Description
Delight in these festive Christmas Mini Yule Logs, a classic holiday dessert featuring a light cocoa sponge cake rolled with sweet vanilla whipped cream and finished with elegant chocolate shavings. Perfect for serving 8 guests and adding a touch of joy to your holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake:
- 4 large eggs
- 100g granulated sugar
- 75g all-purpose flour
- 25g cocoa powder
Filling and Decoration:
- 200ml heavy cream
- 50g powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Chocolate shavings for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) to prepare for baking the sponge cake.
- Beat Eggs and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, beat the 4 large eggs and 100g granulated sugar together until the mixture is fluffy and pale, which usually takes several minutes, ensuring a light sponge.
- Sift and Fold Dry Ingredients: Sift 75g all-purpose flour and 25g cocoa powder into the egg mixture, then gently fold the dry ingredients in to maintain the airy texture.
- Spread Batter: Spread the batter evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to create a thin layer for the sponge.
- Bake: Bake the sponge cake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until it springs back lightly when touched and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool and Roll: Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool slightly. Then, while still warm, roll the cake up gently in the parchment paper to set its shape and prevent cracking.
- Prepare Whipped Cream: Whip 200ml heavy cream with 50g powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract until stiff peaks form, creating a smooth, fluffy filling.
- Unroll and Fill: Carefully unroll the cooled cake, spread the whipped cream evenly over the surface, and then roll it back up tightly to enclose the cream.
- Chill: Place the rolled yule log in the refrigerator and chill for 1 hour to let the filling set and flavors meld.
- Decorate and Serve: Just before serving, decorate the yule logs with chocolate shavings for a festive, elegant finish.
Notes
- Make sure to fold the dry ingredients gently to preserve the airy structure of the sponge.
- Rolling the cake while slightly warm helps prevent cracks.
- You can substitute heavy cream with a dairy-free alternative if desired, but whipping performance may vary.
- The yule logs can be made a day in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator.
- For an extra festive touch, dust with powdered sugar or add red berries as garnish.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: European
Keywords: Christmas dessert, Yule log, holiday cake, chocolate sponge, whipped cream filling, festive sweets, holiday baking
