Catholic Recipe: Buche de Noel

Also Called: Christmas Log

The Buche de Noel is a French tradition that has spread to many countries. This is also known as the "Christmas log."

DIRECTIONS

Grease bottom and sides of jelly roll pan, 10 x 15 x 1 inches; line with wax paper; grease paper thoroughly. Add salt to eggs; beat until thick and lemon-colored. Combine sugar and cocoa; add gradually to eggs, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla and pancake mix; beat until smooth (batter is quite thin).

Spread evenly in pan; bake at 400° for 12 minutes.

Sprinkle dry tea towel generously with confectioners' sugar. Loosen edges of cake; turn out on towel; peel off wax paper; roll cake up in towel; let stand 20 minutes. Meanwhile, whip cream with fine sugar.

Unroll cake; spread thinly with some of the Mocha Butter Cream; then with whipped cream; roll up.

Frost with remaining Mocha Butter Cream (see recipe); mark with spatula to resemble bark. Cut off a thin slice; reroll to resemble stumps of cut-off branches; place on top. Decorate with vine and leaves made with green icing; sprinkle here and there with flaked coconut to resemble snow and chopped pistachio nuts to resemble moss. Chill or freeze until ready to serve. Makes 12 servings.