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12/29/08

Daring Bakers Challenge: French Yule Log

This month's Daring Bakers challenge is brought to us by the adventurous Hilda from Saffron and Blueberry and Marion from Il en Faut Peu Pour Etre Heureux.

They have chosen a French Yule Log by Flore from Florilege Gourmand.

Let me just say that I was terrified when I read the instructions for the French Yule Log. Not only would it require 6 parts and almost 2 days, but I'd have to make caramel: a frightening task. However, having skipped November challenge, I did not want to fall behind, and decided the 4 day weekend would be a good time to make this challenge (good thing I don't celebrate Christmas!).

This is not a rolled log: instead you make 6 components and layer them in a mold (I used a bread pan) and then freeze it overnight before glazing the entire concoction and then freezing it again.

The six components were:
1) Dacquoise Biscuit: I made mine with almond meal
2) Mousse: I made mine mango flavored! (the store was out of normal mangoes, so I had to buy the ones already caught up, and simply pureed them)
3) Ganache Insert: I used dark chocolate and mixed it with home-made caramel, per instructions. Making caramel was scary, but I did it!!!
4) Praline (Crisp) Insert : I attempted to make mine with the home-made crispy crepe, but I must not have spread it thin enough and ended up keeping it in the oven for too long and burning it! Instead, I used Honey Bunch of Oats!
5) Creme Brulee Insert: I used orange rind to flavor my creme brulee. It took almost 2 hours in the oven to set instead of 1, but the final result was good.
6) Icing: I used dark chocolate, of course.



Sorry, I did not take any photos of the process: I was too busy washing the dishes, cooling things down, and trying to keep my composure. I was very relieved and happy once the yule log was completed. And as far as the taste, I was happy with the results. I think the ganache layer was overpowering, and am happy I decided to do mango mousse instead of a chocolate one.

Saturday Anna and I went to visit Cindy and her family and to share some of the cake with them. There are still a few slices left in my fridge :)

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33 comments:

BlueToYou said...

this looks too amazing and i'm so impressed you made caramel!!! :) can you ship me some? pretty please?

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

A pretty log! Very well done! Yes, I can't wait to see what'll come next...

Best wishes for the New Year!

Cheers,

Rosa

Helene said...

Enjoy those last few slices! I wish my gluttons had left me some!!

Your log turned out beautiful and very nice pics :)

Unknown said...

Wow, you did a great job, I bet it's delish!

Esther said...

Looks great. I love the look of those like yours that used fruit. When I have time I plan to try one.

Hilda said...

Great job on your log! I'm so glad you liked the result, it's a lot of work not to. Have a Happy New Year!

Dewi said...

Well, I was pretty scared too when I read the long recipes. After I saw each components, I felt relieve because they pretty familiar recipes.

Well done, you finished the challenge and the yule log look fabulous.
Cheers,
Elra

Ethan said...

Ditto on the no time to photo the process. I was suprised how well it came together however.
PS. Those latkes look great. I look forward to ours every year. I actually served the Yule Log at a Winter Solstice party with latkes and tamales. Go figure.

Unknown said...

Great job! Your layers are so pretty. Hope everyone enjoyed it.

PAM said...

Your log turned out great. I thought the ganache layer was overpowering too so I put less in there. Love the mango flavor with the chocolate.

Anonymous said...

Oooo, I love Mango's. I bet that mouse was smooth and refreshing! You log looks wonderful! My helper, loves to clean, weird I know, and he gets paid in FOOD!

Happy Holidays!

Renee said...

Great job on your Yule Log!!!! It looks fantastic.

silverrock said...

simply precious looking yule-log! I am in awe! Great job on this month's DB challenge

Linda Judd said...

Mmmmm! It looks so perfect! And I wish I'd have tried a different flavor of mousse. Next time I will -- maybe strawberry. But your mango sounds delish, too! Nice work.

Anonymous said...

Vivid yellow, you say? I really don't know - followed the recipe :-) Perhaps it's our beautiful Dutch eggs??

I would have liked to taste your ganache-layer, mine wasn't so thick and beautiful!

Baker at Law said...

Your log looks yummy. I like the use of mango and orange flavors combined with the chocolate. I have a few slices left in the fridge too. I actually like mine fridge temp, instead of frozen. Great job! Happy New Year.

Anonymous said...

Such nice, even layers- Your yule log is just gorgeous! Plus, that mango mousse sounds really tasty.

chef_d said...

Yummy!!!

Amy said...

Honey Bunches of Oats? Now that is inspirational! Well done,

Amy

test it comm said...

Nice yule log!

Esi said...

Mango mousse! That's awesome. Yes, I am definitely patting myself on the back after completing that one. Are you not scared of making caramel anymore?

Anonymous said...

Great job! And yes I was very intimated by this challenge as well.

Anonymous said...

Was freaked out when I saw the recipe, too. Then I read it, oh, 20 times over and decided it was doable :)

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

I liked the flavours in your log and the nice layers. Mango is my favourite fruit but its not the season for them here now.:(
Terrified, was my initial reaction too.:)

Best wishes for the festive season and a Happy New Year.

Bex said...

It looks great. The layers came out very nicely.

Anonymous said...

My creme brulee took a long time too. Great looking yule log!

Maggie said...

I love the idea of orange creme brulee with the mango mousse, it sounds like a great combination.

Lisa magicsprinkles said...

The mango twist sounds fabulous!

Laura Rebecca said...

Mmm, mango, orange and chocolate sound absolutely wonderful. (My creme brulee took forever to set, too.) You did a wonderful job!

Anonymous said...

Pretty log! Love the mango and orange combination you used.

breadchick said...

love the fruity combo you made on your log!

Gretchen Noelle said...

Wonderful job, the log looks just terrific!!

Meeta K. Wolff said...

a fantastic job! this looks simply great!