HOW DO YOU MAKE A YULE LOG RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Lightly grease a 33x23cm/13x9in Swiss roll tin, and line with non-stick paper or baking parchment, pushing it into the corners.
• For the sponge, in a large bowl whisk the eggs and sugar using an electric hand whisk until the mixture is pale in colour, light and frothy. Sift the flour and cocoa powder into the bowl and carefully cut and fold together, using a spatula, until all the cocoa and flour are incorporated into the egg mixture. (Be careful not to beat any of the air out of the mixture).
• Pour the mixture into the lined tin and spread evenly out into the corners. Bake in the middle of the preheated oven for 8–10 minutes, or until well risen and firm to the touch and the sides are shrinking away from the edge of the tin.
• Place a piece of baking parchment bigger than the Swiss roll tin on the work surface. Dust with icing sugar generously. Carefully invert the cake onto the paper and remove the bottom lining piece of paper.
• Cut a score mark 2.5cm/1in in along one of the longer edges. Starting with this edge, begin to tightly roll up the sponge using the paper. Roll with the paper inside and sit the roll on top of its outside edge to cool completely.
• While the cake is cooling, make the ganache topping. Heat the cream in a pan, just so as you can keep your finger in it. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate, stirring until it is melted. Cool to room temperature, then put into the fridge to firm up (this icing needs to be very thick for piping).
• Uncurl the cold Swiss roll and remove the paper. Spread the whipped cream on top, and re-roll tightly. Cut a quarter of the cake off from the end on the diagonal. Transfer the large piece of cake to a serving plate and angle the cut end in to the middle of the large cake to make a branch.
• Put the chocolate icing into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle. Pipe long thick lines along the cake, covering the cake completely so it looks like the bark of a tree. Cover each end with icing or, if you wish to see the cream, leave un-iced. Alternatively, just use a palette knife to spread on the icing and create rough bark texture with a fork.
• Dust with icing sugar and garnish with fresh holly or a little robin to serve.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 190C/170C Fan/Gas 5 and line a 23x33cm/9x13in Swiss roll tin with baking paper.
• Place the eggs, sugar and vanilla seeds into a bowl and whisk until very pale, fluffy and thickened.
• Sift in the flour and carefully fold in. Pour into the lined tin and smooth with a spatula until evenly spread. Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until just firm to the touch.
• Place a sheet of baking paper, slightly bigger than the tray, onto a work surface and dust with caster sugar. Turn the sponge out onto the paper, peel off the baking paper on the bottom of the sponge and set aside to cool a little.
• Pour the double cream and vanilla extract into a large bowl and whip to soft peaks.
• For the raspberry jam, heat a frying pan until hot. Add the sugar, lemon zest and juice and cook for 3–4 minutes until the sugar has dissolved. Mix in the raspberries and cook for 3–5 minutes until thick. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
• Spread the jam over the sponge, leaving a 2cm/1in gap around the edge. Spread the whipped cream over the top, leaving the edges, then sprinkle over the whole raspberries.
• Take the longest edge of the sponge and using the baking paper underneath, roll up the sponge quite tightly, making sure the filling stays inside. Roll the sponge off the parchment, dust with extra caster sugar and cut into slices to serve.