This festive yule log cake is chocolate cake filled with whipped cream, rolled into the shape of a log, and coated with a chocolate ganache – a classic European holiday tradition! Serve with a White Hot Chocolate or Cranberry Mimosa for an extra festive celebration.
After Thanksgiving is over, I head into full Christmas mode. I’m assuming I have some sort of invisible switch that flips on at midnight after Thanksgiving that apparently indicates that Christmas mode is now activated.
- The tree and other Christmas decorations (however minimal they may be) went up the morning after Thanksgiving.
- I’m playing Christmas music in the house, almost exclusively.
- All baking involves Christmas cookies, peppermint, gingerbread, eggnog, and snowflake sprinkles.
Please tell me I’m not the only one.
I figured now is as good a time as any to put a Christmas log cake out there into the internet ether. Do you recall the most classic Christmas cake of aaaaaaaaaaaall?
(yes, that was sung to the tune of “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer”, shut up)
A Bûche de Noël!
What’s a Bûche de Noël?
If you’re not familiar, a Bûche de Noël (or “yule log”) is a traditional European dessert that’s served during the holidays, and it’s intentionally created to look like an actual yule log. It’s typically chocolate cake with a whipped cream filling.
Although not the same size as a real yule log, because sweetbabyjesus that would be a really big cake. That would be a yuleOMGCAKE.
Okay, now I kinda wanna make one. Can you imagine showing up to your family’s house with this log-shaped cake that’s the size of their Australian Shepard? Although, that would make a good story for future Christmases.
“Hey, remember that time that Leslie showed up to Christmas Eve with that giant cake that ended up all over the front door? And Snoopy’s face? And your niece?”
… good times.
What’s the difference between a yule log cake and a cake roll?
Cake rolls have no holiday affiliation, and a yule log is a cake roll that’s all dressed up for Christmas.
Just look at it, all fancy.
How to make yule log cake
I like my yule log cake to be simple: a light, spongey chocolate cake, lightly sweet whipped cream filling, and coated in a dark chocolate ganache. No crazy flavors or ingredients, and just the addition of some espresso powder to the cake to enhance the chocolate flavor.
For garnish, I like to top mine with a handful of fresh cranberries, a couple springs of rosemary, and a dusting of powdered sugar.
And for the ganache, I require a thick layer of ganache on the outside. I like to make enough that while I’m icing the cake, I’m thinking to myself, “Yikes, this is too much. OH GOD this is too much”, and then by the time I’m finished I remember that it’s exactly the right amount.
It’s kinda like when you’re making spaghetti and you keep adding more pasta to the pot, and then at the end you go, “OH GOD this is too much”, except this is the opposite of that.
Of which – why is spaghetti such a surprisingly difficult thing to measure the right amount of, even though you’re using the hole in the middle of the spaghetti spoon and it looks like it’s not enough so you add more than then remember that you’re an idiot and you should have trusted the spoon? WHY.
Okay, spaghetti rant over. And don’t make spaghetti – make this, and impress your family and friends with the presentation. I put very little effort into my design on the outside: I just drag a fork lengthwise across the top and down the sides.
You can do that, or use a toothpick or skewer to draw wavy lines lengthwise across the top, and in spirals on the ends. Or you can just use a small spatula to give it some wavy texture (I never seem to get this right, but it looks beautiful when it’s done right).
My top 2 tips for making yule log cake
#1: Don’t overbake it!
I repeat: do not overbake the chocolate cake.
Because we’re making this in the form of a very thin sheet, if it’s overbaked it will be too dry and it will crack when you try to roll it. It will also just taste less awesome because it won’t have enough moisture.
#2: Roll it as soon as you can
Similarly to the above, you want to avoid it getting too dry before you roll it because it will be too difficult to roll, won’t hold it’s shape, and could crack.
So only let the cake cool on the pan for a minute before you turn it out onto a kitchen towel and roll it into shape.
How to cut yule log cake
I know a lot of people like to slice off one end at an angle, and then attach it to one side so it really looks like a log, but I like to keep it simple. Easier to make, easier to plate, easier to serve. Easy.
