WOODLAND STUMP CAKE

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Woodland Stump Cake image

Martha's modern version of the traditional yule log cake, or buche de noel, calls for rolling and filling chiffon cake with chocolate-hazelnut cream, covering in chocolate "tree bark," and decorating with candied "mushrooms" and pistachio "moss."

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cake Recipes

Yield Makes one 11-to-12-inch cake

Number Of Ingredients 21

Unsalted butter, room temperature
2 1/4 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, divided
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup safflower oil
7 large egg yolks, plus 9 large egg whites, room temperature
3/4 cup whole milk
1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
10 ounces best-quality white chocolate, melted
3 to 4 tablespoons light corn syrup
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
20 ounces best-quality semisweet chocolate (55 to 61 percent), melted
1/2 cup light corn syrup
Dutch-process cocoa powder, for dusting
6 tablespoons chocolate-hazelnut spread
3 1/4 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
Dutch-process cocoa powder, candy mushrooms, light corn syrup, and finely ground pistachios (preferably Sicilian), for decorating

Steps:

  • Chiffon Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush two rimmed baking sheets with butter. Line with parchment; butter parchment.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. In another large bowl, whisk together oil, egg yolks, milk, and vanilla seeds. Whisk egg-yolk mixture into flour mixture.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on high speed until frothy. Add cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 3/4 cup granulated sugar, beating until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 5 minutes. Whisk one-third of egg-white mixture into batter. Gently but thoroughly fold in remaining egg-white mixture with a rubber spatula.
  • Divide batter evenly between prepared sheets and spread to edges with a spatula. Bake until tops spring back when lightly touched, about 18 minutes. Dust two kitchen towels with confectioners' sugar. Invert one cake onto a towel; remove parchment. Dust with more confectioners' sugar. Starting at one short side, roll into a log, incorporating towel. Repeat with remaining cake. Let cool completely.
  • White Modeling Chocolate: Stir together white chocolate and 3 tablespoons corn syrup until mixture has consistency of thick batter or very soft dough. If mixture is too thick, add remaining 1 tablespoon corn syrup. Pour mixture into center of a large piece of plastic wrap; use edges of plastic to gather into a disk. Wrap tightly and let stand until firm, about 1 hour or up to overnight. When ready to use, transfer to a surface dusted with confectioners' sugar; knead until smooth and pliable.
  • Semisweet Modeling Chocolate: Stir together semisweet chocolate and corn syrup until mixture has consistency of thick batter or very soft dough. Pour mixture into center of a large piece of plastic wrap; use edges of plastic to gather into a disk. Wrap tightly and let stand until firm, about 1 hour or up to overnight. When ready to use, transfer to a surface dusted with cocoa; knead until smooth and pliable.
  • Chocolate-Hazelnut Filling: In a small bowl, whisk together chocolate-hazelnut spread and 1/4 cup cream until thickened. In a large bowl, whisk together remaining 3 cups cream and confectioners' sugar until soft peaks form. Add chocolate mixture and continue whisking until stiff peaks form.
  • Assembly: Unroll cooled cakes, remove kitchen towels, and reroll. Cut each cake crosswise into thirds. Unroll one piece of cake and spread with about 1 cup filling. Roll into a tight spiral and place, cut-side up, in center of a large serving platter. Unroll a second piece of cake, spread with another 1 cup filling, and wrap around perimeter of first piece. Repeat with remaining 4 pieces of cake. Spread remaining filling over top and sides of cake.
  • Roll white modeling chocolate into a 1/4-inch-thick round, about 11 inches in diameter. Place on top of cake and fold overhanging edges down sides of cake. Lightly brush overhanging edges with water. Roll 1 1/2 cups semisweet modeling chocolate into a 6-by-8-inch rectangle. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to press a pattern crosswise on semisweet chocolate to resemble bark. Use a pizza wheel to cut a straight edge along one long side of semisweet chocolate. Affix bark to perimeter of cake, cut-side up, and gather bottom to resemble roots, placing small balls of semisweet chocolate in between bark and cake to create more dimension. Continue in this manner, working around sides of cake. Repeat process with remaining semisweet chocolate, then seam pieces of semisweet chocolate together by pinching and folding over each other to create a gnarled appearance.
  • Using a paring knife, score lines onto surface of tree stump, radiating out from center, to resemble cracks. Use a soft bristled brush to dust white chocolate with cocoa. Mix a small amount of cocoa with water, one drop at a time, until it has consistency of thick paint. Dip the tip of a 2-inch-wide coarse brush into cocoa mixture; dry-brush tree rings onto surface of tree stump. Brush sides and roots of stump in some spots with corn syrup; sprinkle pistachios over brushed spots to create appearance of patches of moss. Place a few candy mushrooms on sides of cake. Decorated cake can be stored in refrigerator, covered, up to 1 day.

Lunar
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This cake is the worst thing I've ever eaten.


Sylvester Oyoo
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This recipe is terrible. Don't even bother trying it.


RX GAMING YT
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This cake is a waste of time and ingredients.


GASMASK NEEDED
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I would not recommend this recipe to anyone.


Mia sab
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This cake was a disaster. It was dry, crumbly, and flavorless.


M Saeed
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I followed the recipe exactly, but my cake didn't turn out as pictured.


Mark Pyorre
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This cake was a bit dry, but the flavor was good.


Basma
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I had some trouble getting the cake to rise properly, but it still tasted good.


Ali Ranaa
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This cake is a bit too sweet for my taste, but it's still very good.


zakk allen
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This cake is so moist and flavorful. I love the way the chocolate and coffee flavors complement each other.


TAWHID AFRiDI
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I made this cake for a bake sale and it sold out in minutes. Everyone loved it.


Ch Zeeshan
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This cake is amazing! The chocolate and coffee flavors are a perfect match.


Mursalin Ahmed
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I followed the recipe exactly and the cake turned out perfect. It was so delicious that I ate two pieces in one sitting.


mohtasham toor
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This cake was a huge hit at my last party! Everyone loved the unique flavor combination and how moist it was. I'll definitely be making it again.