It's the most wonderful time of year! Everything is a little more festive. This Gluten and Dairy Free S'mores Chocolate Yule Log is the perfect way to celebrate the joyousness of the holidays.
Have you ever made or had a Yule log before? Sometimes called a bûche de Noël these celebratory cakes are a feast for all of the senses.
A Symbol of the Season
This Gluten and Dairy Free S'mores Chocolate Yule Log is both holly and jolly, and completely elegant. As delicious as every bite is it's also a centerpiece for your celebration.
While the name might be new, the Yule Log is rooted in European history and tradition. Made popular in the early 19th century in France, it spread to Belgium, Switzerland, and the French colonies. With a sponge cake base, or genoise, at heart this cake is a jelly roll.
Traditionally yule logs start with a yellow sponge cake baked in a jelly pan. For this recipe we are taking the traditional and updating it with my favorite flavor combination, s'mores.
A chocolate sponge cake is combined with a Dairy Free chocolate cream cheese filling. This cake gets an extra layer of flavor and its dramatic appearance from toasted marshmallow frosting.
Amoretti Natural Toasted Marshmallow Artisan Flavor adds depth and interest to the torched meringue covering the outside in a decadent cloud. I love the vast line of Amoretti products. From artisan natural flavors and extracts to Gluten Free nut flours, they have everything for your baking needs.
Rolling into the Season with Gluten and Dairy Free S'mores Chocolate Yule Log
While this cake might look complicated, with just a few steps you will be wowing your family and friends with this gorgeous and delectable holiday treat. This is sure to become a new tradition.
- Pregame! Preheat your oven to 375. Line a 10x15 jelly pan with parchment paper.
- Mix your sugar, applesauce, and eggs in a bowl for three minutes. Add your remaining ingredients and mix until just incorporated. Don't over mix!
- Spread the batter onto the prepared jelly roll sheet. Using an offset spatula helps with this. Because this is such a thin cake it only requires 13-15 minutes of baking, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and using the parchment paper roll up your cake and allow to cool to room temperature on a cooling rack while you prepare the filling.
- For the filling make sure your Dairy Free cream cheese is at room temperature. Mix all of your ingredients together until creamy and smooth.
- Using the parchment paper, gently unroll your cake. Spread the filling evenly on your cake and gently roll back up.
- If you would like a side piece of your log, cut off 3" of the rolled cake. You can position it however you like.
All About the Frosting!
- To created the toasted marshmallow frosting for your Gluten and Dairy Free S'mores Chocolate Yule Log, create a double boiler. This means bring a pot of water to a simmer and fit it with a glass bowl on top. You want to make sure the water never touches the bottom of the bowl. You just want the steam.
- Add your egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar to the glass bowl and whisk constantly for five minutes until frothy and lighter in texture. Pour into a mixing bowl and add your toasted marshmallow flavoring. Beat on high for five minutes or until the frosting becomes thick and holds its shape. This is called stiff peaks. It will be glossy and increase in size.
- Spread the frosting along your yule log. Use a knife to create that bark like texture. Have fun with it!
- If desired, use a kitchen torch to toast your frosting. This will make it look even more like bark.
- This is s'mores after all. Garnish your yule log with your favorite crushed Gluten and Dairy Free graham crackers. Happy holidays!
Top Tip
When you create a double boiler, it allows you to cook or melt something at a gentle heat without worry of over cooking it. This is useful for making custards, meringues, melting chocolate, etc. The best part is you don’t need any special tools.
Armed with a pot of simmering water and a glass bowl, you can easily create a double boiler at home. The key is to make sure the water never touches the bottom of the bowl. You want the steam created from the seal to do all of the work.
Are you s'mores obsessed like me? Make sure you check out my recipe for Ultimate Gluten Free Toasted S'mores Cake. Now let's get baking!
Gluten and Dairy Free S'mores Chocolate Yule Log
Equipment
- mixing bowls
- 10x15 jelly roll pan
- Parchment paper
- Double boiler
- kitchen torch optional
Ingredients
Chocolate Sponge Cake
- 1 cup Gluten Free 1.1 flour
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp espresso powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup applesauce
Chocolate Cream Cheese Filling
- ½ cup Dairy Free butter, room temperature
- 8 oz Dairy Free cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp Dairy Free milk
Toasted Marshmallow Frosting
- 4 egg whites
- ½ tsp cream of tartar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp toasted marshmallow flavoring
For Serving
- 1 cup Gluten Free graham crackers, crushed
Instructions
Chocolate Sponge Cake
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 10x15 jelly roll sheet pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Add sugar, applesauce, and eggs to a mixing bowl and mix for 3 minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients and mix until just combined. Don't over mix.
- Pour batter onto prepared sheet pan. Use an offset spatula to smooth it out.
- Bake for 13-15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven. Using the parchment paper roll up the cake and place on a cooling rack. Allow to come to room temperature and follow with the remaining steps.
Chocolate Cream Cheese Filling
- Add all of the ingredients to a mixer and mix until smooth and creamy.
- Slowly roll out the cake. Spread the filling evenly onto the cake.
- Gently roll back up.
- If you would like a side log piece, cut a 3" piece off one end and position where you like.
Toasted Marshmallow Frosting
- Create a double boiler. Bring a pot of water to a simmer and fit a glass bowl over the top. Make sure the water never touches the bottom of the bowl. You want the steam to cook the eggs gently.
- Add the egg whites, cream of tartar, and sugar to the glass bowl. Whisk continuously for approximately 5 minutes until the mixture becomes light and frothy.
- Transfer the egg white mixture to a mixing bowl. Add the toasted marshmallow flavoring and mix on high for 5 minutes or until it increases in volume, becomes thick, and holds its shape. This is called stiff peaks.
- Spread the toasted marshmallow frosting over the yule log. To create a textured look, use a knife to create your desired pattern. Toast with a kitchen torch.
- Add crushed graham crackers around the yule log for serving.
- Enjoy!
Leave a Reply