Buche De Noel Yule Log Recipe from Real Simple (2024)

I’m excited to share with you a fabulous Christmas dessert recipe: Buche De Noel Yule Log Recipe from Real Simple. If you have always dreamed of putting together a Yule log during the holiday season, I hope you find this tutorial extremely helpful.

Want another Christmas dessert idea? Check out my amazing Eggnog Pie recipe.

Buche De Noel Yule Log Recipe from Real Simple

Note: This post was originally written and published in 2013, but it was updated with better pictures in 2024 for your convenience. “This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Cooking Light, Real Simple, and Sunset Magazines, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #SafewayHoliday https://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.”

Buche De Noel is French for “Yule Log.” This dessert will be the perfect addition to your recipe collection this Christmas season. It’s beautiful, but the balance of rich chocolate and creamy whipping cream is perfect.

I was hired to find a recipe to make from the Real Simple December 2013 issue I purchased at Safeway to showcase some of the fabulous recipes available in this magazine. I was able to make this Yule log dessert for a Christmas season fundraiser, and it was a huge hit.

“Buche De Noel” – Yule Log Ingredients (Serves 12)

Hands-on time: 60 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes

• Butter, for the pan
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon sour cream
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 3 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped

How to Make thisBuche De Noel Yule Log Recipe from Real Simple

1. Heat oven to 350. Butter a 9×13 jelly roll pan and line with parchment; butter the parchment. I used a silicone mat.
2. Whisk together the flour, cocoa, and salt in a small bowl.
3. Beat the egg yolks, vanilla, and 1/4 cup of the sugar in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high until light yellow, 3-4 minutes.
4. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites (with clean beaters) on medium-high until foamy, 1-2 minutes. Gradually add 1/2 cup of the remaining sugar and beat until stiff peaks form, 2-3 minutes or more.
5. Gently fold the egg yolk mixture into the egg whites. Gradually fold in the dry ingredients. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and use an offset spatula to smooth the surface. Bake until the cake springs back lightly when pressed, 8-10 minutes (mine actually took about 12 minutes). Cool.
6. Whip the heavy cream, sour cream, and the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high until stiff peaks form, 1-2 minutes.
7. Spread the whipped cream on the cake, leaving a 2-inch border along one of the short ends. Starting at the other short end, roll up the cake toward the uncovered border (letting the parchment fall away as you roll…I actually took off the silicone mat before this moment). Place the cake seam-side down on a serving platter. Drizzle with chocolate ganache over the top (recipe to follow). Let set for 5 minutes. Run the tines of a fork through the ganache to create “bark.” (“Buche de Noel” is French for “Yule log”).
8. Make the chocolate ganache by bringing 1/3 cup heavy cream to a boil in a small pot.Do not over-cook. Remove from heat, add the chocolate, and let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk to combine. Cool slightly before using.
9. Optional: For toppings of candied rosemary and candied raspberries, I followed this tutorial. Candied cranberries would be another beautiful addition.

Step-by-Step Visual Instructions for Making a Busche De Noel Yule Log

I love having a visual overview of all the steps of making a dessert.

I went to Safeway to shop to buy ingredients for a dessert I needed to make for a fundraiser at our church. A friend and her family are going on a mission trip to Uganda to work with kids. I started in the magazine aisle to find the magazines I wanted. My kids looked at the books on the shelf while I thumbed through magazines to find something tantalizing to make for the jazz evening.

I checked out the new issues of Real Simple, Cooking Light, and Sunset magazines. I grew up in a family that had magazines. My mom would have several cooking magazines, and she would dog-ear or mark the ones she wanted to try. I’m sure I inherited some of this from her.

Currently, I rip out the recipes I am interested in, then glue them to a piece of paper, put them in a plastic cover, and organize them in a binder. You can look back to see more about my methods.

Cooking Light has been a staple for my mom and me, but I love Real Simple and Sunset too. Although the other magazines I found had great recipes and fun travel information, I discovered this fabulous Buche De Noel recipe from the Real Simple magazine.

When I saw the image and read the recipe, I knew immediately this was what I wanted to make for the fundraiser. Thankfully, Real Simple hired me to share their fabulous recipe.

I cannot emphasize enough how much kids will grow, learn, and create memories with you as you have them help in the kitchen. My kids love this time, and I do too.

If you need to know what stiff peaks look like, I added this helpful picture.

As you roll up the cake, it will crack a bit. Be careful and gentle as you roll, but don’t worry. This dessert is covered in chocolate ganache to cover any imperfections.

This is what your cake will look like all rolled up and ready to set on the serving dish.

Beautiful.

I’ve made ganache before, but I haven’t used the method of boiling the cream first. This was super easy. Just make sure to not over-boil the cream.

The ganache you can drizzle along the top. You will then spread the ganache to give a smooth look on the top and sides of your yule log.

Using a fork will create a log-like feel.

This “Buche de Noel” is beautiful and will promise to delight your friends and family this Christmas season.

Recipe Card for Buche De Noel Yule Log

Want More Christmas Dessert Ideas?

Red Velvet Candy Cane Trifle

Reindeer Oreo Cream Cheese Truffles

Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Pie