You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
✩ FESTIVE FOOD<br />
Chocolate yule log<br />
Cranberries, cream and chocolate combine in<br />
this rich <strong>Christmas</strong> dessert<br />
✩<br />
Serves 8<br />
100g chocolate drops<br />
375g dark cooking<br />
chocolate<br />
12 eggs<br />
300g caster sugar, plus 2<br />
tbsp extra<br />
100g cocoa powder<br />
3 tbsp brandy<br />
100g cranberries<br />
300g double cream<br />
150g butter<br />
200g icing sugar, plus<br />
extra to dust<br />
2 tbsp single cream<br />
7-8 holly leaves, washed<br />
and dried<br />
“Come, bring with a noise,<br />
My merry, merry boys,<br />
The <strong>Christmas</strong> log to the firing;<br />
While my good dame, she<br />
Bids ye all be free,<br />
And drink to your heart’s desiring.”<br />
Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4. Separate the egg yolks from the<br />
whites and place into separate large mixing bowls. Set the whites aside.<br />
Whisk the yolks with an electric whisk until creamy and fluffy, then whisk<br />
in the sugar for 1 min. Sieve the cocoa gradually into the mixture, mixing<br />
it in thoroughly with a wooden spoon each time.<br />
Whisk the egg whites for 3 mins, until standing in soft peaks. Add a<br />
third of the whites to the chocolate mixture and fold in. Repeat until all<br />
the egg whites are folded in. Stir in the chocolate drops.<br />
Pour the mixture into a 25cm x 35cm rectangular baking tray, lined<br />
with baking paper. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 mins, until the<br />
mixture bounces back when lightly pressed. Allow to cool then remove<br />
from the tray and place on a wire rack. Once completely cool, sprinkle 2<br />
tbsp of the brandy over the risen side of the cake and leave to soak.<br />
In a small saucepan, cover the cranberries with water and add 2 tbsp<br />
caster sugar. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 mins, until soft.<br />
Drain and refresh in cold water until cool. Drain again.<br />
Whip the double cream in a bowl until thick. Mix in the cranberries<br />
with just two whirls, to create a swirl effect. Layer the cake with the<br />
cream, leaving a border of 2cm. Using the baking paper to manoeuvre,<br />
roll the cake together into a roll lengthways.<br />
In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and icing sugar together until<br />
smooth and fluffy. Break 300g of the chocolate into a heat-proof bowl,<br />
and place over a pan of gently simmering water. Make sure the bowl<br />
does not touch the water. Stir occasionally until the chocolate is melted.<br />
Remove from the heat then stir until smooth. Mix into the butter mixture,<br />
along with the single cream and remaining brandy. Smooth onto the log<br />
with a spatula, filling the gaps to fix. Chill for 30 mins, then run a fork<br />
over the icing to make bark-like lines. Chill until needed.<br />
While the yule log is chilling, place the holly leaves on a plate and<br />
melt the remaining chocolate as above. Paint the top of the leaves with<br />
the chocolate and then chill for 20 mins. Repaint with the chocolate (the<br />
chocolate should still be malleable) and then chill the leaves for 1 hr.<br />
Carefully peel the chocolate leaves from the holly and position on the<br />
log. Dust with icing sugar and serve.<br />
Robert Herrick, ‘The Yule Log’<br />
109