOEL

Steps:

• Make chocolate genoise and mousse, ganache icing, and meringue mushrooms.
• To assemble cake, carefully unroll genoise on the back side of a baking sheet (discard the plastic wrap and waxed paper, but keep the towel). Spread chocolate mousse evenly on cake to within 1 to 2 inches of one long end. Reroll cake, starting from other long end, using towel to help roll it. Cover with plastic wrap; chill until firm, about 1 hour.
• Place cake, seam side down, on a serving platter; tuck parchment around it to keep platter clean while decorating.
• Whip ganache at medium speed until it has the consistency of soft butter. Cut two wedges off ends of cake at a 45-degree angle; set aside. Ice log with a thin layer of ganache. Attach wedges on diagonally opposite sides of log. Spread ganache all over log, using a small spatula to form barklike ridges. Chill until ganache is firm, about 30 minutes.
• In the top of a double boiler or in a heatproof bowl set over simmering water, melt chocolate until smooth. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Spread melted chocolate 1/8 inch thick over parchment. Refrigerate until cold, 10 to 15 minutes. Roll paper back and forth until chocolate splinters; sprinkle over cake. Chill cake until ready to serve.
• When ready to serve, arrange meringue mushrooms around and on cake, and dust lightly with confectioners' sugar.

BûCHE DE NOëL (A FRENCH CHRISTMAS DESSERT) RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Make the chocolate sponge cake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a roll cake baking pan or 18 x 13-inch (45 x 33 cm) baking sheet with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and 3 tablespoons of sugar until the sugar is dissolved.
• Whisk in the milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla until smooth. Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, and cornstarch and whisk until smooth.
• In a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites on medium speed until frothy, about 2 minutes. Add the cream of tartar and whip on medium-low speed for 2 minutes, then gradually add the remaining ½ cup (100 G) superfine sugar. Whip on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, another 2-3 minutes.
• Fold the egg white mixture into the egg yolk mixture until just combined, taking care not to overmix.
• Spread the batter evenly on the prepared pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until fluffy and the cake springs back when gently pressed.
• Drape a kitchen towel over the cake and set a wire rack on top. Carefully invert the cake onto the rack, peel back the parchment from the bottom, and let cool for 10 minutes. Carefully roll the cake into a log with the towel inside and allow to cool completely.
• While the cake cools, make the chocolate hazelnut buttercream: In a large bowl, beat the butter and powdered sugar with an electric hand mixer on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to high and whip for 2-3 minutes, until light and fluffy.
• Reduce the speed to low and add the milk, vanilla, and salt. Whip again for 2-3 minutes until well incorporated and the buttercream is light, bright white, and fluffy.
• Fold in the chocolate-hazelnut spread with a rubber spatula. Cover with a kitchen towel or place wrap and set aside at room temperature.
• Make the ganache: Place the chopped chocolate in a medium bowl. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Stir until the chocolate is melted. Refrigerate the ganache for at least 30 minutes to firm.
• Make the meringue mushrooms: Reduce the oven temperature to 200°F (93°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar with an electric hand mixer until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes.
• Gradually add the sugar and whip until dissolved and stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes more. The mixture should be glossy, shiny, and very stiff.
• Transfer the mixture to a piping bag fitted with a medium round tip. Pipe half of the meringue onto the prepared baking sheet in ½-1 inch (2.54 cm) wide circles resembling mushroom caps. Use your fingers to gently press down any peaks. Pipe the remaining meringue into ½-1 inch (2.54 cm) long stems. Dust the mushrooms with cocoa powder.
• Bake for 1½-2 hours, until the mushrooms are completely dried and hard to the touch. Turn off the oven and leave the mushrooms dry out in the oven for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight. The mushrooms can be made 1-2 days ahead.
• Assemble the mushrooms: Dip the flat sides of the mushroom caps in the melted chocolate and attach the mushroom stems. Stand the mushrooms upright and let dry, 30-45 minutes.
• Make the sugared cranberries and rosemary: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and top with a wire rack.
• In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup (200 G) sugar and the water. Bring to a boil, whisking to dissolve the sugar. Drop the cranberries into the syrup and stir to coat, then remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to one side of the wire rack. Let cool for at least 1 hour, until no longer sticky, then sprinkle cranberries with ¼ cup (25 G) sugar. Set aside.
• Bring the remaining syrup to a boil. Add the rosemary sprigs and stir to coat, then remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to the other side of the wire rack. Let cool for at least 1 hour, then sprinkle rosemary with the remaining ¼ cup (25 G) sugar. Set aside.
• Assemble the bûche de noël: Unroll the sponge cake.
• Spread 2 cups (230 G) of the chocolate-hazelnut buttercream. evenly over the cake, leaving a 1-inch (2.54 cm) border around all sides.
• Starting from one end, using the towel to help guide the rolling, roll the cake into a tight spiral. Place the cake, seam-side down, in the refrigerator to set, at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight.
• Unwrap the cake log from the towel and set on a serving platter.
• Remove the ganache from the fridge and transfer to a piping bag fitted with a medium star tip.
• Trim 2½ inches (6 cm) ( off one end of the cake log and attach to the center of the log with 2 tablespoons of the ganache to resemble a stump.
• Cover the entire log, starting at one end and piping lengthwise, with ganache.
• Arrange the sugared rosemary and cranberries and meringue mushrooms around the log. Dust with powdered sugar to resemble snow.
• The cake will keep in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 3 days.
• Slice and serve.
• Enjoy!

BUCHE DE NOEL CAKE (YULE LOG CAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 400ºF (204ºC) with the oven rack in the center.
• Line a sheet pan (13×18″) with parchment paper.
• Next, fill a saucepan with 2-3″ of water and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat until boiling.
• Then, reduce the heat to medium or until the water is simmering.
• In the bowl of your stand mixer, place the eggs, granulated sugar, and salt and blend together with a whisk.
• Next, place the bowl with the mixture on top of your simmering water. Do NOT let the bottom of the bowl hit the water.
• Using your whisk, stir the egg mixture slowly until the sugar granules dissolve (about 110ºF or 43ºC).
• Then, remove it from heat.
• Attach your bowl to your stand mixer with the whisk attachment.
• Add in your vanilla and whisk on high for 5-7 minutes until you reach the ribbon stage (see notes below). The mixture should triple in volume and lighten in color.
• Sift in 1/3 of your flour mixture and fold (see notes) the flour in gently without damaging the structure of your egg mixture. Repeat two more times with the flour until just combined.
• Spread the cake batter evenly into your parchment-lined sheet pan, and then spread it with an offset spatula or knife all the way to the edges of the pan. Do not grease your pan.
• Bake the cake at 400ºF (204ºC) for 8 minutes.
• Then, remove the cake from the oven and place it onto a cooling rack.
• Immediately use a paring knife to carefully cut the edge of the sponge away from the sides of the pan.
• Dust the surface of the cake with powdered sugar.
• Next, place another piece of parchment on top of the cake, and then another cooling rack, and flip over to release the cake from the pan.
• Remove the parchment paper carefully, and dust the surface with more powdered sugar.
• Place a tea towel over the top of the cake and carefully roll into a spiral going lengthwise.
• Finally, place it into the fridge to cool for one hour before filling it with your frosting. For more tips and tricks on making roll cakes, be sure to read my roll cake tutorial blog post.
• Start by sifting your powdered sugar and cocoa powder into the bowl of your stand mixer to remove any lumps. The cocoa powder especially loves to clump up and make these ugly specks in the finished buttercream.
• Now, add in your pasteurized egg whites (yes, they need to be pasteurized). If you cannot get any pasteurized egg whites, you can make my chocolate Swiss meringue buttercream instead.
• Mix everything together on low speed with the whisk attachment to combine it.
• Then, mix on medium speed (setting 2 on my Bosch Mixer, setting 4 on a KitchenAid) for 3-5 minutes to help the powdered sugar and cocoa powder dissolve properly.
• Next, add room temperature butter and mix it for 5-10 minutes on high speed.
• Next, you want to turn up the speed to high and begin whipping in air! I whip mine for 5-10 minutes. Once it no longer tastes buttery, it's done.
• Switch to the paddle attachment and mix it on low speed for 10-15 minutes. This is totally optional but will help to remove excess air bubbles and make the buttercream really smooth.
• Finally, you will switch to the paddle attachment and mix it on low speed for 10-15 minutes (totally optional) to remove excess air bubbles and make the buttercream really smooth.
• Measure out your chocolate and chop it finely if it's in big pieces so that it melts evenly.
• Heat your cream on the stovetop until steam just begins to rise from the surface. Whisk occasionally to prevent burning. Do not walk away or your cream could boil over.
• Pour your hot cream over the chocolate and push the chocolate down so it's all under the surface of the cream. Let the chocolate and cream sit for 5 minutes.
• Whisk the cream and chocolate together until it's smooth. Start with small circles in the center until the chocolate and cream start creating an emulsion.
• If you have lumps or un-melted chocolate, you can use an immersion blender to make your ganache super creamy and lump-free.
• First, preheat your oven to 225ºF (107ºC) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Bring 2 inches of water to a simmer in a pot.
• Place a clean stainless steel mixing bowl over the water. It should not touch the water.
• Combine your egg whites and sugar and whisk to combine. Occasionally whisk as it's heating to distribute the heat and dissolve the sugar.
• Once your egg whites are at 110ºF (43ºC) (or when you don't feel any grains of sugar between your fingers) you're ready to whip.
• Place the bowl on your stand mixer with the whisk attachment.
• Whisk on medium speed (setting 2 on my Bosch Mixer, setting 4 on a KitchenAid) for one minute.
• Then, add in the cream of tartar, salt, and flavoring.
• Next, bump the speed up to high and let it whip until you reach STIFF peaks.
• With a round piping tip, place your meringue into a piping bag and snip off the tip.
• Pipe your stems and caps (see the video in the recipe card for more tips on these).
• Bake them for 60 minutes, and then turn off the oven (but do not take out the cookies).
• Let them sit in the oven until they are completely cold. I like to leave mine in overnight.
• Poke a hole in the base of the mushroom and add a tiny bit of ganache or melted chocolate in the hole.
• Then, place the cap on the stem.
• Next, combine cocoa powder and vanilla.
• Splatter the tops of the mushrooms with a stiff paintbrush.
• Once your sponge cake has cooled for at least an hour, you can carefully unroll it and then fill the inside with a layer of chocolate buttercream.
• Then, roll the cake back up nice and tight lengthwise so there are no gaps in the filling.
• Place the cake into the freezer for about an hour or into the fridge overnight to chill the filling.
• Cut the ends of the roll cake off to reveal the swirl of filling.
• Then, cut off one more piece of the roll cake at a slight angle and place it on the side of the roll to represent a branch.
• Frost the outside of the Buche de Noel with chocolate ganache.
• Decorate the outside with some of your meringue mushrooms, fresh cranberries, and sprigs of rosemary.
• Dust the whole cake lightly with some powdered sugar to look like freshly-fallen snow.
• Finally, chill before serving.

