Red Velvet Yule Log Recipes

RED VELVET CAKE ROLL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan with parchment; grease paper., In a large bowl, beat eggs on high speed 3 minutes. Gradually add sugar, beating until thick and lemon-colored. Beat in buttermilk, oil, food coloring, vinegar and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into egg mixture. Beat on high speed 2 minutes. Transfer to prepared pan, spreading evenly., Bake 12-15 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched. Cool 5 minutes. Invert onto a tea towel dusted with confectioners' sugar. Gently peel off parchment. Roll up cake in the towel jelly-roll style, starting with short side. Cool completely on a wire rack., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until blended. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar and baking chocolate until smooth. Unroll cake; spread filling over cake to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up again, without towel; trim ends. Place on a platter, seam side down. Refrigerate, covered, at least 2 hours. If desired, place 1-in. strips of waxed paper across cake roll; dust lightly with additional confectioners' sugar. Carefully remove and discard strips.

RED VELVET YULE LOG

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Place large sheet of waxed paper on clean kitchen towel; set aside. Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray. Line with parchment or waxed paper; spray with additional cooking spray. Dust evenly with flour.
• Beat eggs in large bowl with mixer on high speed 5 min. (Eggs should be frothy and lemon colored.) Add cake mix, water and oil; beat on low speed 30 sec., then beat on medium speed 1 min. Pour 3-1/2 cups batter into prepared pan; spread to evenly cover bottom of pan. Gently tap filled pan on counter to remove any air bubbles. Spoon remaining batter into 6 paper-lined muffin cups.
• Bake cake and cupcakes 15 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Immediately invert cake onto prepared towel; remove pan. Carefully peel off parchment. Starting at one short side, roll up cake and towel together. Cool completely on wire rack. Meanwhile, transfer cupcakes to second wire rack; cool completely. Reserve cupcakes for another use.
• Beat pudding mixes and milk in medium bowl with whisk 2 min. Stir in 1 cup COOL WHIP. Unroll cake; remove waxed paper and towel. Spread pudding mixture onto cake. Reroll cake; wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 30 min.
• Mix cream cheese and sugar in medium bowl until blended. Stir in remaining COOL WHIP. Unwrap cake; place on platter. Frost with cream cheese mixture; sprinkle with coconut. Refrigerate 15 min.

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.

PEPPERMINT YULE LOG

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter and line a 12-by-17-inch jelly-roll pan with parchment paper. Butter and lightly flour parchment; set aside. Lay a kitchen towel on top of a wire rack, and dust with confectioners' sugar; set aside.
• Put egg yolks into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on high speed until pale, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl; set aside.
• Put egg whites into the clean bowl of the electric mixer fitted with the clean whisk attachment; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Raise speed to medium-high. Gradually add granulated sugar; beat until stiff peaks form. Gently whisk in food coloring. Transfer egg-white mixture to a large bowl.
• Fold beaten egg yolks into egg-white mixture. Sift cocoa powder and flour over top, and gently fold in. Pour into prepared pan, smoothing top with an offset spatula.
• Bake until cake springs back when touched, 10 to 11 minutes. Run an offset spatula or sharp knife around sides of pan; invert onto prepared towel. Remove parchment. Dust with confectioners' sugar.
• Starting at short end closest to you, roll cake in kitchen towel. Let cool completely, seam side down, on rack.
• Unroll cake. Using an offset spatula, spread with 2 cups Peppermint Frosting, leaving a 1/4-inch border on all sides. Starting at the short end closest to you, reroll cake (do not include towel this time). Transfer, seam side down, to a serving platter. Spread with remaining frosting. Sprinkle with crushed candy. Cake can be stored up to 5 hours at room temperature.

YULE LOG CAKE (BûCHE DE NOëL)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper, grease with cooking spray before and after paper. Dust with flour. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat egg yolks until thick with an electric mixer. Slowly add 1/2 cup granulated sugar and beat until pale yellow. Add flour mixture and beat until combined.
• In another large bowl, beat egg whites with and electric mixer until soft peaks form. Slowly add remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Gently fold egg whites into batter in tow batches. Pour batter into pan and spread in an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes.
• Dust a clean kitchen towel with powdered sugar and invert warm cake onto towel. Peel off parment paper. Starting at the short end, use the towel to tightly roll cake into a log. Let cool completely.
• In a large bowl, beat cream and powdered sugar until medium peaks form. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• When cake is cool, unroll and spread filling evenly over cake. Roll cake back into a log, using towel to help create a tight roll. Place seam side down on a baking sheet or serving plate. Trim the ends to create a clean cut (it looks prettier this way).
• In a large bowl using a mixer, beat butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and cocoa powder and beat until no clumps remaing. Beat in vanilla, cream and salt. Spread onto cake roll, top and sides. Garnish with cranberries, rosemary and a dusting of powdered sugar, if desired. It's ready to serve. Store leftover cake in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

RED VELVET YULE LOG

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Place large sheet of waxed paper on clean kitchen towel; set aside. Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray. Line with parchment or waxed paper; spray with additional cooking spray. Dust evenly with flour.
• Beat eggs in large bowl with mixer on high speed 5 min. (Eggs should be frothy and lemon colored.) Add cake mix, water and oil; beat on low speed 30 sec., then beat on medium speed 1 min. Pour 3-1/2 cups batter into prepared pan; spread to evenly cover bottom of pan. Gently tap filled pan on counter to remove any air bubbles. Spoon remaining batter into 6 paper-lined muffin cups.
• Bake cake and cupcakes 15 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Immediately invert cake onto prepared towel; remove pan. Carefully peel off parchment. Starting at one short side, roll up cake and towel together. Cool completely on wire rack. Meanwhile, transfer cupcakes to second wire rack; cool completely. Reserve cupcakes for another use.
• Beat pudding mixes and milk in medium bowl with whisk 2 min. Stir in 1 cup COOL WHIP. Unroll cake; remove waxed paper and towel. Spread pudding mixture onto cake. Reroll cake; wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 30 min.
• Mix cream cheese and sugar in medium bowl until blended. Stir in remaining COOL WHIP. Unwrap cake; place on platter. Frost with cream cheese mixture; sprinkle with coconut. Refrigerate 15 min.