1. Classic Chocolate Yule Log (Bûche de Noël)
Let’s start with the OG. Light chocolate sponge cake, rolled with whipped cream or ganache, and covered in a silky chocolate frosting that gets dragged with a fork to look like bark. Bonus points for meringue mushrooms and powdered sugar snow.
Why it works: It’s timeless, deeply chocolatey, and super impressive on a dessert table.
Pro tip: Roll the cake while it’s still warm in a tea towel dusted with cocoa powder. This keeps it from cracking and makes you feel like a baking boss.
2. Peppermint Mocha Yule Log
Like your morning latte but dressed for a party. Chocolate sponge rolled with peppermint whipped cream and coated in espresso chocolate ganache. Garnish with crushed candy canes and chocolate shavings.
Why it works: It’s festive, a little fancy, and gives candy cane energy without being too sweet.
For extra flair: Add mini peppermint bark shards sticking out like log “splinters.”
3. Red Velvet Yule Log with Cream Cheese Filling
Red velvet brings major drama, and when you pair that ruby red sponge with a tangy cream cheese center? Perfection. Roll it up and frost with vanilla buttercream or white chocolate ganache.
Why it works: It’s bold, nostalgic, and basically a giant red velvet cake that’s been holiday-rolled.
Presentation tip: Add sugared cranberries and rosemary for that frosty “winter forest” vibe.
4. Tiramisu Yule Log
Soft espresso-soaked sponge cake filled with mascarpone cream and dusted with cocoa powder. Swap chocolate frosting for a light coffee buttercream and maybe a splash of Kahlúa for the grown-ups.
Why it works: It’s a flavor twist without getting too far from tradition. And mascarpone? Always a good idea.
Pro tip: Soak the cake with cooled espresso before rolling — just enough to make it rich, not soggy.
5. Gingerbread Yule Log
This one screams Christmas in every bite. Spiced sponge cake filled with vanilla whipped cream or maple buttercream. You could even swirl in a little cranberry compote if you’re feeling wild.
Why it works: It smells like holiday candles and tastes like the North Pole.
Top it off: Crushed gingersnaps and a dusting of cinnamon sugar make it extra magical.
6. Black Forest Yule Log
Dark chocolate sponge rolled with cherry whipped cream and dotted with chopped cherries or cherry preserves. Cover in chocolate ganache and top with chocolate curls and fresh cherries.
Why it works: It’s rich, fruity, and feels straight out of a European holiday market.
Fun idea: Use maraschino cherries soaked in a little rum or brandy for a boozy upgrade.
7. White Chocolate Cranberry Yule Log
A light vanilla sponge filled with tart cranberry jam and whipped white chocolate cream. Frost with white chocolate buttercream and sprinkle with pearl sugar and sugared cranberries.
Why it works: Sweet, tart, creamy, and beautiful. This is your Instagram moment.
Make it sparkle: Edible glitter. Yes, it’s a thing. And yes, it’s the holidays. Go for it.
Decorating Your Yule Log Like a Pro
Once you’ve baked and frosted, don’t skip the finishing touches. These turn your roll cake into a Yule Log fantasy:
- Fork tines for bark texture on the frosting
- Meringue mushrooms for a French bakery vibe
- Powdered sugar for snow
- Sugared rosemary + cranberries = instant woodland magic
- Chocolate shards or curls for that extra
Yule Log FAQs
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. In fact, it’s better that way. Chill the rolled cake (wrapped in plastic) and frost the day you serve.
What if it cracks?
Frost it anyway. Hide it with whipped cream. Call it rustic. Nobody will know.
Do I need a jelly roll pan?
Technically yes, but a quarter sheet pan works in a pinch. Just don’t overfill or you’ll get cake lava.
Final Word
A Yule Log is that one holiday dessert that’s over-the-top without being fussy. Whether you go classic chocolate or remix it with peppermint, red velvet, or cranberry glam, these 7 recipes will make your dessert table feel like it came straight from a bakery window.
So bake one, decorate it like you’re the star of a holiday baking show, and let it be the edible centrepiece your Christmas deserves.
