Yule Log Meringue Recipes

SUPER-QUICK MOCHA YULE LOG

Steps:

• Sift 1/2 cup powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and espresso powder into small bowl. Using electric mixer, beat cream and vanilla in large bowl until soft peaks form. Add cocoa mixture and beat until stiff peaks form.
• Spread 1 side of 1 chocolate wafer with 1 rounded teaspoonful mocha cream; top with another wafer. Continue layering wafers and mocha cream for stack of 5 cookies. Place stack on its side on long platter. Repeat making stacks with remaining wafers and some of mocha cream; form log on platter by attaching stacks with mocha cream. Using offset spatula or rubber spatula, spread remaining mocha cream over outside of log to coat. Cover; chill at least 2 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.
• Place platter with yule log on work surface. Using fork, gently pull tines of fork along length of frosting on log to create design resembling tree bark. Sift powdered sugar over log to resemble snow. Arrange meringue cookies or Meringue Mushrooms along sides of log. Cut log on diagonal into thick slices. Serve immediately.

BIRCH DE NOEL - YULE LOG

Steps:

• Chocolate Cake:.
• Heat oven to 350°F
• Wrap coconut in a kitchen towel, and place in the oven for 15 minutes or longer.
• Remove from oven, and place on a work surface.
• Reduce oven temperature to 300°F
• Tap coconut with a hammer until it cracks in several places; break it in pieces (The white flesh should be slightly pulling away from hard shell).
• Carefully peel, keeping pieces of coconut as large as possible.
• Using a vegetable peeler peel largest pieces of coconut into long curls, and place on a baking sheet for 15 to 20 minutes, until just dry.
• Grate the smaller pieces on the box grater.
• You will need about 1/2 cup grated coconut for the cake filling.
• Heat oven to 400°F
• Line a 12x17 inch jellyroll pan with parchment paper and set aside.
• In a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg yolks on high speed until pale yellow, 4-5 minutes.
• Transfer to bowl, and set aside.
• Wash and dry mixer bowl.
• Place egg whites in bowl of electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment on medium speed until soft peaks form, 1-2 minutes.
• Increase speed to high, and add sugar gradually, whipping until stiff peaks form.
• Transfer mixture to a large bowl.
• Using a rubber spatula, fold egg-yolk mixture into egg-white mixture; add cocoa powder and flour over top, and gently fold together.
• Pour batter into prepared pans; smooth top with an offset spatula.
• Bake until cake springs back when touched, 9-10 minutes.
• Remove from oven, and immediately turn cake out onto a wire rack lined with parchment paper.
• Peel parchment paper from top of cake, and cool completely.
• Place a clean kitchen towel on work surface.
• Transfer cake on parchment paper to towel.
• Using a pastry brush, coat cake with rum.
• Using an offset spatula spread the white-chocolate mousse over cake.
• Sprinkle with 1/2 cup freshly grated coconut.
• With a short end of cake facing you, roll carefully into a "log" shape on a kitchen towel, and secure with clothespins or large metal binder to hold the roll in a tight round shape.
• Place on a baking sheet, and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.
• Remove from refrigerator, and unwrap.
• Using a serrated knife, trim the ends of the roll, cutting on the bias.
• Choose the more presentable end, and turn it side up, on the log, forming a branch or knot.
• If desired, use the other cut off end as a branch.
• Transfer the log to a serving platter.
• Slide 5-inch strips of parchment paper under the log to protect the tray while decorating.
• Coat with Seven Minute Frosting using an offset spatula.
• Remove parchment pieces.
• Decorate with Meringue Mushrooms, Snowy Chocolate Truffles, coconut shavings, and sugared Rosemary Sprigs.
• White Chocolate Mousse: Dissolve gelatin in 1/4 cup cold water, and set aside for 5 minutes.
• Place chocolate in the bowl of a food processor, and pulse until very finely chopped.
• Prepare an ice water bath; set aside.
• Place 3/4 cup cream in a small saucepan and bring just to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Add gelatin, and stir to dissolve completely.
• Pour into food processor with the motor running and process until chocolate mixture is smooth.
• Transfer to medium bowl and place over ice water bath.
• Chill until thick enough to fall from spoon in ribbons.
• Whip remaining 1 3/4 cups heavy cream to soft peaks.
• Fold into chocolate mixture (If not using immediately, refrigerate in an airtight container).
• Snowy Chocolate Truffles: Heat oven to 350°F
• Place almonds, if using, on a baking sheet, and bake until fragrant, about 10 minutes.
• Set aside to cool.
• Use a serrated knife to spread the chocolate.
• Place in a heat-proof bowl; set aside.
• In a saucepan, bring cream to a boil.
• Pour directly over chopped chocolate stirring to fully incorporate.
• Let sit for 10 minutes.
• Stir until completely melted and mixed.
• Allow to cool for 20 minutes.
• Stir in almonds, if using, and place in the refrigerator until set.
• Use a melon baller or 1 1/4 inch ice cream scoop to portion out chocolate.
• Roll the scoops of chocolate between palms to form 1-inch truffles.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve; dust with confectioners sugar before serving.
• Seven Minute Frosting: In a small heavy saucepan, combine 3/4 cup sugar, the corn syrup, and 2 tablespoons water.
• Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved.
• Rub a bit between your fingers to make sure there is no graininess.
• Raise heat to bring to a boil.
• Do not stir anymore.
• Boil, washing down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water from time to time to prevent the sugar from crystallizing, until a candy thermometer registers 230F, about 5 minutes. (Depending on the humidity, this can take anywhere from 4-10 minutes).
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 2 1/2 minutes.
• Gradually add the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
• Remove the syrup from the heat when the temperature reaches 230F (it will keep rising as pan is removed from heat).
• Pour the syrup in a steady stream down the side of the bowl (to avoid splattering) containing the egg white mixture, with the mixer on medium-low speed.
• Beat the frosting on medium speed until it is cool, 5-10 minutes.
• The frosting should be thick and shiny. Use immediately.
• Sugared Rosemary Sprigs: Brush washed sprigs with a glaze of white sugar from a large egg thinned with a tablespoon of water, then coat in sugar, and let air dry.

