Best 3 Yule Logs Recipes

YULE LOGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Make the cakes: Line two 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper, and lightly coat with spray. Beat egg yolks with a mixer on high speed until pale yellow and thick, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl.
• Beat egg whites in a clean mixer bowl on medium speed until soft peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes. Raise speed to medium-high; slowly add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Transfer mixture to a large bowl.
• Fold yolks into egg-white mixture using a rubber spatula, being careful not to deflate whites. Sift cocoa and flour over top; gently fold to combine. Pour into prepared sheets, and gently smooth tops using an offset spatula.
• Bake until cakes spring back when touched, 9 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, line 2 wire racks with parchment paper, and lightly coat with spray. Remove cakes from oven, and immediately turn out each onto a prepared rack. Peel parchment from cakes. Let stand until cooled completely.
• Assemble the cakes: Place 2 clean kitchen towels on work surface, and transfer each cake (with parchment) to a towel. Divide caramel cream evenly between cakes. Spread, using an offset spatula, leaving 1/2-inch border around edges.
• Tightly roll 1 cake into a log, starting with a short end, removing parchment as you work. Tightly wrap log in kitchen towel. Repeat with remaining cake. Transfer wrapped logs, seam side down, to a baking sheet, and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.
• Unwrap each log. Lightly dust work surface with cornstarch or confectioners' sugar. Roll out half the fondant to 1/4-inch thickness. Place an 8-by-12-inch food-safe wood-grain texture mat on fondant, and press hard, using a rolling pin, to make an indentation. Gently remove mat, and generously rub fondant with cocoa. Brush off excess cocoa.
• Drape 1 cake log with fondant sheet. Shape fondant to fit log using your hands, and trim ends and cut away excess with a paring knife or a pizza cutter. Transfer to a serving platter. Repeat with remaining fondant, cocoa, and cake log. Serve with sugared white pine needles and milk-chocolate pinecones if desired.

MOCHA LOGS (FOR YULE)

Steps:

• 1. 2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt MOCHA FROSTING (recipe follows) Powdered sugar (optional) Beat butter and sugar in large bowl until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until fluffy. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Cover; refrigerate dough 1 to 2 hours. Heat oven to 350°F. Shape heaping teaspoons of dough into log shape, each about 2-1/2 inches long and 3/4 inches in diameter; place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until set. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Frost with MOCHA FROSTING. Using tines of fork, draw lines through frosting to represent tree bark. Lightly sift with powdered sugar, if desired. About 2-1/2 dozen cookies.
• 2. MOCHA FROSTING 6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened 2-2/3 cups powdered sugar 1/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa 3 to 4 tablespoons milk 2 teaspoons powdered instant espresso dissolved in 1 teaspoon hot water 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Beat butter in medium bowl. Add powdered sugar and coca alternately with milk, dissolved espresso and vanilla, beating to spreading consistency. About 1-2/3 cups frosting.

GINGERBREAD YULE LOGS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk the first 5 ingredients. In a large saucepan, combine corn syrup, brown sugar and butter; cook and stir over medium heat until butter is melted. Transfer to a large bowl; gradually beat flour mixture into corn syrup mixture. Beat in cream cheese. Shape dough into a disk. Wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes or until firm enough to roll., Preheat oven to 350°. On parchment, roll dough into an 18x12-in. rectangle. Cut into three 12x6-in. rectangles., In a small bowl, mix Nutella and, if desired, lime zest; spread over rectangles. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seams to seal. Cut each roll crosswise into 4 logs; place on greased baking sheets, seam side down. If desired, use the tines of a fork to make strokes in dough to resemble bark., Bake 20-25 minutes or until bottom and edges are light brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a small bowl, mix confectioners' sugar and water until smooth; drizzle over cookies. If desired, decorate with sprinkles. Let stand until set.