Chocolate Yule Log - 23rd December 2011

Sometimes you just get an idea in your head that you can't shake and for some reason I've really been wanting to make a yule log and then after watching Kirstie Allsopp not only make one but enter it into a competition, I had to give it a try. My mother in-law arrived today so it was the ideal opportunity to have a go a making one. I need an extra pair of hands and eyes when I'm cooking with the children. They are a little like octopuses with their tiny little fingers dipping into everything.

Whisk 6 egg yolks and 150g of caster sugar

Gently fold in 60g of sifted cocoa

Whisk 6 egg whites until stiff

and then fold into to the chocolatey mixture

Bake at 180c for 20-25 minutes and allow to cool

Whilst still warm, roll in grease proof paper and leave to cool whilst you make the decorations. The chocolate covering is a secret recipe completely made up and inspired by my research into chocolate yule logs, the chocolate bars that Josie and Charlie persuaded me to buy and it tastes delicious enough for the children to have eaten but I suppose you can't really go wrong with chocolate, cream and icing sugar. We also made a few decorations with marzipan and a tray of super thin chocolate for the bark (seriously it takes all day and there is a huge amount of washing up).

Once the cake has completely cooled, whip up some cream and add some chopped glace cherries or sour cherries soaked in brandy or both, unroll, spread over the cake and roll in back up again.

And finally it's time to decorate and sprinkle with icing sugar and edible glitter.

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