What is a Bûche de Noël?
Looking for something new and different to serve after dinner this Christmas? Try a Bûche de Noël! Also spelled Bouche de Noel in the English-speaking world, this French cake is a classic Christmas tradition across the pond and would make a lovely addition to your family's holiday tradition, no matter what it is.
Traditionally, a Bûche de Noël is simply a flat chocolate sheet cake that is rolled into a log shape with frosting and goodies of varying flavors between each circular layer. My favorite ever Bûche de Noël was frosted with a combination of hazelnut and chocolate frosting and had chopped hazelnuts inside--a classic French take on cake that, I swear, took the cake.
Though we aren't in Paris, some bakeries in America do specialize in Bûches de Noël. If you'd like to try making your own version of this Christmas cake at home, start with a simple chocolate cake mix that you bake into a sheet about one inch thick. Make sure not to let the cake get too dry as it cooks, as you'll encounter lots of difficulty rolling it into the finished product in one piece.
To your sheet cake (or blank canvas, as I like to think of it), apply a liberal layer of your favorite kind of frosting and whatever amount you desire of anything from Reese's Pieces to candied ginger. The beauty of the Bûche, you see, is that anything works!
In France, the Bûche de Noël is, once successfully rolled into the log shape, traditionally covered with another layer of frosting and decorated with small plastic details, such as stars, ornaments--you name it. I've even seen a small log cabin figurine atop a Bûche de Noël. However you decorate yours, have fun making this French tradition your own.
Joyeux Noel!
Enjoy Planning.
Penelope
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