Bûche de Noël Cookies
Recipe Overview
Overview
These Bûche de Noël Cookies are a charming and festive treat that captures the essence of the traditional French yule log in a more manageable cookie form. The process begins with a chocolate-flavored dough that incorporates both cocoa powder and cacao nibs, providing a delightful crunch and rich flavor. The use of a food processor streamlines the preparation, making it easy to combine the dry ingredients and incorporate the butter until the mixture resembles coarse sand.
Once the dough is formed, it’s divided into portions and rolled into logs, which are then chilled to ensure they hold their shape. The filling, made from melted chocolate, butter, and egg yolk, adds a silky texture that complements the cookie’s crunch. After assembling, the cookies are coated in a mixture of cacao nibs and demerara sugar, enhancing their festive appearance.
Baking these cookies results in a tender, chocolatey treat that is not overly sweet, making them perfect for holiday gifting. The ability to freeze the dough means you can prepare a large batch ahead of time, ensuring you have delicious cookies ready whenever the craving strikes. These cookies not only look beautiful but also taste fantastic, making them a wonderful addition to any holiday spread. Enjoy them with a cup of coffee or tea, or gift them to friends and family for a special treat this season.
Recipe Details
Steps & Tips
Use a food processor to grind cacao nibs, demerara sugar, and salt until it resembles coarse sand.
In the same food processor, combine all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, and kosher salt.
Tip: Always decant your flour into a separate container to prevent compaction.
Tip: Add a good amount of salt to chocolate recipes to enhance flavor.
Pulse in cubed cold unsalted butter until well broken down but not fully incorporated.
Tip: If you don't have sour cream, Greek yogurt can be used as a substitute.
Whisk together sour cream, egg, and vanilla extract, then add to the dough.
Divide the dough into three equal portions.
Roll each portion into a 9-inch-long log.
Wrap each log in plastic, flattening it into a rectangle.
Chill the wrapped dough in the fridge for at least one hour.
Melt semi-sweet chocolate and unsalted butter over a double boiler.
Tip: Let the chocolate filling sit until it thickens as it cools.
Stir in egg yolk, powdered sugar, and flour into the melted chocolate mixture.
Tip: Lift the dough while rolling to ensure it doesn't stick.
Roll out the chilled dough on floured parchment paper.
Spread the chocolate filling evenly over the rolled-out dough.
Roll the dough tightly from the long end, ensuring a thin spiral.
Chill the rolled logs until firm, about 20 to 25 minutes.
Beat an egg white with a fork to liquefy it.
Brush the logs with egg white and roll them in the cacao nib and sugar coating.
Tip: Brush off excess flour before coating with egg white to avoid mixing.
Freeze the coated logs until very firm, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Slice each log into equal pieces, angling the knife at 45 degrees.
Bake the cookies until puffed and firm to the touch, about 20 to 25 minutes.
Transfer cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
Tip: Freeze formed cookies solid before packing them into a container for storage.
Tip: Stock up on flour, sugar, butter, and eggs for holiday baking to avoid running short.
Ingredients
Ingredient: Dairy
→ Substitution: Coconut Cream
Ingredient: Eggs
→ Substitution: Flaxseed Meal + Water
Ingredient: Gluten
→ Substitution: Gluten-Free Flour Blend
Nutrition
Skill Level
Frequently asked questions
Below you will find answers to the most common questions about this recipe.
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Interesting Tidbits
- •Bûche de Noël translates to 'yule log' in French and is traditionally served during the Christmas season.
- •Cacao nibs add a crunchy texture and intense chocolate flavor without sweetness.
- •Using a food processor helps achieve a uniform dough quickly and efficiently.
- •Chilling the dough before rolling helps maintain its shape during baking.
- •The cookies can be frozen after slicing, allowing for fresh-baked cookies on demand.
