Yule Log Cake

5 from 2 votes

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By: Jill Mills Posted: Dec 2, 2024

This Yule Log Cake is the ultimate holiday dessert that’s as impressive as it is delicious! It starts with a cake mix and then easily decorated into an impressive dessert that will wow your guests this holiday season.

Christmas Yule Log Cake Recipe

The Yule Log, or “Bûche de Noël,” is a traditional French dessert. It’s commonly served during Christmas in France, Belgium, and Switzerland, just to name a few.

The rich chocolate cake is soft, moist, and covered with decadent chocolate and sweet vanilla buttercream frosting. It’s a showstopping treat that’s delicious and photo-worthy! If you are looking for a yummy dessert to make this Christmas, this yule log cake is worth your time. Rolling the chocolate sponge cake can be tricky but don’t worry! I included clear and straightforward instructions to ensure the final product is as beautiful as it is yummy.

Why You’ll Love This Yule Log Cake

• Budget-friendly. This is a complex dessert recipe that uses common, inexpensive ingredients. You can create lovely holiday treats without spending a fortune and this cake is proof!
• Fun to decorate. I love making Yule Log cakes. They are fun to roll and decorate. It can be a great activity that you can get your kids involved in. Turn it into an exciting and delicious tradition!
• Easy to make ahead. I prefer to bake and roll the cake ahead of time and decorate it right before serving. It saves some time before going to or hosting a party. This way, it’s perfectly cooled and freshly frosted for guests.

What You’ll Need

There are a few ingredients needed to make this Yule Log recipe. This keeps it simple and affordable so anyone can make it to impress friends and family.

• Cake mix ingredients: You will need eggs, water, and oil to make the cake. Do not follow the directions on the package! The measurements I use are different than what is listed. This ensures the cake has the right texture for rolling.
• Devil’s Food Cake Mix: I enjoy the rich chocolate flavor of Devil’s Food Cake. You may also use any kind of chocolate cake mix that you like. Any brand will work the same!
• Frosting: I use vanilla frosting for the middle of the log and then chocolate on the outside to resemble bark. Cream cheese frosting is a great alternative.
• Decorations: I dust the top with powdered sugar to look like fallen snow as well as rosemary sprigs and sugared cranberries to resemble holly. It takes the presentation to the next level!

How to Make a Yule Log Cake

Below are all the directions needed to prepare, bake, and decorate your cake. This recipe for a yule log cake is easy to follow even if you are not familiar with baking.

• Prep the oven and pan. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a large sheet pan with a raised edge or a jelly roll pan with parchment paper. Spray the paper and pan edges with cooking spray.
• Beat the eggs. Crack the eggs into a large mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer to beat the eggs until they are yellow and foamy.
• Add the cake mix and other ingredients. Pour in the cake mix, oil, and water. Beat at low speed for about 2-3 minutes or until well mixed and smooth.
• Pour onto the pan. Carefully pour the cake batter on the prepared pan and spread it evenly.

• Bake. Put it in the oven and bake it for about 12-14 minutes.
• Cool. Allow the cake to cool in the pan until you can handle it safely and it’s still warm.
• Sprinkle powdered sugar on the dish towel. Sprinkle a generous dusting of powdered sugar onto both sides of a clean dish towel.
• Remove the cake from the pan. Drape the towel over the cake and flip the pan upside down.
• Roll the cake. Gently roll the cake from the shorter end into the kitchen towel.
• Let it cool. Allow it to finish cooling while rolled.

Assembling and Decorating

• Add the vanilla frosting. Gently unroll the cooled cake on a baking sheet. Spread marshmallow frosting evenly across the top of the cake to the edges.
• Cut the cake. Roll the cake and place it seam-side down on the pan. Slice about ⅓ of the cake log at one of the ends on a diagonal.
• Attach the logs. Spread a small amount of chocolate frosting to the side of the larger log and attach the diagonal side of the smaller log to it.

• Add the chocolate frosting. Cover the entire cake in the rest of the chocolate frosting.
• Decorate the cake. Drag the tines of a fork over the cake to give it a bark-like texture. Sprinkle powdered sugar over the top.
• Garnish and serve. Garnish with sugared cranberries and rosemary. Slice and enjoy!

Proper Storage

Store leftover cake in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. I recommend not decorating the cake if you’re planning to freeze it. Store the log with the vanilla frosting in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and decorate it before serving.

More Holiday Cake Recipes to Try

• Frosted Spice Cake
• Christmas Poke Cake
• Candy Cane Cake Roll
• Cranberry Cheesecake
• No Bake Christmas Rice Krispies Cheesecake

5 from 2 votes

Yule Log Cake

This Yule Log Cake is baked and decorated to look exactly like a yule log. It starts with a cake mix and then easily decorated into an impressive dessert that will wow your guests this holiday season.

Servings: 12

Prep: 30 minutes mins

Cook: 15 minutes mins

Total: 45 minutes mins

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Ingredients

  

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• ▢ 6 large eggs room temperature
• ▢ 1 Box Devil’s Food Cake Mix
• ▢ 1/3 cup water
• ▢ 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• ▢ 1 16 ounce Vanilla Buttercream Frosting (2 cups)
• ▢ 2 16 ounce Chocolate Buttercream frosting (4 cups)
• ▢ Sugared Cranberries and Rosemary for garnish, optional
• ▢ Powdered Sugar for dusting

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Line a 12×16 jelly roll pan, or baking sheet with a lip around the edge, with parchment paper.
• Spray the parchment paper and sides of the baking sheet generously with non-stick spray. Set it aside.
• Add the eggs to a mixing bowl and beat on high for 5 minutes or so, or until they are light yellow and foamy.
• Add the cake mix, vegetable oil and water to the same bowl and beat on low speed for 2-3 minutes until well combined.
• Pour the batter onto the prepared baking sheet and use a spatula to spread the batter evenly across the pan. You may need to gently tap the pan on the counter to help the batter settle.
• Bake the cake for 12-14 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
• Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool until it’s just a little warm.

Assemble

• Grab the dish towel and lay it flat on the counter. Sprinkle powdered sugar across the front and back of the towel.
• Gently drape the sugar-dusted towel over the cake and flip the cake upside down.
• The cake should release, and you can remove the pan.
• Starting on one of the short ends, slowly and gently begin to roll the cake by tucking the front edge of the cake with the towel and continue to roll the cake up into the towel.
• Set the cake aside until it is fully cool in the rolled-up position.
• When ready to frost the cake, place the rolled-up cake on a baking sheet, gently unroll and remove the towel and parchment.
• Take your vanilla frosting and stir it up to make it creamy and smooth. Spread the frosting evenly over the cake all the way to the edges.
• Gently roll the cake back up the same way it was rolled before.
• Place the rolled cake seam-side down on a sheet of clean parchment paper. Cut 1/3 of the cake off the end at a diagonal.
• Stir the chocolate frosting until smooth and add a little to the side of the large log. Stick the diagonal end of the small piece to the side of the large piece.
• Add frosting to the entire cake and spread it evenly. Drag a fork over the surface of the chocolate frosting to create lines that make it look like real bark.
• Garnish with fresh or sugared cranberries and rosemary. Dust it with powdered sugar to look like freshly fallen snow.

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Nutrition

Calories: 551kcal | Carbohydrates: 84g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 464mg | Potassium: 308mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 63g | Vitamin A: 71IU | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 3mg

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