Make it, slice it, serve it, and enjoy it. And then forget about the calories because it’s the holidays and spending precious time with loved ones is what matters… right? [shrug]
How to store yule log cake
Loosely cover the cake with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. I like to stick toothpicks into a few places on the cake so that the plastic wrap isn’t clinging directly to the cake itself.
Freezing a yule log
It’s better to store the yule log cake because it’s been frosted and decorated, but if you need to store it in the freezer after you’ve already covered it in the chocolate icing… it can be done.
Make sure you have enough space in your freezer to let the uncovered cake (on a baking sheet) set for at least an hour. At this point, the frosting should be hardened and you can wrap it in plastic wrap and store inside an airtight container or large bag for up to 3 months.
I recommend not fully decorating it until after you’ve thawed it and you’re getting ready to slice and serve.
Thawing a yule log
Keeping it covered, transfer the cake from the freezer to the fridge and let it thaw slowly for at least a day. Then you can place it on a counter (still covered) and let it come to room temperature.
If you uncover it before it’s come to room temperature, the frosting will form condensation. While it will still taste good, it wouldn’t be pretty!
After you’ve made this recipe, please consider coming back to share your experience with others by leaving a comment below with a star rating!
Yule Log Cake (Bûche de Noël)
Equipment
Ingredients
Chocolate cake:
- 4 eggs, separated and room temperature
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup cake flour
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon espresso powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Chocolate ganache frosting:
- 8 ounces bittersweet or dark chocolate, chopped
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- ¾ cup heavy cream
Whipped cream filling:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup powdered sugar, more or less, to taste
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
Instructions
Chocolate cake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 10x15 baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In the large bowl of a stand mixer, whip egg whites until soft peaks form. Set aside.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar until well combined and a pale yellow color. Add vanilla and whisk to combine. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together cake flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, espresso powder, and salt.
- Add the dry mixture to the bowl of egg yolk mixture and stir to combine - it will be very thick!
- Add half of the egg whites to the mixture and stir vigorously to combine completely.
- Gently fold in the other half of the egg whites. Take your time and, again, be gentle - you don't want to eliminate all the air you whipped into them.
- Pour batter onto the prepared pan, gently using a spatula to evenly distribute the batter.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cake is spongey and bounces back when touched.
- While it's baking, lay out a flour sack or kitchen towel on the counter and sprinkle it with a layer of powdered sugar.Tip: I like to use my flour sifter so that it's a relatively even layer and I don't miss any spots!
- Let the cake cool for a minute on the baking sheet, then carefully turn it out onto the towel and remove the parchment paper from the bottom.
- Starting from one of the short ends, roll the cake up (rolling the towel with it as you go). Lay the wrapped cake seam side down and let cool completely.
Chocolate ganache frosting:
- While the cake is baking, make the ganache. In a small heatproof bowl, combine chocolate, butter, vanilla and salt.
- In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream over low heat until you see the edges start to bubble. Remove from heat and pour over the bowl of chocolate mixture. Let sit for 5 minutes, then stir until completely combined and smooth. Set aside to cool (or place in the fridge until you're ready to use it - you'll just need to give it a stir once you take it out before you can frost the cake).
Whipped cream filling:
- In the large bowl of a stand mixer, whip heavy cream until soft peaks form.
- Add powdered sugar (to taste) and vanilla and whip until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
Assemble the cake roll:
- Once the cake is completely cooled, carefully unroll it. Using a spatula, add an even layer of the whipped cream filling to the top of the cake, leaving about ½" of space on the edges.
- Gently re-roll the cake and then move it, seam side down, to a serving platter.
- Use a spatula to coat the outside of the roll with the chocolate ganache frosting, on all sides.
- Time to make it look like a log! Here are a few suggestions:- Use a fork to drag lines down the ends and across the top, lengthwise.- Use a toothpick or skewer to draw lines lengthwise across the top, and in spirals on the ends.- Use a small spatula to give it some wavy texture.
