Butterscotch yule log: A retro Christmas dessert recipe from the 60s - Click Americana (2025)

FAQs

When did the Yule log become a dessert? ›

Originally a real piece of wood burned over the festive period, the yule log has existed in cake form since the 19th century.

The most common combination is basic yellow sponge cake and chocolate buttercream, though many variations that include chocolate cake, ganache, and icings flavored with espresso or liqueurs exist.

The bûche de Noël is meant to symbolize the yule log, which families burned on Christmas Eve. The yule log represents the new year to come and is said to bring the family good luck.

Yule log cake, or bûche de Noël, is a Christmas cake with a ritualistic past. Cleverly shaped and decorated to look like a 3-D log, the cake represents a melding of ancient midwinter traditions: one that celebrated the end of winter, and another honoring the Norse god Thor.

The Yule log, Yule clog, or Christmas block is a specially selected log burnt on a hearth as a winter tradition in regions of Europe, and subsequently North America. The origin of the folk custom is unclear.

The longest yule log measured 1,136.36 m (3728 ft 2.52 in) long and was created by Club Ashtarout Mayfouk, in Mayfouk, Lebanon, on 21 December 2018.

Pagan and Medieval Origins: The Yule log cake's history is closely tied to the tradition of burning an actual Yule log during the winter solstice, which was a pagan practice in many European cultures. The Yule log symbolized the year's turning point, with the sun's return and longer days.

Is this the same as a swiss roll? The main difference between the two cakes is the way the cakes are decorated. The Yule log cake, or buche de noel, is made to look like the logs burned on Christmas eve, whereas the exterior of a swiss roll is decorated much more simply, such as with whipped cream and fresh fruit.

Yule Log (Bûche de Noël): A Sweet Symbol of Tradition

The Bûche de Noël, shaped like a log, is a Christmas dessert tradition. Crafted from sponge cake and filled with delectable flavors, it is a festive centerpiece enjoyed at the end of Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

What is the most popular dessert in France at Christmas? ›

Bûche de Noël, or Yule log

The most traditional Christmas cake in France is the Yule log, or bûche de Noël. A rolled sponge cake filled with buttercream, it is shaped and decorated with chocolate frosting or ganache to resemble a log of wood.

Christmas is a time rich with tradition. Christmas cookies for Santa, ornaments and decorations, jingle bells and hot cocoa by the fire. For some and in European regions, it's making a yule log cake, also known as a Bûche De Noël in French.

Similar to a Swiss roll, the Yule log cake is made of a soft sponge cake and is believed to have originated in France around the 19th century and was known as Bûche de Noël. The cake is shaped, decorated and frosted to resemble the Yule log from the original tradition.

A yule log and buche de noel are the same thing, a roll of sponge cake, filled with pastry cream, mousse, or some other tasty stuff. The roll is shaped and decorated to look like a log, including meringue mushrooms and other fancy bits.

Yule was first celebrated as far back as the fifth century (so, more than 1,500 years ago) by Germanic pagans as a midwinter festival to stave off the dark and cold and prepare for the long winter still to come. Farmers and locals would assemble at the heathen temple, bringing food, ale, and livestock to be sacrificed.

Pagan and Medieval Origins: The Yule log cake's history is closely tied to the tradition of burning an actual Yule log during the winter solstice, which was a pagan practice in many European cultures. The Yule log symbolized the year's turning point, with the sun's return and longer days.