Milk Chocolate Yule Log with Little Christmas Trees

The preparation step by step

1. Prepare the oven and weigh

   Preheat the oven to 180 °C, conventional oven setting (no fan). Line a 30 × 40 cm rimmed baking tray with baking paper and weigh all the ingredients. Melt the 20 g butter and allow it to cool until lukewarm.

2. Separate the four eggs

   Break the eggs one by one into a small bowl to check their condition. Separate the whites from the yolks with clean hands or a separator. Put the four yolks in one mixing bowl and the four whites in another, perfectly clean, dry bowl. Keep all traces of yolk out of the whites, as yolk prevents them from whipping properly.

3. Whisk the yolks and whites

   Whisk the yolks with 70 g sugar for 3 minutes until pale and thick enough to leave a ribbon. Wash and dry the whisks. Whisk the egg whites with the pinch of salt. When foamy, add the remaining 30 g sugar in three additions. Stop when the egg whites form soft peaks.

4. Fold in dry ingredients without breaking the foam

   Fold a third of the egg whites into the yolk mixture using a spatula. Add the 100 g sifted flour in two additions, alternating with the remaining egg whites. Fold the batter from the bottom up, turning the bowl as you work. Mix two spoonfuls of batter into the lukewarm butter, then pour this back into the mixing bowl.

5. Spread and bake the sponge

   Spread the batter evenly into the corners of the tray. Bake on the middle shelf for 10 to 12 minutes. The surface should spring back when pressed lightly and should no longer feel sticky. Avoid overbaking: a dry sponge will crack when rolled.

6. Prerolled and cooled

   Moisten a clean dishcloth, then wring it out very carefully. Turn the hot sponge onto the towel, lift off the tray and peel away the baking paper. Roll up the sponge with the tea towel inside, starting from a 30 cm side. Let it cool completely for 30 minutes. Keep the towel inside for this first roll; remove it when filling and assembling the cake.

7. Chop the chocolate

   Finely chop the 180 g of milk chocolate and place them in a dry bowl. Heat the 120 g of cream in a saucepan until the first frizz. Turn off the heat immediately.

8. Emulsify the ganache

   Pour a third of the hot cream over the chocolate. Stir in the centre with a spatula until a glossy core forms. Add the other two thirds one after the other while continuing to mix. Avoid whisking, so that no air bubbles are incorporated.

9. Mature the ganache

   Add the 230 g of cold cream, mix, then press cling film directly onto the surface. Refrigerate for 8 hours. The mixture must be cold all the way through before whisking; half an hour in the refrigerator is not enough.

10. Whip the cold ganache

    Pour the ganache into a refrigerated bowl. Whisk on medium speed for 1 to 3 minutes, watching continuously. Stop as soon as the whisk leaves trails and the mixture holds on the whisk. Overwhipped ganache becomes grainy; use it as soon as it is softly whipped.

11. Spread the cold garnish

    Gently unroll the completely cold sponge and remove the tea towel. Reserve about a third of the cream for the outside. Spread the remaining two-thirds evenly, leaving a 2 cm clear border along the 30 cm edge where the roll will close.

12. Roll without crushing

    Roll from the side opposite the empty border. Guide the first turn with your fingers, then lift the towel to help roll the sponge, keeping the towel outside the cake. Place the log seam-side down on the serving plate. Cover it without compressing and refrigerate for 2 hours. Keep the reserved cream refrigerated too.

13. Cover and Finish

    Loosen the reserved cream with a spatula, then spread it over the sides and top of the log. Make large marks with the back of a spoon. A slightly irregular finish is enough; do not look for a perfectly smooth shell. Keep the ends visible to show the spiral.

14. Draw the small decorations

    Melt the 40 g of dark chocolate in a bain-marie. Spread it on baking paper in a 3 mm baking tray. When it starts to freeze but remains flexible, knife-cut four small triangles 3 cm high and two flat ovals 2 cm high, then refrigerate 20 minutes.

15. Put the decorations on the log

    Take off the hardened shapes and places the triangles flat or slightly inclined on the top of the log. Both ovals can evoke simple fawn ears. Keep the shapes small and supported by the cream, without sculpture or fine branches.

16. Serve regular shares

    Dip the knife blade in hot water, wipe it thoroughly, then slice without crushing the cake. Wipe the blade between slices to keep the layers clearly defined. Take out only the amount you plan to serve and return the rest of the log to the refrigerator.