White Chocolate Gingerbread Yule Log
Ingredients:
for the gingerbread sponge cake:
4 large eggs, separated into whites and yolks
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup dark strap molasses
2 teaspoons Rodelle Pure Vanilla Extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
for the whipped cream:
2 cups heavy cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
for the white chocolate buttercream:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup white chocolate chips, melted and cooled
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar
Directions:
Make the gingerbread sponge cake:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a jelly roll pan (preferably) or a half sheet baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites over high speed until soft peaks form. Turn the mixer to low speed and slowly add in granulated sugar. Turn the mixer back to high speed and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. Remove from the mixer and set aside.
Clean your standing mixer bowl and place it back on the stand. Add in the egg yolks. Still using the whisk attachment, beat egg yolks until they begin to foam. Add in molasses and vanilla extract and continue to beat until mixture becomes a shade lighter in color, about 3 minutes. Remove the bowl from the standing mixer and set it aside.
In a small bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Fold your flour mixture into your yolk mixture. The batter will be thick, but this will change once you add in your egg whites.
Using a spatula, gently fold your egg whites into your flour/yolk mixture until fully incorporated. Spread batter into prepared pan, using the spatula to smooth the batter to the edges.
Bake for 15-17 minutes, until the cake is cooked through. Cool for 5 minutes before inverting the cake onto a kitchen towel dusted with confectioner’s sugar (and to note: I left my parchment paper on the underside of the cake to prevent it from sticking to the towel).
Roll the cake into a tight spiral, starting from the short side. Place in the fridge to cool completely.
make your filling & frosting:
In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, cream your heavy cream and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Unroll the cake (& carefully remove parchment paper if you kept it on) and spread the whipped cream evenly over the cake. Roll up the cake.
Cut cake about 4 inches from the edge on a diagonal to create the second part of your log. Place larger roll seam side down onto a platter. Place the smaller roll on the side of the first roll, with the diagonal side of the smaller roll touching the larger roll.
In a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter for 2 minutes, then add in melted and cooled white chocolate. Combine, then add in powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt, creaming for about 30 seconds.
Spread white chocolate buttercream over the cake, leaving the edges of the logs bare. Use a fork to make soft waves throughout the buttercream. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Serve!
Recipe courtesy of Broma Bakery.com