ALASKAN YULE LOG

Steps:

• Put your freezer on the fast-freeze setting, or clear some space in the coldest part of the freezer. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a 23 x 33cm Swiss roll tin with baking parchment, grease with a little butter and set aside.
• First, make the sponge. Put the egg yolks and sugar in a large bowl and whisk with an electric whisk until thick and creamy. Sift the cocoa powder over the egg mixture and whisk in thoroughly. Wash and dry the beaters. In a clean bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff but not dry. Fold a third of the egg whites into the cocoa mixture, then gently fold in the rest until evenly distributed.
• Pour into the prepared tin and spread gently with a spatula. Bake in the centre of the oven for 25 mins or until well risen and just beginning to shrink away from the sides of the tin. Remove from the oven, loosen the edges with a round-bladed knife and leave to cool in the tin.
• Prepare the filling while the cake is cooling. Place a large sheet of cling film on the work surface, take the ice cream out of its tub and place on top. Working quickly, cover the ice cream with cling film, then press and roll into a long sausage shape. It will need to be 33cm long and around 5cm wide. Wrap a second piece of cling film around the first and twist the ends to maintain the sausage shape. Return to the freezer to harden for at least 1 hr.
• Line a baking tray with baking parchment. Take the ice cream out of the freezer, unwrap it and place in the centre of the sponge. Using the parchment to help you, bring up the sides to enclose the ice cream and carefully lift the roll onto the lined baking tray, rotating it so the seal is underneath. Trim the ends. Cover the cake and tin with cling film and place in the freezer for at least 4 hrs, or up to 1 week.
• Make the meringue topping 20 mins before serving. Put the sugar and 175ml water in a pan and bring to a rolling boil over a high heat. Continue to boil until it reaches 115C on a sugar thermometer.
• Meanwhile, put the egg whites in a large mixing bowl or tabletop mixer and whisk the egg whites to soft peaks. Continue whisking at high speed and very slowly trickle in the hot sugar syrup. The meringue will begin to thicken and become glossy after about 10 mins. Continue to whisk until it is just warm, then whisk in the vanilla extract. Use the meringue immediately, as it is easier to work with while warm.
• Fit a large piping bag with a 1.5cm star nozzle and fill with the meringue. Take the baking tray out of the freezer and slide the log gently onto a serving platter using a couple of spatulas. Pipe the meringue in lines down the length, then around the ends. Use a cook's blowtorch to scorch the meringue all over. Alternatively, bake for 8 mins at 220C/200C fan/gas 7 or until the meringue is set and lightly browned. Serve in generous slices (it will sit quite happily for 5-10 mins). Please note this recipe contains lightly cooked egg whites, which may be unsuitable for babies and toddlers, the elderly, pregnant women and people who already feel unwell.