As soon as the holidays arrive, our family’s annual gingerbread house The decoration contest begins. Think gum, candy canes, ice cubes and marshmallows – any candy is fair game to make your gingerbread palace stand out from the rest. But this year, I have a new dessert to introduce to the competition: The humble yule diary, also known as Bûche de Noël. If you’re new, let me enlighten you with a little history before sharing our easy yule journaling recipes.
Decorated with textured wood icing, meringue mushrooms and sugared cranberries, this traditional Christmas cake is designed to mimic a whimsical winter forest and dates back to pre-Medieval times. A log from the Yule tree would be brought home and placed in a bonfire to burn for days. The burning of the yule log is a sentiment that symbolizes bringing good luck for the new year. While some cultures still closely practice this tradition today, others take a sweeter approach and enjoy this log-shaped cake.
Not only does it look delicious, but this log cake also tastes amazing — it’s festive, festive, and surprisingly easier to make than it looks. So I guess baking and decorating a yule wood cake might just be our family’s next tradition. If you want to join me in creating new holiday traditions with the iconic Bûche de Noël, read on to find 11 easy yule diary recipes that range from classic to novel.
10 easy Yule journaling recipes to follow this season
Yule Holiday Diary from Ahead of Thyme
Why do we love It: If you are a yule journaling beginner, this is the recipe for you. Ahead of Thyme includes a list of do’s and don’ts to ensure that your adventure into the world of yule records is a success. Pro tip first: how to get the perfect roll.
Hero composition: This traditional holiday yule diary combines the classic taste of chocolate sponge cake with whipped cream filling and chocolate ganache topping.
Gingerbread and Dark Chocolate Yule Diary from Taste of Home
Why we love it: Not ready to leave the gingerbread cookies behind? This recipe offers a twist on the classic yule record with a gingerbread flavored sponge that is sure to become a holiday dessert.
Hero composition: Gingerbread with fresh ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon is the perfect complement to the dark chocolate topping.
Espresso Mascarpone and Chocolate Ganache Yule Log from Brown Eyed Baker
Why we love it: As an espresso lover, this might be my favorite recipe on the list. But if that’s not your jam, Brown Eyed Baker recommends replacing the espresso powder with a teaspoon of vanilla extract for sweetness — Yum!
Hero composition: The richness of the espresso flavor is balanced by the aromatic mascarpone filling in this recipe.
Diary of Yule Yule vegan and gluten-free white chocolate chocolate from Nirvana Cakery
Why we love it: This plant-based recipe uses almonds, cashews, and coconut to create a sweet treat that meets all of your vegan and gluten-free needs. Topped with a topping of white chocolate and mixed coconut, this dessert is the perfect dessert for the upcoming snowy days.
Hero composition: The white chocolate icing made from cashew nuts and coconut cream makes the cake here attractive.
Diary of Yule Three Vegan Chocolates from Crumbs & Caramen
Why we love it: If you are a fan of chocolate, this decadent recipe is for you. This is one of those recipes that proves that vegans don’t need to stifle flavors. As an alternative to egg whites, aquafaba is used to make foamy chocolate sponge.
Hero composition: This yule diary includes chocolate mousse rolled into chocolate sponges and covered with chocolate ganache. Do I need to say more?
Red Velvet and Peppermint Yule Log from Martha Stewart
Why we love it: This yule diary from Martha Stewart has one of the flavors I’m most excited about getting into this season. For me, mint heralds the start of the holiday and this recipe is the perfect way to start!
Hero composition: Mint frosting with a red velvet cake is a heavenly combination.
Hazlenut and Almond Yule Log from Martha Stewart
Why we love it: If you’re looking for a way out of the chocolate pile in previous yule records, this mouthwatering recipe should be your pick.
Hero composition: This hazelnut and almond diary is topped with crushed almonds and garnished with almond mushrooms.
Chestnut Yule Log Layer Cake from Martha Stewart
Why we love it: The yule log scrolling process seems intimidating to you? I know it works for me, which is why I chose to make a yule-inspired layered cake this holiday season.
Hero composition: This cake layer consists of roasted chestnuts and a golden butter rum sponge.
Hazlenut Yule Log Cocoa from Sally’s Baking Addiction
Why we love it: What’s not to love about this picturesque cake? With these festive toppings, this yule log is sure to become the centerpiece of your Christmas party.
Hero composition: The cocoa and hazelnut-flavored sponge is the perfect base for sugary cranberry and mushroom meringues.
Classic Choclate Yule Diary from Life, Love and Sugar
Why we love it: Upgraded classic yule diary. In this recipe, save the beaten egg whites until the last second to create a softer cake with an equally soft mascarpone cream filling.
Hero composition: This perfect roll cake is made from a dark chocolate sponge cake topped with a rich chocolate ganache cream that is rich in flavor and light in texture.
Bonus Formula
Pumpkin Roll from Cooking Classy
Why we love it: Not willing to leave behind? With the same yule journaling technique, you can make this flavorful fall pumpkin roll from Cooking Classy.
Hero composition: The pumpkin flavored sponge cake with cream cheese filling is the perfect twist on the yule Christmas log.
