Kumquat And Chocolate Yule Log Recipes

CHOCOLATE YULE LOG

Steps:

• Whip powdered sugar, butter, cocoa powder, salt, and coffee liqueur together in the bowl of a stand mixer on high speed. Transfer buttercream into a separate bowl and add mascarpone cheese. Mix until combined; set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Brush a little melted butter over a 13x18-inch rimmed sheet pan. Line pan with parchment paper and brush remaining melted butter on top.
• Combine cocoa powder, salt, and flour together in a bowl; whisk or sift to break up clumps.
• Place eggs in the clean bowl of your stand mixer. Add sugar and whip until fluffy, thick, and very light in color. Add 1/2 of the cocoa powder mixture and vanilla extract; mix on low speed for a few seconds. Beat in remaining cocoa mixture on low for a few seconds. Switch to high speed; stop once mixture is moistened but not fully blended. Pull off the whisk attachment and whisk batter with it until evenly blended.
• Pour batter onto the prepared sheet pan and spread out with a spatula, leaving some room around the edges. Tap pan on the counter to knock out the large bubbles.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is dry and edges start to pull away from the sides, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Dust a clean kitchen towel with enough powdered sugar to cover an area slightly larger than the sponge cake. Remove cake from the oven. Run a knife around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle some powdered sugar over the top. Run a spatula under the parchment paper to make sure it's not stuck to the pan.
• Quickly flip pan on top of the sugared area to invert the cake. Remove parchment paper and dust cake with more powdered sugar. Gently roll cake up inside the towel; allow to cool for 15 minutes.
• Unroll cake and dollop buttercream on top, reserving some for later. Spread frosting to the edges. Roll cake up over the frosting, using the towel to lift it if needed. Sprinkle more powdered sugar on top. Wrap log in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
• Combine chocolate chips and hot cream in a bowl. Let sit for 1 minute. Whisk until chocolate melts.
• Make an angled cut 3 inches from one end of the log. Place log on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Apply some buttercream to the angled slice and attach it to one side. Spread a layer of ganache all over the cake, except for the swirls. Refrigerate for 15 minutes to firm up ganache.
• Carve lines into the ganache using the tip of a knife to create the appearance of tree bark. Refrigerate until completely chilled before serving. Dust with cocoa powder and powdered sugar.

KUMQUAT AND CHOCOLATE YULE LOG

Steps:

• Prepare the marmalade: Trim and discard the ends of the kumquats, slice the kumquats into 1/8-inch/1/4-centimeter rounds and discard the seeds (pips). If using tangerines, quarter them lengthwise then cut them into 1/8-inch/1/4-centimeter-thick slices. Transfer the fruit, star anise, cinnamon, vanilla and 2 cups/450 milliliters water to a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until the fruit has softened, about 10 minutes.
• Add the sugar and lemon juice and cook, stirring often, until the marmalade darkens and has a loose, jam-like consistency, adjusting the temperature as necessary to maintain a rapid bubble, 15 to 25 minutes, depending on the juiciness of your fruit. (You don't want to overcook the marmalade, as it will continue to thicken as it cools.)
• Remove from the heat and stir in the orange juice and Cognac. Let cool at least 1 hour. Discard the star anise and cinnamon sticks.
• Prepare the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit/170 degrees Celsius. Grease the base and sides of a 9-by-13-inch/23-by-33-centimeter jellyroll pan (Swiss roll tin) with butter. Line the base with parchment paper, grease the paper and set aside.
• Melt 2 1/2 tablespoons/35 grams butter and 1 ounce/35 grams chocolate in a large heatproof bowl set over a medium saucepan of simmering water over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until melted, 2 to 3 minutes, then set aside to cool. Sift the flour, coffee powder, salt, baking powder, baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and 1/4 cup/20 grams cocoa powder into a medium bowl and set aside.
• Place the eggs, yolks, brown sugar and zest in the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the whisk attachment, whisk the mixture on high speed until thick, pale and tripled in volume, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium-low, add the melted chocolate mixture, and mix until combined, about 30 seconds.
• Using a spatula, gently fold in the flour mixture. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan (tin) and smooth it into an even layer. Bake until the cake has just set and springs back slightly to the touch, 6 to 8 minutes. (The cake will continue to cook as it cools, so resist the urge to overbake.) Let cool for 5 minutes.
• Sift 1 1/2 teaspoons cocoa powder over the top of the cake, then cover with a clean tea towel. Place a wire rack on top of the towel and quickly flip the cake over, removing the pan and paper. Sift the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons cocoa powder over the top of the cake. With one of the shorter ends facing you, roll the still-warm cake lengthwise into a roulade, with the towel inside, and let cool completely.
• Prepare the caramel shards: Line a small baking sheet (tray) with parchment paper. Add the sugar and 1 tablespoon water to a small saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, gently swirling the pan until the sugar melts and the caramel turns a medium amber color, about 5 minutes. Immediately pour the caramel onto the prepared sheet and spread it out as thinly as possible using an offset spatula. Let cool until firm.
• Prepare the date-and-orange cream: Add the dates, orange zest and juice, Cognac and star anise to the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the paddle attachment, mix on medium-low speed until the dates are roughly crushed, about 30 seconds. Add the cream and mascarpone, increase the speed to medium-high and continue mixing until soft peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes. (You can make the cream 1 day in advance and keep it refrigerated.)
• Prepare the meringue topping: If necessary, reheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit/170 degrees Celsius. Add the sugar to a small baking pan (roasting tin) lined with parchment paper and warm in the oven, 8 minutes. Meanwhile, place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer. When the sugar is 1 minute away from being done, using the whisk attachment, whisk the eggs whites on medium-high speed until frothy.
• Turn the mixer off and carefully add the hot sugar, using the parchment paper as a funnel (chute). Increase the speed to high and whisk the meringue until stiff peaks form and the mixture is no longer grainy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the mixing bowl as necessary. Spoon 1/2 cup/70 grams into a piping bag and set aside.
• Assemble the roulade: Gently unroll the cake but keep it on the tea towel. Using an offset spatula (or a regular spatula if you don't have one), spread the date-and-orange cream evenly over the top of the cake, leaving a 1-inch/2-centimeter border at the short end farthest away from you. Distribute 1/2 cup/125 grams marmalade over the top of the cream by small spoonfuls and gently spread it out using the back of the spoon.
• Starting with the short end closest to you, carefully roll the sponge into a roulade, using the cloth to help you. Dust the top of the cake lightly with confectioners' sugar and carefully transfer the roulade, seam side down, to a serving plate.
• Melt the remaining 35 grams/1 ounce chocolate over a double boiler set over low heat, then drizzle the roulade with the melted chocolate and leave to set slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Snip the end off the piping bag and pipe 1-inch-/3-centimeter-tall decorative spikes along the top of the roulade. (Pipe the remaining meringue mixture into small kisses and bake separately, if you wish.) Use a blowtorch to burn the meringue so it is scorched in spots. At this point you can refrigerate the roulade for a few hours, until ready to serve.
• To serve, break the caramel into 2-inch/5-centimeter shards and stick them haphazardly into the meringue topping. Using a small fork, pick out pieces of citrus from the remaining marmalade and distribute them in between the shards. Use the chocolate shavings to fill any gaps in your decorations and serve.

