Buche De Noel (Yule log cake)

From the kitchen of Melissa Pappas

This is a traditional French dessert that is often served at Christmas or on Epiphany.

Note: This recipe is from Cooks.com since I couldn’t find mine.)

5 eggs, separated
2/3 c. sugar
3 tbsp. cocoa
2 tbsp. flour
1 tub milk chocolate frosting
1 c. heavy cream, whipped
2 tbsp. pistachio nuts

Grease a 15″x10″x1″ jelly roll pan; line bottom with wax paper; grease and flour paper. Beat egg yolks in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar until light and thick. Beat in cocoa and flour at low speed. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form; fold into yolk mixture until smooth. Spoon batter evenly into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until top springs back when lightly pressed.

Turn out onto cloth sprinkled with powdered sugar. Cut a 1/4″ strip from one short side. Roll up cake and towel together; cool on wire rack. Unroll cooled cake. Spread with 3 tablespoons frost then spread with whipped cream; re-roll. Frost roll with remaining frosting. Roll up trimmed edge; press into log to form a “knot”. Draw fork down frosting for a bark effect. Sprinkle with pistachio nuts. Garnish as desired.