Buche De Noel
***Among the French-Canadians, Christmastime doesn’t count if it does not include Buche de Noel, a jelly roll cake with chocolate filling. The cake is arranged and decorated to resemble the festive Yule Log of Christmases past.
Ingredients
- 4 eggs yolks
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- Powdered sugar
- 4 egg whites
- 2 tablespoons rum
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- Chocolate Filling
- 1 cup sifted cake flour
In mixing bowl beat egg yolks till thick and lemon-colored. Gradually add ½ cup granulated sugar, beating constantly. Stir in vanilla. Beat egg whites till soft peaks form. Gradually add ½ cup granulated sugar, beating till stiff peaks form. Fold in egg yolk mixture. Sift together cake flour, baking powder, and salt; fold into egg mixture. Pour into greased and floured 15½ X 10½ X 1½ inch baking pan. Bake at 375° till done, 10 to 12 minutes. Promptly loosen edges of cake; turn out onto a dish towel sprinkled with powdered sugar. Drizzle warm cake with rum. From the long side, roll warm cake and towel together; cool. Unroll cake; remove towel. Spread cake with half the Cholcolate Filling. Reroll. Diagonally cut a 4-inch piece of cake from the roll. Place the cut edge of piece against longer roll on a serving plate. Frost with remaining Chocolate Filling; mark with fork times to resemble bark. Decorate as desired.
Chocolate Filling; In a small saucepan melt 1 ½ ounces unsweetened chocolate; cool. In small saucepan combine 2/3 cup granulated sugar and 1/3 cup water. Bring to boiling. Cook to soft ball stage (240°). In small mixing bowl beat 2 egg yolks till thick and lemon-colored. Very gradually add the hot syrup, beating constantly; continue beating till mixture is completely cooled. Beat in ½ cup softened butter or margarine, 1 tablespoon at at time. Stir in melted chocolate, 1 tablespoon rum, and 1 teaspoon instant coffee crystals; beat till mixture is thick.
***New Year’s Day is very special because it signals the Ceremony of Benediction when the family gathers together and Grandfather asks God to bless everyone. After the ceremony, the great moment comes…food. The holiday meal usually features such delights as Maple Syrup Pie.