Chocolate Chip Nougat Log Recipes

NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE MOCHA YULE LOG

Steps:

• Whip together 1 1/2 cups of the heavy cream, the confectioners' sugar and espresso powder in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Spread a heaping tablespoon of the whipped cream onto one side of 39 chocolate wafer cookies (wipe the spoon clean with a rubber spatula between dollops). Spread the whipped cream out on the cookies with a small offset spatula. Stack 5 cookies on top of each other. Repeat with the remaining cookies (including the one without whipped cream) so that you have 8 stacks total. One of the stacks will have a cookie on top with no whipped cream; this stack will be the top stack.
• To build the log: Lay out a piece of plastic wrap about 20 inches long on the countertop. Working across the entire length of the plastic wrap, lay one of the cookie stacks on its side. Gently press the remaining 7 cookies stacks together, end to end, finishing with the top stack, to make one long cookie log that's about 15 to 18 inches long. Wrap the log up in the plastic wrap and chill for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• While your stack is chilling, make the ganache: Put the chocolate in a medium bowl. Bring the remaining 1 1/2 cups heavy cream to a boil in a small saucepan and pour over the chocolate. Let sit for 10 minutes, then stir until completely melt. Pour the mixture into the bowl of an electric mixer and refrigerate until completely cool, about 30 minutes. Just before frosting, whip the ganache until it just begins to loosen up, turns lighter in color and is spreadable, 30 to 45 seconds. It's important not to overwhip or it will become grainy.
• Cut a 2- to 3- inch diagonal piece from the top end of the log and place it on top of the log at an angle; this will be the branch. Spread the ganache over the log to cover it completely. Heat a metal fork. Use the tines and the back of a the fork to draw a bark pattern in the ganache, running it along the surface in short strokes.
• To make the mushrooms: Shave the tops of 6 of the meringues with a rasp grater until they are smooth and round and resemble mushroom caps. Smooth the tops with a wet finger. Mix together 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar with 1/4 teaspoon water in a small bowl to make a glue. Smear a little of the sugar glue on the bottom of each meringue and stick a marshmallow to it to make a stem. To make a shorter stem, simply cut the marshmallow in half with kitchen shears. Let the mushrooms sit for 30 minutes until the sugar water has hardened. Dust the tops with cocoa powder.
• Decorate the cake with the mushrooms, rosemary, mint and cranberries. Shave the remaining meringue over top of the cake to make snow. Slice the cake on a diagonal for serving.

CHOCOLATE-CHICORY LOGS

Steps:

• Combine flour, 1 cup sugar, cocoa, chicory, and baking powder in the bowl of a mixer. Add butter and beat on medium speed until sandy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low, and gradually beat in eggs and 1 egg yolk. Add chocolate chips and mix until just combined.
• Divide dough in half and roll each half into a 1 1/2-inch-thick log (about 12 inches long) on a lightly floured surface. Wrap each log in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Unwrap logs; transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Whisk together remaining egg yolk and cream. Brush tops of logs with egg wash and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon sugar. Bake until firm, about 35 minutes.
• Transfer logs to a wire rack and let cool completely. Cut each into 1 1/4-inch-wide wedges with a serrated knife by alternating the angle of the knife as you slice crosswise.

EASY DOUBLE-DIPPED CHOCOLATE AND NUT SHORTBREAD LOGS

Steps:

• Set oven to 325°.
• Lightly grease cookie/baking sheets.
• In a bowl cream butter, vanilla and icing sugar for about 5 minutes until very fluffy (beat no less than 5 minutes!).
• Mix in flour and pinch of salt (if you are using salted butter, omit salt) mix till combined.
• Stir in 1 cup mini chocolate chips.
• Gather up about 1-1/2 tablespoons dough and shape into about 2 x 1/2-inch logs (or you can make them into larger size if desired).
• Place on cookie sheets about 1-1/2-inches apart.
• Bake for about 10-14 minutes or until the logs are firm.
• Let cookies cool COMPLETELY in the pan before removing them to a rack (they will break if moved when warm!).
• In a microwave or a double boiler melt the remaining 2 cups mini chocolate chips with 2 tablespoons Crisco shortening until smooth.
• Dip one end in the chocolate then into the chopped nuts.
• Holding the cookie in the middle, repeat with the other end of the cookie.
• Place on waxed paper to set.

CHOCOLATE NOUGAT CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar until fluffy. Blend in egg yolks and chocolate. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt; add alternately with milk to creamed mixture. stir in nuts. Beat egg whites with remaining sugar until stiff peaks form; fold gently into batter., Pour into two greased and floured 8-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes. Cool in pans on a rack for 10 minutes before removing from pans. Cool completely. , For frosting, combine all ingredients except vanilla in the top of a double boiler. With an electric mixer, beat on low for 30 seconds. Cook over boiling water for 7 minutes, beating constantly on high until stiff peaks form. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Beat 2-3 minutes or until frosting has a spreading consistency. Frost cake.

JEN'S CHOCOLATE CHIP BISCUIT/COOKIE LOG

Steps:

• Have ready an oblong dish which will be your serving dish.
• Place sherry or liquid of choice in a shallow bowl.
• Beat the cream with the golden syrup and cocoa until firm and holds it shape.
• Dip quickly a biscuit into the liquid of choice (dont soak) and spread one side with the cream.
• Do a second biscuit and sandwich together.
• Stand these on the serving dish on their edge.
• Continue until all bisciuts are used and you have a 'log'.
• Spread remaining cream over the log to enclose the biscuits.
• Decorate as desired. I like to put a row of glace red cherries along the top then sprinkle with chocolate chips or shaved chocolate.
• Place in fridge for at least 2 hours if possible although can be eaten soon after making, it just wont be as soft.
• Note:.
• This can also be made using plain sweetened whipped cream.

THE ULTIMATE MAKEOVER: CHOCOLATE LOG

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Lightly oil and line a 23 x 32cm Swiss roll tin with baking paper. Mix the coffee with 1 tbsp warm water. Beat the eggs, both sugars and the coffee mix together in a large mixing bowl with an electric whisk for about 8 mins or until the mixture is thick and airy like meringue and holds a trail when you lift up the beaters.
• Sift the flour and cocoa powder over the fluffy egg mix, then fold in very gently using a large metal spoon. Pour the mixture evenly into the lined tin and carefully tip it so it spreads evenly without being deflated. Use a knife if necessary to very gently tease it into the corners. Bake for 12-15 mins or until the cake feels spongy but firm when touched.
• Lay a sheet of baking paper on the work surface and sprinkle with a little caster sugar. Tip the tin upside-down onto the paper and let the cake fall out. Carefully peel off the paper. Roll up the cake lengthways from one of the short ends with the help of the paper, rolling it inside so the cake doesn't stick. Cool. The cake becomes even more moist if left overnight wrapped up, then iced the next day.
• For the chocolate icing, put the chopped chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat a small pan of water (one-third full) until boiling, remove it from the heat, then sit the bowl of chocolate over the top. Leave for a few mins off the heat until melted. Remove the bowl from the pan, then leave the chocolate until it is cool to the touch. Beat the mascarpone and quark together, then sift and stir in the icing sugar and cocoa powder. Stir in the cooled melted chocolate (keeping a couple of tsp back for drizzling), then the coffee mixed with the vanilla extract.
• Carefully unroll the cake, don't worry if it cracks a bit, and discard the paper. Spread half the icing over the unrolled cake, then re-roll it, finishing with the join underneath. Place the cake on a serving plate. Swirl the rest of the icing all over the cake to cover it, then drizzle over the reserved melted chocolate. Decorate with a sprig of holly.