- Let set, then garnish! My personal favorite is to top it with fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs, then a coating of powdered sugar. Slice, serve and enjoy!
Pam Griffitts
Outstanding flavor! My friend brought it for dessert, it was the best I have had. We usually buy professionally baked Yule logs but not anymore!
Leslie Kiszka
That’s amazing to hear!
Jennifer
Great. Easy to follow recipe that my tween daughters were able to follow and make. My whole family loved it. Served 10 people nicely. We made one addition that was a big success. We smashed 12 ounces of fresh raspberries into the whipped cream and decorated the outside with fresh raspberries. Everyone very impressed!
Averie
This was my first time making a log cake and it was definitely much easier than I anticipated! The instructions were clear, easy to follow, and it turned out beautifully. Will definitely be adding this to my holiday baking list every year!
Keerthi
Easy to follow and prepare. Got it right the first time :) Thanks for the recipe!
Leslie Kiszka
That’s so great to hear!
Kris
This was easy to make for a first timer and wasn’t a piece left! Great instructions so hard to fail if you follow them. I did not use coffee and spread a little strawberry jam down first then the filling
Leslie Kiszka
So glad you liked it!
Jennifer
We want to make this recipe but do not like anything coffee flavor. Do you taste the espresso powder at all? Can we just leave this out?
Leslie Kiszka
You don’t taste any coffee or espresso flavor at all – it just enhances the chocolate’s flavor. You could also leave it out, but I don’t recommend it for the best overall flavor in the end product.
Jennifer
@Leslie Kiszka, Great! We will try it as written and will let you know how it turns out.
Jennifer
@Jennifer, We made it for New Year’s Eve as directed except that we added a 12 ounces of smashed raspberries into the whip cream. We then decorated the outside with a few fresh raspberries as well. It was amazing and a huge hit amongst our family. Easy recipe to follow and came out perfectly. Served 10 people
Creighton
Great instructions easy to assemble everything. I just need to get better at the spreading the whip cream and the decorating needs a little work. I used mocha latte instead of espresso everything taste great. I will be making this one again.
Leslie Kiszka
I’m so glad you liked it!
Jackie Mahoney
This was the most delicious and impressive cake that I think I’ve ever made. The directions were clear and easy to follow, and the combination of the light whipped cream icing and the thick ganache was genius. We LOVED this cake, thank you so much!
Leslie Kiszka
I’m so glad you liked it – your comment made my day!
Paige
I made this for Christmas Day dessert and it came out so well. I accidentally forgot to add the vanilla to the cake batter but it didn’t end up mattering. The cake rolled up beautifully and didn’t crack. I added a few teaspoons of instant vanilla pudding mix to the filling to make it a little more stable. It was the perfect amount of filling. Thanks for the wonderful recipe!
Leslie Kiszka
I’m so glad you liked it – thanks so much for coming back to leave a comment!
Elaine Szalay
My first Yule log, and definitely won’t be my last! I couldn’t believe it came out just like the picture. The directions were very clear. This was the perfect desert for my son’s Christmas Eve birthday.
Leslie Kiszka
I’m so glad you liked it – thanks so much for coming back to leave a comment!
Erin Cole
Do you need to refrigerate untill serving? Will be several hours
Leslie Kiszka
Yep! Just loosely cover it and store it in the fridge.
ARLY DIETRICH
Hello Leslie,
this looks like a great recipe, which I am going to try making on Tuesday! If I make it 2 days before Christmas can I keep it in the fridge and icing it as well? Put it in an air tight container?
Thank you, Arly
Leslie Kiszka
I find that it’s best the day after it’s been made (just enough time for all the flavors to settle in), but up to 2 days before serving and stored in an airtight container should be okay. Happy holidays!
Susanne
This turned out great! It was my first roll cake and the instructions were easy to follow. The flavors are fantastic and it is the perfect size for the richness factor. Thank you so much!
Leslie Kiszka
I’m so glad you liked it! Thank you so much for coming back to leave a comment, and I hope you have a wonderful holiday!
