Description
This Gingerbread Yule Log Cake is a festive twist on the classic Bûche de Noël featuring a warmly spiced gingerbread sponge rolled with fluffy cream cheese filling and covered in luscious brown sugar buttercream.
Ingredients
For the Gingerbread Sponge Cake:
4 large eggs
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
For the Cream Cheese Filling:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup heavy cream
For the Brown Sugar Buttercream:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tbsp milk or cream
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper and grease lightly.
2. In a bowl, beat eggs, brown sugar, molasses, and vanilla until thick and pale.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, spices, baking powder, and salt.
4. Fold dry ingredients into wet until just combined.
5. Spread evenly in the pan and bake 10–12 minutes or until springy to touch.
6. While warm, invert onto a clean towel dusted with powdered sugar. Peel off parchment and roll up with the towel. Let cool completely.
7. For filling, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add heavy cream and beat to stiff peaks.
8. Unroll cooled cake, spread filling evenly, then re-roll tightly. Trim edges.
9. For buttercream, beat butter and brown sugar until creamy. Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla; beat until smooth and fluffy.
10. Frost the outside of the log, using a fork to create bark texture if desired.
11. Dust with powdered sugar and decorate with holly or sugared cranberries.
Notes
Can be made a day ahead and refrigerated.
Add a splash of rum or maple extract for extra holiday flavor.
Decorate with meringue mushrooms or white chocolate shavings for a show-stopping Yule log presentation.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 34g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: gingerbread yule log, christmas cake roll, buche de noel, holiday dessert, spiced roll cake