Buche de New Year

The Stump version

MY FIRST JELLYROLL.  Isn't that supposed to be a simple rolled sponge cake filled with jam and sprinkled with powdered sugar? Having never made one, this Stump de Noel from BAKED seemed a bit daunting. Instead of stumping, I rolled, and even attempted the traditional sidekicks to any buche - meringue mushrooms. 

Surprisingly, these little mushroom were the highlight of this buche. A simple meringue piped into caps and stems and fit together with white chocolate. This BAKED recipe for mushrooms makes more than the five pictured above. More like 550 - most of which ended up in the ding & dent center, also knowns as Snack Central. Still, they supplied some holiday cheer and reminded me of Disney's 1940 animated feature, Fantasia. These happy little characters prance around to Tchaikovsky's Chinese Dance - watch the minute-long dance while you're here.  

Island of Misfit Mushrooms

Let's not forget about the star of the serving platter: a rich, dark chocolate cake rolled and filled with a malted milk ball filling and covered with dark chocolate frosting. Superb on its own. I adorned it with some bark (chocolate shards), an idea I borrowed (stole) from Donna Hay. Along with sugared rosemary sprigs and cranberries, it's a virtual forest right on your table.

If you're planning a holiday party or simply want to impress your friends with ultra-fancy culinary skills, try your hand at this buche. Whether you decide to go with the stump or the roll, just don't forget the mushrooms.

 – mike


For this festive recipe, venture over to BAKED SUNDAY MORNINGS.