CHOCOLATE AND COFFEE YULE LOG

Steps:

• For Kahlua simple syrup:
• Add the granulated sugar and water to a small saucepan over medium heat and whisk until the sugar is completely dissolved. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat and add the liqueur.
• Stir to combine and allow syrup to cool completely.
• For Biscuit Roulade:
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter and flour a 15 by 10 by 1-inch jelly roll pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper and butter and flour the paper.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, and cocoa in a small mixing bowl, set aside.
• Beat egg yolks in a medium mixing bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until thick and lemon colored, about 5 minutes. Gradually add 1/2 cup of the sugar, beating on high speed until the sugar is dissolved. Thoroughly wash and dry the beaters. Beat egg whites in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Slowly add the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar, beating on medium speed until stiff peaks form.
• Carefully fold the egg yolk mixture into the egg whites, using a rubber spatula. Once all of the egg yolk mixture has been incorporated, sprinkle the flour mixture over the egg mixture and fold in gently, just to combine.
• Spread the batter evenly into the prepared jelly roll pan. Bake until the cake springs back when lightly touched near the center, about 12 to 15 minutes.
• Lay out a clean, thin cotton kitchen towel on a work surface; dust the top with confectioners' sugar and set aside.
• Immediately after removing the cake from the oven, loosen the edges of the cake from the pan using a knife.
• Turn cake out onto the sugared kitchen towel, parchment paper side up. Carefully pull off the parchment paper.
• Fold towel over the longest side of the cake and roll up the cake with the towel inside.
• Cool on a rack with the seam side down.
• For Coffee Buttercream:
• Bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat. Remove from heat and add the coffee grinds; allow to steep for 5 minutes. Strain through a coffee filter into a small bowl and set the coffee concentrate aside.
• Mix the remaining 1/2 cup of water and sugar in a heavy 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Clip a candy thermometer to the pan and heat to 240 degrees F, soft-ball stage, 18 to 20 minutes. Keep the edge of the saucepan clean by brushing it with a pastry brush moistened with water, as needed.
• Once the temperature reaches 240 degrees F, remove the candy thermometer and remove the saucepan from the heat.
• Beat the egg whites in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Gradually pour the hot mixture, in a thin stream, over the whites while continuing to beat for 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed and continue to beat until a meringue forms.
• Add the butter all at once, and beat on medium speed until incorporated. Increase speed to high and continue beating until smooth and shiny, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the vanilla extract and coffee concentrate and mix for 1 minute until combined. Set aside.
• For Chocolate Ganache:
• Put the chocolate, butter, and honey in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
• Heat the whipping cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until it begins to boil, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and pour the cream into the chocolate mixture. Whisk until smooth.
• Set aside and allow the ganache to come to room temperature.
• To Assemble:
• Unroll the cake and remove the towel. Using a pastry brush, "baste" the cake with the coffee-based liqueur simple syrup.
• Evenly spread the coffee buttercream over cake to within 1-inch of the edges. Reroll the cake to form the "log." Arrange, seam side down, on a serving platter.
• Spread the chocolate ganache over the top and sides of the cake. Score the ganache with the tines of a fork to resemble the bark on a log. Decorate as desired and refrigerate for 1 hour to let the ganache set.