Cyn
Is 1/2 cup of cake flour correct? This sounds like it is not enough flour.
Leslie Kiszka
Yep, that’s correct. You don’t want a lot of flour because it needs to be thin for when you roll it. If you add too much flour it will puff up and just crack/break when you try to roll.
Jasmine
I made this today and it turned out alright. The ganache was really good! Using it all was a little too much though. The only issue I had was that the cake is pretty dry. I’m not sure what I did wrong. I don’t think I overbaked it. I checked it several times and only took it out once it sprang back like the directions said. I was very gentle with the egg whites and didn’t lose any air. Is there an ingredient missing? Should there have been any fat, like oil or butter or maybe buttermilk, in the recipe? The only thing I did differently was that I used very finely ground coffee instead of espresso powder… could that have made it dry? Next time I’ll probably try a different cake recipe so that it’s not so dry. Still, we all enjoyed the buche de noel and it turned out looking very cute!
Leslie Kiszka
Oh no… you don’t want to use ground coffee as a substitute for espresso powder :( You can use instant coffee in a pinch because it will dissolve, but the ground coffee won’t interact the same and won’t dissolve, resulting in that dryness (and likely graininess) that you mentioned.
Shawn
Hello Leslie. This recipe looks wonderful. I have a 12 x16.5 pan and wondering if I doubled the recipe would this work out?
Nicole Strine
Very tasty and very simple recipe! The outcome is beautiful!
Leslie Kiszka
I’m so glad you liked it!
Cindy
I have made Noel logs and love them. I will try your sponge cake recipe for this years. I was wondering if any of this can be made ahead and frozen. Thanks!
Denise D
Loved it! Especially the ganache! I’ve made pumpkin rolls before, but this was my first Yule log. A definite new holiday tradition
Leslie Kiszka
Yay, I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for coming back to share your experience and a rating, it means a lot to me.
Gloria
Made today for party tomorrow. Had a 15×17 inch pan so made 1 1/2 x cake recipe. Came out perfect! Looks as pretty as yours, can’t wait to serve it. Never made a cake roll but the directions made it simple. Will be making again for New Years Day gathering! Thank you!
Leslie Kiszka
Gloria, you just made my day! I’m so glad that you liked it, and I thank you so much for coming back to share your experience :)
Jennifer
Hi,
I’m going to try this log cake for the first time tomorrow! Super excited. Just wanted to know one thing – I have a 12×14 inches baking sheet. So do I need to make any changes in the quantities for everything or these would work just fine? If yes, then by how much % would you recommend increasing the qty by?
Leslie Kiszka
Hi Jennifer, I hope you like it! Hopefully 12×14 will be okay – my recommendation would be to keep an eye on it as it bakes and be prepared to pull it out of the oven a bit sooner than indicated – you want the baked cake to be thin enough it can roll and wrap, but not so thin that it will fall apart when to try to roll it.
I apologize that I don’t have images of the batter when it’s poured out to make the explanation a bit easier, I’d like to add some in the near future.
Molly Ostrowski
I plan on making this for upcoming Christmas party how many days in advance can I make it?
Leslie Kiszka
I find that it’s best the day after it’s been made (just enough time for all the flavors to settle in), but up to 2 days before serving and stored in an airtight container should be okay.
Mary
Hi,‘I’m excited to try this for the first time to and my husband loves chocolate anything and it’s his birthday this weekend, so here goes nothing also Leslie I love your recipes and your comments in between, I sometimes literally laugh at loud happy holidays
Leslie Kiszka
You’re so sweet, Mary – thank you for the kind words! I love to hear that I can make others laugh :)
Susan G
Thank you for sharing cake looks delicious flour sack towel looks amazing.
Joan
This was the first time I ever attempted to make a Yule Log. I made it for Christmas Eve to bring to my cousin’s house. It came out perfectly, I was so amazed that the cake didn’t crack. It was so much easier than I thought it would be.