BUCHE DE NOEL (YULE LOG)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch jelly roll pan with 1 teaspoon butter and line with parchment paper. Grease parchment paper with 1 teaspoon butter.
• Whisk flour, cocoa powder, and salt together in a small bowl.
• Combine egg yolks, 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract in a bowl; beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until pale yellow, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Clean the beaters of the electric mixer. Beat egg whites in a bowl on medium-high speed until foamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar and beat until stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes more.
• Fold egg yolk mixture gently into the egg whites. Fold flour mixture in gradually until batter is smooth.
• Pour batter into the prepared jelly roll pan and spread evenly with an offset spatula.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool, about 30 minutes.
• Combine 1 cup heavy cream, 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, and sour cream in a bowl; blend with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Turn the jelly roll pan so the shorter side faces you. Spread whipped cream over the cake, leaving a 2-inch border at the top. Roll up cake toward the uncovered border, letting the parchment paper fall away as you roll. Place roll seam-side down on a serving platter.
• Place 1/2 cup heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until warmed through, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips. Let stand until chocolate softens, about 3 minutes. Stir with a spatula or wooden spoon until ganache is smooth and creamy.
• Drizzle chocolate ganache over rolled cake. Let stand until set, about 5 minutes. Run a fork through the ganache to create a tree bark effect.

BûCHE DE NOëL (YULE LOG)

Steps:

• If you want to decorate the cake with sugared cranberries and rosemary, start them the night before because they need to sit for several hours. Place cranberries and rosemary in a large bowl; set aside. In a medium saucepan, bring 1 cup of sugar and the water to a boil and whisk until the sugar has dissolved. Remove pan from the heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Pour sugar syrup over the cranberries and rosemary and stir to combine. Let the cranberries and rosemary sit at room temperature or in the refrigerator (lightly covered) for 6 hours or overnight. You'll notice the sugar syrup is quite thick after this amount of time. Drain the cranberries and rosemary from the syrup and pour 1 cup of sugar on top. Toss to coat. Pour the sugared cranberries and rosemary on a parchment paper or silicone baking mat-lined baking sheet and let them dry for at least 2 hours at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Spray a 12×17 inch baking pan with nonstick spray or grease with butter, so the parchment paper sticks. Then line it with parchment paper so the cake seamlessly releases. Spray or grease the parchment paper too. We want an extremely nonstick surface for this cake roll.
• Whisk the cake flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside until the next step. Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat the egg whites and 1/2 cup (100g) sugar together on high speed for 4-5 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Transfer to another bowl. Using the same mixing bowl you just had the egg whites in (no need to clean it), add the egg yolks, remaining sugar, oil, and vanilla extract. Beat together on high speed for 3-4 minutes or until thickened and light in color.
• Add half of the whipped egg whites into the egg yolk mixture. Beat on low speed for 10 seconds. Repeat with remaining egg whites and beat on low for 10 seconds. Add half of the flour mixture and beat on low or fold with a rubber spatula until combined. Repeat with remaining flour mixture. Avoid over-mixing and deflating those egg whites. Batter will be very light.
• Spread batter evenly into prepared pan. Gently bang the pan on the counter a couple times to pop any air bubbles. Bake for 18-19 minutes or until the cake springs back when lightly poked with your finger. Cake will look a little bubbly on top when it's done. That's ok. Avoid over-baking cake because it will crack if over-baked. As the cake bakes, get started on the next step.
• As the cake bakes, place a piece of parchment paper (larger than the cake) or a thin kitchen/tea towel flat on the counter. (Note: I find a kitchen towel is better to help prevent cracking.) Using a fine mesh sieve, dust parchment/towel with 3 Tablespoons (15g) of cocoa powder. Once the cake comes out of the oven, quickly run a knife around the edges to loosen it. Immediately invert it onto the parchment/towel. Peel off the parchment paper that was on the bottom of the cake as it baked. Starting with the narrow end, begin tightly rolling the hot cake up with the parchment/towel. Do this slowly and gently. The cake will be warm. Allow the cake to cool completely rolled up in the parchment/towel. Feel free to place it in the refrigerator to speed it up, about 3 hours and up to 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 200°F (93°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. In a completely clean residue-free large glass or metal mixing bowl, using a handheld mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg white, cream of tartar, and salt together on high speed until foamy, about 2 minutes- this is a small amount and the whisk on a stand mixer might not reach it, so whisk by hand until foamy if needed. With the mixer running on high speed, slowly add the sugar and beat until stiff glossy peaks form, about 2 more minutes. Snip off the end of a plastic bag or fit a round piping tip in a piping bag. I use and recommend Wilton 2A piping tip or any tip with around a 1/2 inch opening. Pipe quarter-sized circles (these will be the round mushroom tops) and 1-inch tall cones (these will be the stems). You will have enough meringue batter for about 16 mushrooms. I usually only make 8-12 and discard leftovers, but feel free to make all 16. Using a moistened finger (just a dab of water is fine), smooth down any peaks. If desired, lightly dust mushroom tops with cocoa powder using a fine mesh sieve. Bake for 2 hours. Do not open the oven as the meringues bake. Turn off the oven after 2 hours and let the meringues sit inside the cooling oven for 20 minutes. Remove meringues from the oven and cool completely. When they're just about cool, melt the 1 ounce of chocolate in a double boiler or use the microwave. If using the microwave, melt in 15 second increments, stopping and stirring between each until melted and smooth. Cool for 5-10 minutes. (Easier to adhere mushrooms if the melted chocolate is a bit cool.) Once meringues have cooled, use a flat spatula to remove them from the baking sheets. Dot a bit of chocolate onto the center of the bottom of a mushroom top. Adhere a mushroom stem to it. Place back on the baking sheet to set. If stems or tops still have a little peak, scrape off with a knife or your spatula, as you see me do in the video above. Leaning them against the rim is helpful if they keep toppling over. Repeat with remaining tops and stems to form mushrooms. Let chocolate cool and harden, about 1 hour.
• Remove the cake roll from the refrigerator and allow to sit on the counter for a few minutes to warm up as you prepare the whipped cream.
• Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream, Frangelico, confectioners' sugar, and cocoa powder on medium-high speed until medium to stiff peaks form, about 2-3 minutes.
• Gently and very slowly unroll the cake. Spread whipped cream evenly on top, leaving about a 1/2 inch border around the cake. I like using a large or small offset spatula to spread. Sprinkle chopped hazelnuts on top. Gently roll the cake back up, without the parchment/towel this time. Roll it slowly. This part is messy. Carefully place on a cutting board. If the exterior of the cake looks moist, dust with a little cocoa powder. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 days before shaping and topping with ganache.
• Place chopped chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small saucepan until it begins to simmer. (Do not let it come to a rapid boil- that's too hot.) Pour over chocolate, then let it sit for 2-3 minutes to gently soften the chocolate. Slowly stir until completely combined and chocolate has melted. Ganache will be thin, so it has to thicken before using. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour to thicken.
• Remove rolled cake from the refrigerator. Diagonally slice a 3-4 inch section off one end. At this point, I usually place the cake on a serving platter. Place the angled side against a side of the roll, forming a branch. Slowly pour and spread thickened ganache all over the top and sides of cake. Feel free to leave the cut ends exposed (as you see in these photos) or spread ganache over the ends- there should be plenty of ganache to use. Use a fork to make textured lines resembling tree bark. Feel free to wipe the serving plate if ganache dripped all over.
• Decorate with meringue mushrooms, sugared cranberries and rosemary, and a dusting of confectioners' sugar just before serving.
• Cover leftover cake and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.