Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Bûche de Noël

A client recently presented me with a traditional Bûche de Noël, or Yule Log, for the holidays and it was so pretty (and delicious!) I had to share it with you all. The dessert is a traditional French pastry commonly shared around the holidays and decorated to look like a log ready for the fire (that is, if one decorated their logs with snow and meringue mushrooms).This dessert in particular came from the Praline bakery in Bethesda (a suburb of DC) which was founded by former pastry chefs from the White House kitchen. This version featured both chocolate and vanilla butter cream on a sort of chocolate brownie (is your mouth watering yet?). If you're in the DC area you may want to consider one of these as a hostess gift -you won't regret it!

14 comments:

The Devoted Classicist said...

Mmm, it looks delicious! I was given a Yule Log cake form a number of years ago, which I cherish, but a ready-to-eat version would be hard to beat!

ArchitectDesign™ said...

I'm not a baker so I appreciate the read to eat versions of all desserts! I had 2 pieces after a filling lunch and was pleased that my office devoured the rest of the cake within minutes -or I would have had a 3rd!

pve design said...

Funny, one year my sister-in-law brought one from the city and she put it on our porch to stay cool....guess what....the squirrels literally were fooled and ate the entire cake!
Love these Yule logs for the holidays!!!! :)
pve

ArchitectDesign™ said...

Patricia, thats hilarious! I'm sure you had some sick squirrels after that!
PS -your Christmas card was so CUTE!

Ann said...

One of my favorites, I tried to make it once and only once. Rolling the genoise cake perfectly is impossible!

Ann said...

And ps I love Patricia's post, I bet those squirrels were delighted!

David Toms said...

I worked part time in a French Bakery many years ago and by the end of Christmas I was so sick of the sight of the things. As quick as the pastry chefs could make them they would sell. I think one day we sold over 200 of the things!

Reggie Darling said...

How pretty it is, and what a pleasure to see your photographs of it. Fitting, that you should have it, given your recent trip to Paris!

Dandy said...

I made one last year filled with whipped cream and raspberry, minus the meringue mushrooms. Hmmmm, I think I will do it again.... Marry Christmas!!

Kerry Steele- Design du Monde said...

That looks delicious.
My mother and I share a laugh every year remembering when my (French) grandmother dropped the Buche de Noel in the next room. I guess she thought we couldn't hear her swearing, lol.

Thomas Hogglestock said...

When I first saw this post I thought you were still in Paris--but this came from Bethesda...I need to look into that place. Hope you have a great Christmas Stefan.

Kwana said...

How lovely! Happy Holidays to you!

Acanthus and Acorn said...

Let me see if I've got this right, you just had a fabulous week in Paris (I just caught up and read your posts) and now you have this sweet French treat and you aren't sharing!? So naughty, wait till Santa finds out!
Merry Christmas Stefan!!!
xo,
~R

smilla4blogs said...

Your post brings back fond memories of Christmas when we were overseas and shared our Holiday with friends from France. A labor of love, but very filling...can't imagine the squirrels felt well after consuming such a thing!

Merry Christmas from Maine!