Leslie Kiszka
Thank you so much for coming back to share your experience and leave a rating – I’m so glad it worked out well and was easier than expected! Happy New Year :)
Jenn
Hi! Can you use a regular cake recipe and roll it? Or will it not work?
Thank you!
Leslie Kiszka
Nope :) Cake rolls have a much different ratio of wet to dry ingredients, as you want a different, thinner, more flexible texture that can be rolled and maintain its shape without breaking.
Good Canyon Goldie
I made this cake for the first time on Christmas Eve for a dinner party with 6 people (one woman was from France). I followed the thorough directions and it turned out perfect. It looked fabulous, tasted wonderful and won praise all around. Our French friend explained that it wasn’t easy to make (and I agree) and that sometimes they flatten or are dry, or the roll breaks. None of those disasters with this one! Success!
Leslie Kiszka
That’s so impressive for your first time – thank you so much for coming back to leave a comment and rating with your experience. Happy Holidays!
M
Good lord this website has a lot of ads. What a terrible experience. I won’t be back.
Leslie Kiszka
I’m sorry that you feel that way. Ad revenue is how I am able to support the costs of running this site (ingredients, equipment, hosting fees, etc.), and it’s how I’m able to provide these recipes for free, too! Please do feel free to use the “jump to recipe” button at the top of my post so you don’t have to scroll down, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you ever find an ad obstructing your ability to view the recipe card as that should never be the case and I’d want to get that fixed as soon as possible. I hope that helps, and hope your day gets better – happy holidays!
Lynsey
I always wanted to try a Yule log at Christmastime. We attempted this recipe today. The directions were very clear and easy to follow, and the cake turned out light and airy and delicious! My husband wasn’t a fan, but he doesn’t like chocolate cake in general (seriously!). My kids and I thought it was very good, and now are excited to try other cake rolls to see which we like the best!
Leslie Kiszka
Thank you so much for sharing your comment (and for leaving a rating)! I’ll never understand those no-chocolate people, ya know? ;)
Pat Zellers
My cake turned out very thin. I had no trouble rolling it up & it tasted good. I followed the recipe carefully so I don’t think I did anything wrong but it was only about 1/4 inch thick. We were able to eat it but I wouldn’t make it again
Leslie Kiszka
I’m not sure, but maybe your batter was spread out over a larger area than I usually do (10×15 sized pan)? I’m sorry it didn’t turn out as expected for you, but happy holidays!
Aay
Disappointing to spend so much time on this and have it taste so bland. The cake part was boring, tasteless, and chewy. The filling is good but I do not think the airy cream will hold over night. I wish I would not have strayed away from my original recipe.
Leslie Kiszka
I’m really disappointed to hear that as it’s a holiday favorite for myself and so many and I’ve always really loved the flavor. As for the chewiness, that usually indicates it was baked a tad too long. Regardless, I’m sorry it didn’t turn out as expected for you, but happy holidays!
Tracy
Ive had a really hard job making the Ganache its very lumpy and is not melted in five minutes – made two batches now I would love some feed back !! Irritated and definitely not a 10minutes prep just saying !!
Leslie Kiszka
I actually note that the baking time is 10 minutes, but the prep is 20 minutes. If your ganache was lumpy, it sounds like maybe your chocolate was old, and/or it was heated too long (as it will then start to seize up and get drier and clumpy). Sorry that making this recipe made you irritated, as that’s obviously not the goal – especially during the holidays. I’m sorry it didn’t turn out as expected for you, but happy holidays!
carol
Hi, I made the cake as per the instructions, unless everyone gets a tiny sliver of cake, the recipe as stated makes a tiny tiny cake. I called it a large Yodel. So the I made the cake again, this time doubling the recipe and then it came out perfect, enough to feed 10/12 people with some left over. The Yodel (my first try) became some twigs, which looked fine. The ganache came out delicious and the filling too. The sponge looked like it could have been a little dry but not sure since I didn’t try it yet. Overall not too difficult to make, it was rather fun!
