Maple Walnut Bûche De Noël Recipe Epicuriouscom

BUCHE DE NOEL

Steps:

• For the walnut biscuit:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a half sheet pan, line with parchment paper, butter the paper and dust with flour. Whip the egg whites to soft peaks. Beat in both sugars and whip to a stiff, glossy meringue. Alternately fold the cake flour and egg yolks into the meringue in 3 batches, starting and ending with the flour. Fold in the nuts. Spread the batter evenly in the pan, and bake until the cake is pale gold, the center springs back when you press it lightly with your finger, and the edges start to pull from the sides of the pan, 10 to 12 minutes. ;
• For the pastry cream:
• Whisk the yolks, cornstarch, and the 40 grams sugar in a medium bowl; the mixture will be very thick, but try to whisk enough to remove most of the lumps. Put the 75 grams sugar in a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until dark brown; don't worry if it crystallizes a bit. Turn the heat to low and whisk in the maple syrup, then whisk in the whisky, turn up the heat, and let simmer for 1 to 2 minutes to boil off the alcohol. Whisk the milk and vanilla bean scrapings into the caramel mixture and bring to simmer. Slowly whisk about half of the hot mixture into the yolks, then whisk that mixture back into the pot, bring to a boil, whisking, and cook, still whisking, until thickened. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, salt and maple extract. Pour into a shallow dish, press plastic wrap onto the surface, and chill until set and very cold, about 4 hours. Beat the cold pastry cream in a standing mixer until smooth. When ready to use, whip the cream until it is very stiff, then beat into the pastry cream. Chill until ready to use. ;
• For the buttercream:
• Put the sugar in a medium pot and add enough water just to moisten; use your fingers to wet the sugar evenly. Bring to a boil. While the sugar is heating, start beating the yolks and egg in a standing mixer with the whisk attachment. When the syrup reaches about 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer (softball stage), pour it into the yolks with the mixer still running, taking care not to pour it onto the whisk. Beat until cooled to room temperature. Beat in the whisky and the maple extract. Cream the butter in another mixing bowl using the paddle attachment. Beat in the cooled egg mixture until smooth. You can use it right away, or chill it overnight; if you chill it, rebeat when you are ready to assemble the cake. ;
• For the sugared cranberries:
• Have a cookie sheet or shallow dish and a slotted spoon next to the stove. Put the sugar in a medium pot and add enough water just to moisten; use your fingers to wet the sugar evenly. Add the cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil, add the cranberries, and immediately pull from the heat. Transfer the cranberries to the cookie sheet with the slotted spoon. Cool. ;
• For the maple tuiles:
• Cream the butter, maple syrup, vanilla bean scrapings and salt until smooth. Scrape the sides of the bowl and beat in egg whites until smooth. Beat in the flour. Let the batter rest and hour or so at room temperature, or overnight in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before baking. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with a silpat. Using a stencil, smear the batter thinly on the silpat and bake until dark golden brown, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the pan while still warm. If you want to shape the cookies, put them over a bottle or rolling pin while warm; let cool. If desired, brush lightly with luster dust. ;
• Assembly:
• Turn the cooled cake onto a piece of parchment or waxed paper with a long side near you. Spread the chilled pastry cream evenly over the surface, leaving a 2-inch border across from you. Using the parchment paper to lift, roll the cake as tightly as possible. Set seam side down on a platter or large pan, and chill for an hour or so. Frost the cake with the buttercream, smoothing the surface so it looks like bark. Decorate with candied cranberries, walnuts, orange peel, and tuiles. ;

WALNUT BRITTLE

Steps:

• Shake nuts in a sieve to remove nut powder (this will make for a clearer brittle.)
• Line a baking sheet with nonstick pad or with an oiled sheet of foil.
• Heat sugar and water in a deep 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderately low heat, stirring slowly with a fork, until melted and pale golden. Cook caramel without stirring, gently swirling pan, until golden. Stir in walnuts, then immediately pour caramel onto baking sheet, tilting sheet to spread caramel as thin as possible. Cool brittle completely at room temperature.
• Coarsely chop enough brittle to measure 1/2 cup, then break remainder into shards for decorating cake.

EASY BUCHE DE NOEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Line the bottom of a 10" x 15" x 1" jelly roll pan with waxed paper. Butter the waxed paper.
• Grind walnuts in food processor. Put into a bowl. Add flour and cocoa, stir to combine. Set aside.
• Beat egg whites, salt and cream of tartar to soft peaks. Gradually add 1/3 cup sugar.
• In another bowl, beat egg yolks (no need to wash beaters), remaining sugar and vanilla until thick.
• Pour yolk mixture over whites, fold gently together.
• Gradually fold in walnut mixture. Scrape into prepared pan. Gently spread to fill pan. Bake 20 minutes, or until top springs back when pressed gently.
• Sprinkle a tea towel thickly with powdered sugar. Invert cake onto the towel, peel off the waxed paper. If edges of cake are crusty, trim them off, so it will roll easily. From a long side, roll up cake loosely in towel. (You want the cake to be long when it's rolled). Allow it to cool completely. Unroll, spread with filling. Roll it up again, transfer to serving platter and pour glaze over roll.
• To prepare filling:.
• Combine flour and milk in a small saucepan. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil. Cook and stir until thick. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
• In a mixing bowl, cream shortening, butter, sugar, salt and vanilla until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Scrape down the bowl frequently. Add the flour and milk mixture. Beat until fluffy. Stir in candied cherries.
• To prepare glaze:.
• Stir together cocoa, melted butter and boiling water until cocoa dissolves. Stir in corn syrup and powdered sugar.