December 12, 2020
Mint Chocolate Yule Log!
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A delicious mint chocolate yule log with a peppermint chocolate sponge, peppermint buttercream filling and chocolate ganache outside!
Mint chocolate
I am fully and always obsessed with anything chocolate and mint themed as we all know – most recently my candy cane cupcakes were a big hit because of the mint and chocolate combination. I LOVE IT SO MUCH!
I have had many requests for different flavoured yule logs since I posted my Christmas yule log recipe five years ago. I can only apologise that it took so long to post another one! These recipes are different, but there is a reason…!
Yule log
For my original recipe I based it on a Bûche de Noël recipe and I still utterly adore it. It’s a different method where you rely on the eggs, and dark chocolate along with sugar to create your sponge mixture! If you want a gluten free version, I would recommend following it!
However, I have had so many requests for a version that uses flour and cocoa powder and is a bit easier to make… and that’s where this one has come from! This is a beautiful recipe based on one from Martha Collinson and Waitrose’s recipe with slight changes here and there.
FOLD
Making something such as a swiss roll or a yule log can be a little daunting because sometimes they can turn out rubbery, sometimes they can break when you are rolling them, and I can get it… there is a fear there. I believe as long as you fold your ingredients carefully you will be fine!
When I say fold ingredients, this means use your arm and a spatula/spoon… after whisk your eggs and sugar together, you do NOT want to use your mixer. This will cause problems in your mixture and it won’t have the desired and delicious results!
Method
I whisk my eggs and light brown soft sugar (you can use caster sugar as well though) together for 5 minutes with my stand mixer. This makes the mixture because a lot paler in colour, mousse like, and lovely! Sort of like how you do with brownie recipes like my candy cane brownies.
After this, you sift over your flour and cocoa powder – and I don’t often say to sift things. This helps prevent lumps as you are carefully folding the mixture compared to beating it. You then add the peppermint extract in here, but that’s optional if you don’t want it to be mint chocolate flavoured.
Rolling/unrolling the sponge
The sponge will be HOT when you get it out as it will be fresh out of the oven – but that’s okay. You want to turn the sponge onto a new piece of parchment paper that has been lightly dusted with icing sugar, and roll it as carefully but as good as you can considering how hot it will feel! It’s always important to roll when hot as this helps prevent it cracking later on.
When unrolling the cake, you want to be as gentle and careful as you can – please do not panic if it does break slightly… you can still use it, it may just not be as pretty! Don’t throw away the sponge as the buttercream and ganache will hide a world of sins.
Buttercream and ganache
For the buttercream I did a simple american buttercream flavoured with peppermint extract, and coloured with a good quality green colouring. Colouring the buttercream is optional, but I love to make something look minty if I can help it! You could leave it white, or even go red!
The ganache topping I decided to use a mix of dark chocolate, and milk chocolate with double cream. I heat the cream, let it sit over the chocolate in the bowl for about 5 minutes and then stir to combine. If you chocolate isn’t quite melted, you can microwave it or add it back to the pan to finish melting.
I then let the ganache sit in the fridge for about 30-40 minutes, and once it is thick enough I use a whisk to whip the ganache into the best texture ever! You don’t have to whip the ganache, but I love it. It lightens the colour of the ganache slightly, but also just makes it best texture to work with.
Tips!
For the tin, I use this particular swiss roll tin. I love it and I find it fits the recipe perfectly! You want to grease and line the tin with parchment paper so that you don’t have to worry about getting the sponge out at the end.
You can pipe the ganache on, or slather it on like I did and use the end of a cake skewer to create a pattern of bark. It’s all up to you! Dust with icing sugar, sprinkle on something minty like aero or candy canes…. and enjoy!! x
Mint Chocolate Yule Log!
Ingredients
Yule Log
- 5 medium eggs
- 115 g light brown soft sugar (or caster sugar)
- 65 g self raising flour
- 50 g cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
Buttercream
- 125 g unsalted butter (room temp)
- 250 g icing sugar
- 50 ml double cream
- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
- green food colouring (optional)
Ganache
- 100 g dark chocolate (At least 70%)
- 100 g milk chocolate
- 200 ml double cream
Extras
- Mint Chocolate/Candy Canes
- Icing Sugar
Instructions
Yule Log
- Preheat your oven to 200C/180 fan and grease and line a swiss roll tin (32x22cm) with parchment paper.
- Add the eggs and sugar to a bowl, and whisk for about 5 minutes on a medium-high speed, until the mixture is paler, and mousse like.
- Sift the self raising flour and cocoa powder into the bowl, and add the peppermint extract.
- Carefully fold the ingredients together in the bowl until the mixture is combined.
- Pour the mixture into the swiss roll tin and smooth over.
- Bake in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Once baked, remove from the oven. Prep another piece of parchment paper, and dust with icing sugar.
- Flip the swiss roll onto the sugar covered piece of parchment paper. Carefully remove the original piece of baking parchment that was in the tin.
- Carefully fold the sponge up from short side to short side quite tightly (be careful, it will be very hot!) and leave to cool fully all rolled up.
Buttercream
- Beat the unsalted butter on it's own for a few minutes to loosen.
- Add the icing sugar and beat again - it will be quite thick.
- Add the double cream, and peppermint extract, and beat again until smooth!
- If using, add the green food colouring now.
Ganache
- Add the dark chocolate and milk chocolate to a bowl.
- Heat the double cream in a small pan until just before boiling point.
- Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and leave to sit for at least 5 minutes. Stir to combine until smooth. If chocolate lumps still remain, add back into the pan on a low heat and stir until smooth, or microwave briefly.
- Let the ganache sit in the fridge for 30-45 minutes, and then whip with an electric whisk until smooth and fluffy! Sometimes this can take longer than this though to get to the whippable stage.
Decoration
- Carefully unroll the sponge - PLEASE be as careful as possible so you don't break the sponge. Don't worry too much if it does though as you can stick it back together.
- Spread the buttercream onto the unrolled sponge, and re-roll into the classic swiss roll shape.
- Slather the ganache over the outside of the cake, and use a fork/cake skewer to create a bark look! Or, pipe the ganache on instead.
- Lightly dust with icing sugar, and sprinkle with crushed mint chocolates or candy canes if you fancy - but these are optional.
Notes
- This recipe is based on Martha Collinsons with Waitrose!
- This cake will last for 2-3 days.
- If you don't want to use ganache you can use a buttercream instead! Double the buttercream recipe, and split into two. Add 25g cocoa powder to one half.
- I recommend this Swiss roll tin
- I recommend this green food colouring
- I use this peppermint extract
ENJOY!
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J x
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Hi, Is the chocolate ganache suppose to set or stay wet?
Hiya! It will set though it may still be sticky. Hope this helps! x
I love this recipe! I had never made a yule log before so did one for a test run for christmas. The only problem that I had was it was a bit big for the yule log box I had bought. If I reduced the recipe by 20% do you think it would still be thick enough to roll?
Hi Jane
I have a bigger tray measuring 35 by 25 would I need to adjust the recipe or will it be ok without adjustments?
Thanks
This was my first attempt at one of your recipes and of a yule log. It tasted amazing and I think will become a Christmas family favourite. There were just a couple of things I struggled with and wondered if you could enlighten me what I may have done wrong. <3
– After I let the sponge cool rolled up on the icing sugar sheet, it still managed to completely stick, almost forming a brownie consistency. I cooked the sponge for 12 minutes but I wondered if I let it cool too long and therefore it stuck and cracked.
– My buttercream frosting was so thick, like nothing I had ever seen before with buttercream and it was tearing up the soft sponge and ended up looking like a crumb coat. It didn't spread easily and was almost like really over whipped cream.
Hi Jane, I have just made this but only discovered that I only have milk chocolate & no dark chocolate to make the ganache, can you tell me how to adjust the measurements for an all milk choc ganache please? Love all of your recipes & they always turn out so amazing & so delicious! Thank you
Hiya! The typical ratio would be 2:1 chocolate to cream. Hope this helps! x
I absolutely loved making this! My 2nd attempt and came out beautiful! Does the Yule log be left in the fridge? Or out on the side? I substituted the mint of orange and used terrys chocolate orange instead!
If I wanted to make this into a fudge brownie yule log, what size ingredients would I need for the log?
Hi Jane, really love the look of this recipe! I was wondering though rather than buying the peppermint extract could I leave the sponge as just chocolate and use mint chocolate for the ganache, or would that affect how the ganache sets? Thank you!
Turned out beautifully. I have made a few things from your website now and each time I’ve been so impressed that they have all been perfect. I know I can rely on your recipes for special occasions so thank you!
Hey! Yayyy I am so pleased. Thank you so much that means a lot x
Made this for Christmas Day, and we weren’t disappointed. Lovely, will make again 🙂
Hi Jane, I’m trying this recipe tomorrow and just wanted to check, as there’s double cream in the buttercream is it ok to be stored at room temperature or will it need to go in the fridge? Thanks!
The ganache has been heated its fine at room temp for 2 days, and personally I don’t mind the cream at room temp in the buttercream but if you are worried you can use boiling water in the buttercream instead!
Absolutely fab recipe! Tastes gorgeous! Thank you!
Hi Jane, if you have a slightly bigger tray, my is 38cm x 25cm, how can I adjust the recipe. I usually go off the area and adjust accordingly for round cakes. Take care. Thanks.
Jayesh
HI Jane! If I was to make this recipe and gift it to someone for Christmas, when would I be best to start making it?
As it has ganache it only lasts a few days, so as close to the day as possible!
Hi Jane,
Just wanted to say, I love your recipes!
I’d love to try this but I don’t have a baking tin that would work, so I clicked on the link for the tin that you recommended but unfortunately, that one’s unavailable. Do you have any more suggestions? Thanks 🙂
Hey! You just need one that’s the same size – there’s many available, I just only link the one I use x
The Swiss roll Tin you mentioned is currently unavailable but wanting to make one for Christmas, can you recommend another tin please. X
One of a similar size!
Thanks for sharing, this looks lovely 🙂
Hi Jane
When doing the first rolling of the sponge, would the baking parchment remain within the sponge, to stop it from sticking as it cools?
Many thanks
Yes so you turn the sponge onto the new piece that is coated in icing sugar, remove the old piece of parchment from the tin, and then roll it with the new sugar coated piece of parchment paper inside.
What is the best way to turn this into a chocolate orange yule log instead of mint please ? Would you just substitute the peppermint extract for orange or use chocolate oranges ? Many thanks x
I would substitute the orange for orange extract or zest!
This recipe worked amazingly for me but where is best to store the finished cake?
Room temp for 2 days (so as not to dry out the cake), but fridge for 3-4 days if you don’t mind it drier!
Hi Jane could I add some baileys io the buttercream instead of peppermint and vanilla to the sponge
Yes and yes!
Can this recipe be successfully frozen?
Yes it can!
Jane at what point would you freeze it please?
Hiya! I would freeze just before or after decorating. Hope this helps! x
Can you use this recipe as it is but minus the peppermint extract?
Yes definitely!
So happy been looking for a recipe to make a chocolate log, if I don’t want to put mint in it can I just leave it out?
Thank you in advance
Yes you can!