The cake's construction may look intimidating, but it doesn't need to be overly complicated. The secret to making a perfect swirl is to roll the cake up while it's still hot from the oven. That way, the starches and proteins set in the cake's final shape and won't tear later.
The old-school method—and the most terrifying part of the process—is to flip the hot cake onto a sugar-dusted tea towel and roll it up. After years of holding my breath against breaks during the transfer, I finally started to question this process. One Christmas, I threw caution to the wind and just rolled the darn thing up in the parchment paper I'd baked it on. Guess what? It worked like a charm. By doing it this way, I got rid of the most painstaking task, which even experienced bakers find challenging.
Another way to set yourself up for success is to grease the baking sheet as well as the parchment itself. Although parchment is, by its very nature, non-stick, the extra fat ensures easy removal of the cake from both sides of the paper after it is rolled up and cooled.
In any case, don't sweat any cracks that might appear. Sometimes they just happen. The pillowy filling will glue it back together—and the shiny ganache will hide all flaws.
Chocolate Yule Log
PREP 45 MIN; TOTAL 2 HRS 40 MIN
SERVES 10
Cake
4 large eggs, separated
½ cup plus ⅓ cup granulated sugar, divided (99 g and 66 g)
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup all-purpose flour (60 g)
⅓ cup cocoa powder (28 g)
1 tsp baking powder
⅛ tsp fine sea salt
⅓ cup 2% milk, divided
Filling
Denne historien er fra Winter 2024-utgaven av Chatelaine (English).
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Winter 2024-utgaven av Chatelaine (English).
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
3 Toaster Ovens That Just Might Replace Your Actual Oven
This Cuisinart toaster oven is anything but toastersized. Its two racks are big enough to cook a 13-in.
Our Test Kitchen contributors dish on their favourite gift-worthy baking essentials.
Heavy-gauge cookie sheets are always the right choice. You can scrub them clean, they don't warp and they conduct heat evenly.
Sweet Dream
DEAD SIMPLE DESSERT
The Gift of Good Wine
The thought behind the selection counts for way more than what's in the bottle.
Just Roll With It
I AM DEEPLY OPPOSED TO DESSERTS that are fussy in preparation or decoration and lacking in taste payoff. But a yule log, also known as a bûche de Noël, is as spectacular to eat as it is to look at. This airy, cream-stuffed sponge cake is hands-down my favourite holiday dessert. (Ask anyone who has ever been to my house in December!) A glossy ganache bark, a handful of sugared cranberries and a few sprigs of rosemary make this seasonal stunner look like it came from a fancy bakery, but it's actually totally doable at home.
Vanilla Times Three
How to get the most bang for your buck from your beans, paste and extract.
"Finally, We're Being Heard"
For decades, members of an ultra-secretive Christian sect in Canada experienced abuse at the hands of those in power. Now, they're telling their stories-and I'm telling mine, too.
Challah Is For Lovers
Learning to make this bread was my way of connecting to Judaism. Learning to love the process changed me for the better.
Rewriting History
For decades, Tanya Talaga has told overlooked, underreported stories about Indigenous people. But in her latest project, the Anishinaabe journalist is telling her own.
Quebec City
This charming old-meets-new destination is perfect for a laid-back weekend filled with spectacular views, trendy shops and delicious food.
