Bûche de Noël ~ Christmas Yule Log

Bûche de Noël is a fun, festive cake resembling a holiday yule log. It’s a beautiful cake that’s perfect as a Christmas dessert.

This is a classic French dessert that is served at Christmas time. Bûche de Noël translates as the “Christmas Log” and is meant to look like the piece of wood you are about to toss into the fireplace. It is a rather odd tradition and yet I find myself making one every year. It always reminds me of the TV station that plays Christmas music and shows nothing but a burning log in a fireplace. I thought those were just memories of my long ago childhood, but I was amazed to see that the burning log still finds its place on YouTube even today.


More Holiday Recipes


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Holiday Sugar Cookies

Making cut-out cookies and building my cookie house (see below) are traditions I get so excited about during the holidays. Amid all the hustle and bustle of this season, I savor the evening when I can put on some music, grab a cup of tea, and settle in for some creative time of cookie decorating. Sometimes they are simple and quick but other times, like creating a replica of my home out of sugar cookies, can take hours.

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Homemade Marshmallows

This homemade marshmallows recipe is perfect for hot chocolate, s’mores or just snacking. You’ll find ways to add extract flavors to your marshmallows, too. And don’t forget my homemade graham crackers recipe to go with them!

I really, really wanted to start this post by bitching about the weather. Something my poor family has to endure for much of the winter. But, I’ve decided to rise above the whining-chatter in my head and embrace the weather. It is easy today, at a balmy 42°F. A small, but welcome comfort after an epic freeze. Instead of complaining about the cold, I made hot chocolate and homemade marshmallows. It reminds me of being a kid, when I loved winter and playing outside. There is just something magical about the puff of a marshmallow and how it floats on top of hot chocolate, melting just a little to make a layer of sweet fluff. Totally comforting. Nothing beats that, except now I prefer my hot chocolate with a shot of whiskey and my marshmallows scented with a touch of mint or vanilla or even cardamom.

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