Yule Log Cake

Directions

• Preheat the oven at 180C for 15 min.
• Line a 15inx10in cake tray with parchment paper.
• Lightly grease the parchment paper too.
• For the sponge, divide the egg yolk and white into separate bowls.
• Whip the egg white stiff and keep it aside.
• Into the egg yolk, add the sugar and whisk till light and creamy.
• To this, add the oil and vanilla essence and whisk till well mixed.
• Sieve in the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
• Fold in the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients till fully incorporated.
• Add about 1/3rd of the whipped egg white to this and gently mix in to loosen the batter.
• Gently fold in the remaining egg white in 2-3 batches till it is fully mixed into the batter, without deflating.
• Add the sponge mix to the prepared cake tray and gently tap it on the counter to level it.
• Bake the sponge at 180C for 10-12 min till it springs back when touched.
• Take out the sponge from the oven and sprinkle some powdered sugar on it.
• Put a kitchen towel on top of it and then invert the sponge on top with the help of another tray.
• Once the sponge is on top of the towel.
• Gently peel off the parchment paper.
• Using the kitchen towel, roll the sponge (with the kitchen towel) and keep it aside to cool down.
• For the filling, whip together the cream, sugar (if using unsweetened cream) and vanilla essence till the cream reaches stiff peak consistency.
• In a double boiler, add the chocolate pieces.
• Make sure the bowl with the chocolate does not touch the hot water.
• As the chocolate starts melting, add the cream and mix well.
• Once the chocolate and cream are well mixed, remove it from heat and keep it aside to cool down.
• Once the sponge has cooled down, slowly unroll it. Add the whipped cream and spread it evenly on the sponge.
• Now start rolling it into a log.
• Again, wrap it up in the kitchen towel and keep in the refrigerator to cool down, if needed.
• Transfer the log cake onto a serving board or platter.
• Cut a small piece at an angle from one side and stick it to the side of the log to resemble a small broken branch.
• Cover the cake fully in the ganache.
• You can use a fork to mark line like on a log of wood.
• Sprinkle some icing sugar on top If you wish. You can also decorate it with meringue mushrooms, berries etc.