Yule Log and small children
Posted on Dec 22 in Food Porn, holidayby NikaPrint
As promised, I am writing today about the food we chose to make for the winter solstice yesterday – the yule log.
I had a very enthusiastic helper, my 5 yo daughter KD, who not only modeled eating the cake, she modeled various parts of making the cake. If you do this with your kids expect: lots of sneaky stealing of frosting when you are not watching and also some need for your help in rolling up the log.
KD looks like she rolled it up but she had a lot of help from me.
You can learn more about the yule log at this wiki page.
Things you will need include:
- one sheet of cake (I used a box mix)
- two cans of frosting
- coconut flakes
- off-set spatula
- candle
parchment paper
First, I made up a box of cake mix and baked in a sheet pan which I then let cool overnight.
I next opened a can of frosting and warmed it a bit in a 350 F oven so that it was not rock hard (its REALLY cold in our house).
Spread out onto sheet cake, making sure to not pick the spatula straight up and always spreading – otherwise you rip up the cake.
KD enjoyed this part a lot. I just let her do as much as she wanted to (without her ripping it up too badly) because this is all on the inside, doesn’t have to be beautiful.
Keep spreading so that the frosting is evenly coated across the sheet.
The next few shots are of KD rolling up the cake. Have your sheet on a sheet of parchment paper so that you can touch that as you are rolling. Go slowly and stop once you have a bit rolled to then firm it with your hands. If you use a moist cake mix this will go better. It doesn’t have to be perfect because it will be covered in frosting at the end.
This is what ours looked like when we were done rolling it up.
Next step is to trim off the ends – save the trimmed part (should look like a cinnamon roll) for a later part.
KD took a break at this point to taste test.
KD approves.
Break open the second can of frosting and put on top of the log which is now on the serving tray (that has some parchment paper protecting the plate).
Then begin to spread it gently but firmly, let the frosting know who’s the boss.
If you would like to made a smaller branchlet like many yule logs do, I recommend using a trimmed up part that you cut off the end. This shot shows how I thinned out the frosting here to make room for the branchlet.
Then add the cut-end.
Then frost it to make it look “natural”.
Pull away the parchment and then add snow (coconut flakes) that hides all sorts of sins.
Get as creative as you like with added doo-dads, what ever makes you feel yulish.
I added a big candle as we used this in our solstice observance later last night.
Let me know if you and your family make a yule log during the holidays, leave a link to photos you may have of it!
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I admire you Nika, I made one last year and can’t say I felt like doing it again this year! But they are pretty! my kids loved it though…
http://lucullian.blogspot.com/2007/12/daring-bakers-december-challenge-yule.html
Nika- What a lovely photo set. The yule log looks amazing! I’ve never attempted a rolled cake. You and your daughter make it look so easy. Have a bright and merry Yule- Happy Winter Solstice!
You both did a super job! Looks “scrumdidilyumptious!” now wishing my face was covered in that chocolate frosting too, yummy!
Happy Holidays to you all!
There’s no more happy sight than a child’s smiling face covered in chocolate!
I made one last year. The only difference is that, at the end, I scour the log with a fork to leave branch-like designs
Wow, it’s amazing ! merry christmas, joyeux Noël