Leslie Kiszka
I’ve never heard of this problem on this cake before and don’t know how that would happen, so I’m sorry to hear it. But glad it all worked out regardless, and thank you for leaving a comment and rating. Happy Holidays!
Silvana Gallagher
How long can the assembled cake be kept in the refrigerator? I would like to make it several days before Christmas. Thanks!
Leslie Kiszka
It should be fine for 2-3 days ahead of time. I would just wait to add garnish like cranberries, rosemary, powdered sugar, etc. until the day of!
Joanne
I’m really surprised by some of these reviews because this was great. We got eighht slices out of ours and it was moist and just chocolately enough without being sickeningly sweet like some cakes. Everyone loved it at Christmas eve. Thanks
Leslie Kiszka
Thanks for your feedback and leaving a rating, it’s a favorite of ours!
Emily H
The sponge cake part worked out great as far as not cracking goes. Unfortunately my ganache split, but that was my fault, not the recipe’s (keeping a 6 month old entertained while making this was challenging). The overall flavor was good, but not great. I’ve seen some recipes with a cream cheese based inner filling, which might be better. The whipped cream center made it seem a bit basic. Going to try to jazz it up a little on my second attempt. I’d give it 4 stars. It works, but not a “wow” flavor.
Leslie Haasch
I appreciate your feedback! This is the “classic” recipe where the filling is quite simple, but it’s easy enough to swap out for a cream cheese filling if that’s more your preference. Check out my gingerbread cake roll (https://stressbaking.com/gingerbread-eggnog-cake-roll/), that one has a cream cheese filling that you might enjoy. Thanks again for stopping by, and happy holidays!
Natalie
Wow this log cake is just beautiful. I love the decoration and pictures are mouth-watering. Wish for a slice right now.
Marisa Franca
A wonderful dessert and a real show stopper. I made one years and years ago. That was before we were taking photos of our creations. Wish I would have. Your yule log is beautiful — you did an excellent job of decorating and it looks like it would be as light as a cloud. Yummy!!
Georgie
Omg! I saw this on the great British bake off on their holiday edition and fell in love! This looks superb and so beautifully decorated ?
Saima
Wow! Another reminder that Christmas is just round the corner! The pictures are amazing and I want to just reach out and grab a piece. I’m sure it tastes as good as it looks. Your recipe practically guarantees that.
Kathryn
I’ve always wanted to make a Yule Cake – pinning this for later so I can give it a try!
Amanda M Mason
I’ve never had, much less, made a yule log but this one looks amazing! I’m going to have to make one of these this Christmas season!
Carrie Ditton
This is a perfect holiday dessert. I am pinning this so I can make them for hostess gifts for all of the holiday events we go too!
Ruchi
Log cakes are so beautiful! What a creative way to celebrate and to get into a festive mood!
Amy
This looks delish! It screams Christmas time—I love it! It looks like it is such a moist cake as well! I’m eager to give it a try!
Dominique | Perchance to Cook
Every Christmas table needs this yule log cake on it! It’s just breathtaking! I love that it is has whipped cream and chocolate ganache on it…that sounds so yummy with chocolate cake. NOM
Renee Gardner
This roll cake is gorgeous!! How do you get it to roll without cracking and breaking in half??
Leslie Haasch
As long as the ratios of wet and dry ingredients are right (which thankfully, they are for this recipe!) you are able to gently roll it while it’s warm out of the oven in a towel and let it cool that way to sort of “train” the cake to being in that shape. No breaking or cracking!
Jackie
I am planning to make Yule log for Christmas dessert this year. Can I make it the night before? Will it be ok with the whipped cream?
Leslie Haasch
Absolutely! I’ve had the last one that I made sitting in the coldest part of my house (just because my fridge is full!) for a week now and it’s still delicious :)
Gloria
Such a great holiday dessert. Homemade is so much better than bought. Perfect for taking along to a house party too. This would make a great hostess/host food gift too.
Natalie
I love yule log cakes season! This one looks amazing and perfect for Christmas!
Kankana Saxena
I am in the exact same zone :) and planning to try a log cake this week ! Best time of the year.