A Little Something Special

As friends and family gather and the seasonal festivities start to roll, why not spend a little time in the kitchen preparing something different this year? These French Christmas cakes are steeped in tradition and are wonderful recipes for involving the kids in the process.

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Bûche de Noël

Also known as a Yule Log Cake, the Bûche de Noël is a traditional French Christmas dessert that has its roots in an old European custom of burning a log in the hearth to welcome the winter solstice. Over time, the custom changed into a dessert made to resemble a log. The cake version is believed to have originated in the 19th Century in France and it soon spread throughout Europe.

Easy Bûche de Noël Recipe

Ingredients For the Cake:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
4 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Powdered sugar (for dusting)

For the Filling:

1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tbsp powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Chocolate Ganache (Topping):

3/4 cup heavy cream
6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips, chopped

Credit: Submitted

Instructions

1. Prepare the Cake

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 15×10-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper and grease it lightly.
In a bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and sugar on high speed for about 5 minutes until thick and pale. Add vanilla extract and mix.
Gently fold the dry ingredients into the egg mixture until just combined.

2. Bake

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cake springs back when lightly touched.
Dust a clean kitchen towel with powdered sugar and turn the cake onto it. Peel off the parchment paper. Roll the cake up with the towel from the short side while it’s still warm. Let it cool completely.

3. Make the Filling

Beat the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form.

4. Assemble the Cake:

Unroll the cooled cake, spread the filling evenly then re-roll without the towel.

5. Prepare the Ganache:

Heat the heavy cream until steaming, then pour it over the chopped chocolate. Let it sit for a few minutes, then stir until smooth.

6. Decorate:

Spread the ganache over the rolled cake to resemble bark. Use a fork to create a wood-grain texture.
Chill until the ganache is set, then slice and serve!

Credit: Submitted

Galette des Rois

The Galette des Rois or King Cake is another traditional French dessert typically enjoyed on January 6 for Epiphany. This holiday celebrates the visit of the Three Wise Men to baby Jesus.

One of the cake’s exciting traditions is hiding a small “fève,” which in French means charm or bean, inside. Whoever finds it in their slice becomes the king or queen for the day and usually wears a paper crown.

Simple Galette des Rois Recipe

Ingredients
For the Filling:

1 cup almond flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs (1 for the filling, 1 for egg wash)
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Pastry:

2 sheets puff pastry thawed
1 fève (small charm, bean or a whole almond)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Filling:

In a mixing bowl, beat together the almond flour, sugar and softened butter until creamy.
Add one egg, almond extract and vanilla extract, and mix until smooth.

2. Assemble the Galette:

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place one sheet of puff pastry on the baking sheet. Spread the filling evenly on top, leaving about a 1-inch border around the edges.
Hide the fève somewhere in the filling.
Brush the border with water, then lay the second puff pastry sheet on top, pressing down the edges to seal. Crimp the edges with a fork to prevent filling leaks.

3. Decorate and Bake

Beat the remaining egg to create an egg wash and brush it over the top layer of the pastry.
Using a knife, lightly score a decorative pattern on the top (traditionally a spiral or crisscross pattern).
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the galette is golden and puffed up.

4. Serve: