Daring Bakers Challenge : French Yule Log
Could this be the richest and most luxurious Daring Bakers challenge yet? If not, can we agree that it certainly comes close? It’s the kind of chocolate dessert you might find listed with cliched words like “indulgence” or “oblivion” tacked to the end of it.
This month’s challenge is brought to us by the adventurous Hilda from Saffron and Blueberry and Marion from Il en Faut Peu Pour Etre Heureux. They have chosen a French Yule Log by Flore from Florilege Gourmand.
If you’re wondering, hang on, a yule log .. didn’t we make one this time last year? Well, I thought the same too, but was put right when I read the definition of a French yule log.
As it turns out, this yule log, or Buche de Noel, is somewhat akin to an ice-cream cake, or a frozen version of the typical buttercream-laden yule log we are more familiar with. Mine consists of flavours that pretty much adhere to the original recipe. The layers are almond dacquoise, dark chocolate mousse, vanilla creme brulee, hazelnut praline, dark chocolate ganache and icing. A great choice of dessert for this time of the year, I think, because of the warm weather here in Sydney.
Not that warm weather would deter me from baking. After a few forkfuls of this wonderful dessert, I think ‘Chocolate Ooh’ might even be a nice addition to that list of cliched words. Or maybe ‘Chocolate Blessing’, because I’m thankful for having managed to find a little time this month to make this challenge. I’m grateful because the alternative would mean never having had the opportunity to experience this pure Chocolate Sensation. This Chocolate Bliss. This Chocolate Epiphany of textures, from ultra smooth mousse to crunchy praline and toothsome ganache. This Chocolate Happiness.
If you have been sufficiently tempted enough to make it, you might want to search for the recipe on the hosts’ blogs (thanks, guys!), or from the blogs of other DB members.
Tags: chocolate, custard, Daring Bakers, ganache, mousse, vanilla
Marija said,
December 28, 2008 @ 6:18 am
Your log turned out perfect! I hope mine will too, I’m making it tomorrow
Hannah said,
December 28, 2008 @ 7:16 am
Oh. My. Goodness. Now I’m embarrassed to post mine in a few hours; it pales in comparison! Both your log and the photos are specular.
Baking Soda said,
December 28, 2008 @ 7:26 am
Yikes!! I haven’t even started yet…. and now I’m truly truly scared. Spectacular is the word!
Piggy said,
December 28, 2008 @ 8:08 am
wow, the cake looks awesome, yum!
snookydoodle said,
December 28, 2008 @ 8:13 am
wow this is pure heaven! wish to try this dessert its so chocolatey . The photos are great!
matt wright said,
December 28, 2008 @ 9:46 am
more complete brilliance. Awesome stuff as usual. Love the photos and the chocolate shavings.
cathy x. said,
December 28, 2008 @ 10:25 am
hahaha i love to see how you’re putting everyone to shame! TO SHAME!
if this is on the menu, maybe i will join you next year mmmmm.. you know, i still have some lentils. want to trade?
ps. Y is even more intimidating in person teehee..
pps. http://www.btmon.com/Video/TV_shows/Heston_Blumenthals_In_search_of_Perfection_complete_1st_and_2nd.torrent.html
Rosa said,
December 28, 2008 @ 10:43 am
Your log looks ever so beautiful as well as delicious and your pictures are really fabulous! Great job!
Cheers,
Rosa
food.baby said,
December 28, 2008 @ 10:45 am
that looks sensational! awesome job on the presentation
Christy said,
December 28, 2008 @ 10:49 am
Oh gosh!! How did your icing turn out so perfect? I barely had enough to cover the sides of my yule log the first time I did it, which was shy I decided to pour on a second layer—at my log’s expense!
But you did a marvelous job on the yule log!! Now I wish I had chosen the chocolate too–the flavours would have been so much more intense!!
clumbsycookie said,
December 28, 2008 @ 11:02 am
Oh my! Can you make it even mooooooooooooore chocolatey? It’s perfect and elegant, as it’s usual for you! Have a wonderful 2009!
Dana said,
December 28, 2008 @ 11:49 am
Words cannot express how lovely this looks. I love chocolate more than almost anything and you made it look absolutely incredible. Great job!
Lorraine E said,
December 28, 2008 @ 11:58 am
Fantastic stuff Y! I knew yours would be gorgeous
I particularly like the dripping action shot 
Chris said,
December 28, 2008 @ 1:30 pm
Wow….great job! Beautiful. I don’t think I can get it in this month….but I am in awe and can’t wait to look at everyones.
Chezus - denise said,
December 28, 2008 @ 4:09 pm
Oh, I love the dripping chocolate sauce – sinfully good! I loved this challenge, too fun!
