Buche de Noel, also called Yule Log, is a traditional French dessert. This cake is baked as a cake roll using Genoise batter, filled with Chocolate Buttercream filling. The cake is rolled then frosted with the buttercream and decorated to look like a chopped log ready to be burned. Genoise batter basically consists of whole eggs, flour, sugar, butter and flavoring if desired and no chemical leavening needed, it is tender, airy and lighter than a sponge cake.http://www.joyofbaking.com/other/glossaryCG.html#Genoise

Chocolate buttercream is the traditional filling and frosting for this cake but it is possible to use other flavors. Buche de Noel is shaped as a log by cutting off a portion of one end of the cake, and attaching it to the top or side of the cake with frosting. After frosting the cake, lines are created on the cake, to give a woody effect, with the tines of a fork.

Decorating is the fun part everyone, especially the children, loves to take part in. Buche de Noel can be decorated with festive symbols of the holidays like meringue mushrooms, berries, holly leaves, Santa, snowmen, pine boughs, colored candies, sprinkles and many others. This cake is a popular centerpiece on any dessert table along with other sweets during the Christmas holidays.

There are some variations of Buche de Noel recipes. Below are some serving suggestions on how to make Buche de Noel cake. .

1. This classic recipe for Buche de Noel cake, is a flourless cake. Powdered sugar is dusted on top to resemble "snow". Decorated with holly leaves, marzipan berries, meringue mushrooms and pine boughs.http://www.ehow.com/how_5248993_make-noel-christmas-log-cake.html
2. A twist on the classic, this Buche de Noel version renamed as Stump de Noel Chocolate Malt. It has Malted Buttercream filling and Dark Chocolate Buttercream for frosting. Cranberries, rosemary sprigs and meringue mushrooms decorate the cake.http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/chocolate-malt-stump-de-noel
3. This Maple Walnut Buche de Noel has fine ground walnuts added to the cake flour with cinnamon powder. Decorated with shards of walnut brittle and maple leaves on cake after frosting with white buttercream frosting.http://www.familyoven.com/recipe/maple-walnut-buche-de-noel/55792
4. Joy of Baking uses chocolate sponge cake and for filling and frosting it uses chocolate whipped cream. Icing sugar and meringue mushrooms decorate the log cake.http://www.joyofbaking.com/YuleLog.html
5. This Buche de Noel recipe uses ground almonds and orange rind and orange juice with its cake flour. Chocolate meringue with rum, vanilla and butter is the frosting and filling. Decorated with meringue mushrooms, caramel strands draped on the log cake and sprigs of holly on the serving platter.http://recipes.chef2chef.net/recipe-archive/11/068498.shtml

Other suggestions:

1. Refrigerate until set at least 8 hours and let cake stand one hour at room temperature before serving.
2. Frosted cake can be made 3 days ahead and chilled before decorating.
3. If time is limited for baking, meringue mushrooms and other festive garnishes for Buche de Noel are available for sale.

Buche de Noel is originally a French dessert dating back to the late 18th century and early 19th century, and became the traditional Christmas dessert in many regions.http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/yule_log_cake.html

Buche de Noel came about when some french bakers made the cake to resemble a log as a substitute for the real one that they would normally burn, but when chimneys were not allowed during the rule of Napoleon I of France.http://www.sfetcu.com/content/B%C3%BBche-de-No%C3%ABl An account of its history also says that this tradition from pre-christian times is to honor the God Thor and celebrate Winter Solstice with bonfires.http://www.joyofbaking.com/YuleLog.html The ashes from these burnt logs were tossed around for good luck come Christmas time, and there are other superstitions that sorround this Buche de Noel traditions too. http://www.practicallyedible.com/edible.nsf/pages/yulelog No wonder Buche de Noel cake is uniquely popular for it symbolizes a festive and nostalgic Christmas.