Saturday, December 22, 2007

Daring Bakers Challenge: Yule Log


The second Daring Bakers Challenge completed!

Challenge: Yule Log
This recipe came from Ivonne from Cream Puffs in Venice and Lis from La Mia Cucina, the founders of Daring Bakers.

Brandy Alexander Yule Log

It's log, it's log, it's sweet, it's creamy, not wood.
It's log, it's log, it's better than bad, it's good.
Everyone wants a log.
Come on and get your log.
You're going to love your log.
Yule Log, a holiday treat.
Gnome sold separately.



The original Log from Ren and Stimpy.

I was really scared going into this challenge after reading some of the horror stories surrounding breaking buttercream that looked like nasty oatmeal. But everything came out with no surprises. Thank goodness as I don't think I have it in me to try this one a second time in one holiday season.

The wonderful old-timey drink, the Brandy Alexander, was my inspiration for the flavor combination. I left the genoise plain, filled it with sweetened (sugar ) whipped cream, spiked with Godiva liqueur and nutmeg, the coffee buttercream used brandy so I added about a cup or more of melted chocolate. For the garnish I candied some rosemary and made the meringue mushrooms (I dipped the bottoms in chocolate and used the chocolate to hold the stems on) and there you have it, the Brandy Alexander Yule Log. And it was delicious.

Please forgive the bad flashy picture. It was late and dark.

The idea of putting the gnome in the photo came from one of my favorite artists ever, minimiam, the team made up of Akiko Ida and Pierre Javelle.

Tarte Imposeé

You don't really get the feel of these photos so small but you get the basic idea. They make these tiny people and place them in stories on food or food related objects. Please check out their work. It's so whimsical and foodie and fantastic.

This was the second hardest cake I've ever made. I was an amazing experience and I surprised myself which is what Daring Bakers is all about. Viva la Daring Bakers!

Check out all the other Daring Bakers.



26 comments:

Gigi said...

Wonderful yule log! The mushrooms look sensational.

Anonymous said...

Terrific!

Ann

Becky said...

Fantastic job with the log. I love the variations you chose - and the little gnome! So cute!

Chris said...

Looks fabulous! I love the key ingredient image thing..:)

Unknown said...

Beautiful job!

Beth G. @SweetLifeKitchen said...

Great job- your log looks fabulous :O)

Anonymous said...

I have gnome envy. And also am craving a brandy alexander. Nice job! I like the recipe card - how do you do that?

Unknown said...

thats one cute gnome!

Unknown said...

and the mushrooms looks so cool!

Carla said...

The recipe card thingy from Key Ingredient is a recipe widget. My husband developed it (for me...hehe) because food bloggers will often have bots scrape their blogs and steal the recipes, then put them on linkfarm sites. Yuck! This widget prevents that from happening. Also it provides a way to easily share recipes on a blog.

All you do is go to Key Ingredient and enter your recipe, save it, then blog it. Copy the embed code (like youtube) and paste in in your post. It's really very easy.

Hope this helps people who are interested in the recipe widget.

http://keyingredient.com

desie said...

Well done! the log looks fab.

test it comm said...

Nice looking Yule Log. I like the candied rosemary garnish!

Julius said...

Beautiful bûche de Noël! The gnomes are a cute touch. :)

Julius from Occasional Baker

Lunch Buckets said...

Nice log. I have gnome envy.

Peabody said...

Good flavor combination! Yum!

Anonymous said...

You did a really great job. I like your filling. Godiva is one of my favorite things ;)
ps. Those little skaters are the bomb!

Lis said...

Carla, your log is beautiful!

And I'm happy it was a good challenge for you - that is what it's all about! hee!

The idea of a brandy alexander cake sounds so wonderful.. although I've never drank one, I've made plenty of them in my bartending days of long ago.. what a brilliant idea!

Happy holidays!

xoxo

Elle said...

Carla, I was hoping that someone would use the Ren and Stimpy log song...and you updated it for the Yule log, too :)
Love your log...it's far better than bad and, indeed, it's good. Cute gnome, too.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! More challenges to come in 2008 for the DBs.

Helene said...

Congratulations on such a beautiful log! I love the gnome....I just love gnomes period!!

Dolores said...

Gorgeous yule log, Carla. Brandy Alexander... brilliant! And thanks for sharing the recipe widgit... what a great tool that seems to be.

I hope your holidays were warm and peaceful, and that 2008 brings your family health and happiness, laughter and love.

Cheryl said...

I so wish I did the chocolate frosting. It looks so authentic. Great job.

Deborah said...

Your yule log is gorgeous!!

The Baker & The Curry Maker said...

Mm mmm Brandy Alexander, great idea. Your Yule looks great, well done.

Jen Yu said...

That is so beautiful. Love the gnome :) You did a splendid job on your yule log!

jen at use real butter

Anonymous said...

your yule log looks fabulous and i also checked out those photos which are amazing!!

Carla said...

I'm so glad you liked the photos. I just love them. And thanks for digging my Yule Log!