Dayna said,
December 28, 2008 @ 4:41 pm
Just stunning. Fantastic job!
Happiest 2009.
The Projectivist said,
December 28, 2008 @ 4:47 pm
You are a Yule log baking goddess! Perfection.
Christie @ fig&cherry said,
December 28, 2008 @ 6:51 pm
You’ve got skillz madame.
ELRA said,
December 28, 2008 @ 7:41 pm
Goodness,
this is really beautiful and so perfect.
Cheers,
Elra
Thip said,
December 28, 2008 @ 7:49 pm
Cool looking Buche de Noel, Y.
Chris said,
December 28, 2008 @ 8:26 pm
Wow…simply wow.
FFichiban said,
December 28, 2008 @ 10:28 pm
Very elegant! Looks so devilishly rich and tasty mmm ^^!
Manggy said,
December 28, 2008 @ 11:45 pm
Oh Y,
There are no words. Just… OMG. WOW. (incomprehensible sounds)
Miri said,
December 29, 2008 @ 2:10 am
Y, this looks so beautiful and decadent! A year of guilt after eating a slice of this beauty
But hey, it’s the holidays season, so I guess the calories don’t count in this time of year 
Happy Holidays!
Deeba said,
December 29, 2008 @ 2:23 am
Just STUNNING, just ELEGANT, just PERFECT…just everything & more!! PHEW!!
Eileen said,
December 29, 2008 @ 3:04 am
You have done a truly fabulous job! How decadent… it’s beautiful!
Maggie said,
December 29, 2008 @ 3:45 am
Great pictures, you definitely conveyed how rich and decadently chocolaty this dessert was!
grace said,
December 29, 2008 @ 7:19 am
picture perfect, and undoubtedly easy on the tastebuds. this is gorgeous, y–nicely done!
tanya said,
December 29, 2008 @ 7:45 am
This fills me up just looking at it! It looks so decadent and rich. What a wonderful job you did!
Caitlin said,
December 29, 2008 @ 9:18 am
Beautiful job – I’m so jealous of those perfectly even layers!
Kelly said,
December 29, 2008 @ 10:08 am
Stunning looking log and in particular the icing – so glossy and decadent looking.
raquel said,
December 29, 2008 @ 2:19 pm
that picture makes me want to put my finger under that dripping chocolate! awesome job on the log!
billy@ATFT said,
December 29, 2008 @ 3:09 pm
the modern look on this Yule Log won me over, not to mention is an ice cream log! Bring it over!
Vibi said,
December 29, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
This all so sooooo perfect, it looks like it was mathematicaly done… wow, the shape, the layers, the colors, the combo… everything is soooo amazing!
Totally floored!
dee at sweet scarlett said,
December 29, 2008 @ 8:45 pm
Very tempting log! nice photos also. i allready add your blog to my link. i hope its ok. Happy holidays and New Year!
the caked crusader said,
December 29, 2008 @ 10:18 pm
wow – you’ve done a great job!
Aran said,
December 29, 2008 @ 10:57 pm
beautiful y!
Scott at Realepicurean said,
December 30, 2008 @ 10:44 am
My gosh – original, perfect and delicious!
noobcook said,
December 30, 2008 @ 3:55 pm
looks beautiful and rich!
great work!
Jude said,
December 30, 2008 @ 11:34 pm
That photo of the drizzling.. Chocolate overload and I love it
Helen said,
December 31, 2008 @ 4:39 am
This looks absolutely amazing! I knew yours would be perfect. I’m so sad I didn’t get the time to make this, although I can guarantee, it wouldn’t have looked quite like yours! Not at all in fact! Well done, it’s beautiful
Lynn said,
December 31, 2008 @ 6:58 am
Wow, your yule log looks super. Here, where I live, up in the tundra, we have tons of snow and it is 10 degrees F. What I wouldn’t give to be in your climate baking a French Yule Log. Lovely, absolutely lovely.
Vera said,
December 31, 2008 @ 9:11 am
What a beauty, Y! Fantastic looking log!
sugar chef said,
December 31, 2008 @ 9:40 am
Love your log and presentation. I stuck with the traditional flavors too and am making an adaption of this dessert for New Year’s Eve for 180 people.
Beautiful pictures and documentation of the process. Happy New Year!!
Suzana said,
December 31, 2008 @ 10:43 am
Y, stunning Yule Log! I love the dripping chocolate on top of that slice.
Happy New Year!
Lindsay said,
December 31, 2008 @ 11:54 am
Wowsie, wowsie woo woo, those photographs are spectacular!
dessert girl said,
December 31, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
It looks beautiful AND tasty. It always throws me for a loop when I hear people talk about how warm it is in Australia during Christmas. I’m reading a book by an Australian author right now, Cloudstreet, and when he mentions how the weather is warming up around Xmas, I always get confused, for like a second.
bex said,
December 31, 2008 @ 1:59 pm
that looks so perfect! well done!
Claire said,
December 31, 2008 @ 4:57 pm
I just love the picture of the chocolate drizzling down! Oh my! This is just beautiful. I didn’t think about it being warm in the Southern hemisphere…this WAS a perfect dessert for y’all, wasn’t it?!
Jamie said,
December 31, 2008 @ 10:35 pm
Your Yule Log is simply gorgeous and looks scrumptious. Congratulations on a beautiful success.
Wishing you a happy, healthy New Year too.
steph (whisk/spoon) said,
January 1, 2009 @ 12:05 am
definitely chocolate bliss! yours is gorgeous!
Mandy said,
January 1, 2009 @ 1:50 am
with the amount of chocolate and cream used in the yule log, I have to agree that this is the most luxurious and richest DB challenge. Your log looks stunning!
jillian said,
January 1, 2009 @ 3:15 am
Your yule log looks magnificent! This was a very rich challenge!
Y said,
January 1, 2009 @ 11:24 am
Thanks everyone, for the comments! I’ve only recently found a bit of time to finally check out everyone else’s logs, and wow, there’s some amazing, creative stuff out there!
Y said,
January 1, 2009 @ 11:24 am
PS: Cathy, what the heck are you talking about!
P
Elle said,
January 1, 2009 @ 12:46 pm
It might be the classic combination, but your log is Chocolate Perfection! Such smooth icing and lovley layers….mmmm Chocolate bliss indeed.
breadchick said,
January 1, 2009 @ 3:53 pm
How on EARTH did you get your frosting so perfectly smooth looking?!
Your log is lovely.
Holly said,
January 1, 2009 @ 7:30 pm
Beautiful photos! What did you use to decorate the top of the log?
Joy said,
January 2, 2009 @ 4:18 am
Wow – so beautiful!
linda said,
January 2, 2009 @ 7:39 am
Just perfect! Love the decoration, not sure what the light stuff is, looks hoky poky-ish or cookie-ish?
Y said,
January 2, 2009 @ 9:09 am
Holly and Linda : Those are chocolate curls, and bits of chestnut crumble, made with chestnut flour and the usual crumble ingredients
Sophie said,
January 2, 2009 @ 2:38 pm
Your pics are gorgeous! This new camera is so tough to figure out
. Delicious, delicious…I’ve been craving chocolate so much lately!
Tartelette said,
January 2, 2009 @ 4:23 pm
Absolutely gorgeous! And you are a woman after my own heart by pouring more glaze on cut slices…Yeah!!!!
Anjanette said,
January 3, 2009 @ 2:26 am
Gorgeous! Just gorgeous!
Cafe Nay Nay said,
January 3, 2009 @ 5:29 am
Your log looks amazing. I love the chocolate gaze streaming onto the slice! Yummy!
LISA said,
January 3, 2009 @ 6:45 am
Your photo skills are amazing! Plus I love your log… beautiful… I would buy it! I love the shaved chocolate… I love everything about it!
venus said,
January 3, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
Oh dear! It looks sinfully decadent!
lisa (dandysugar) said,
January 6, 2009 @ 1:52 pm
Absolutely stunning!
Meeta said,
January 6, 2009 @ 11:18 pm
what a perfect looking log. You really did a great job of it: I love the clean look!
Chef_d said,
January 7, 2009 @ 6:52 am
Your yule log looks absolutely gorgeous!
Lauren said,
January 7, 2009 @ 12:39 pm
OK, I just joined the Daring Bakers. You are all having way too much fun without me! Amazing job – just beautiful.
rainbowbrown said,
January 8, 2009 @ 2:24 am
Did you pour more chocolate onto that slice? Indulgence is the right word. Very, very pretty cakes.
Cakelaw said,
January 8, 2009 @ 9:09 pm
Your log turned out beautifully – I love the shiny chocolate icing.
gine said,
January 10, 2009 @ 9:19 am
Wow … looks superdelicious!!
Like your blog it’s very beautiful! XOXO
Hilda said,
January 11, 2009 @ 6:31 am
I’m sorry I only got here today. Your log ( and pictures with the extra ganache maybe?) is simply gorgeous, and you wouldn’t believe how happy you’ve made me that you thought this was a good recipe because it’s warm down South. Ever since I knew I’d be hosting a challenge, I’ve worried about picking something that would feel right to make no matter which hemisphere one was in. And I’m really delighted that you found time to make it, both because the result is spectacular and because you obviously enjoyed it.
Peko-P said,
February 17, 2009 @ 4:33 pm
VERY beautiful photos, I am inspired!
Peko