Christmas Log

 

The most unique traditional french yule log Christmas dessert recipe. It is a cake that celebrants prepare and enjoy during Christmas in France and other parts of the world.

 Serves 6

Ingredients

2 ¼ pounds chestnuts

scant ½ cup butter

9 ounces semisweet chocolate

¼ cup milk

1 cup sweetened whipped cream

candied flowers (optional) for decoration

 

For chestnuts puree

2 ¼ pounds chestnuts

3 cups milk

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon superfine sugar

 

Directions

Prepare the chestnuts. Bring a large pan of water to a boil and blanch the chestnuts in the water for 2 minutes. Drain, cool and remove the shells. Cook the chestnuts for another 10 minutes in fresh boiling water. Remove them from the water in batches and remove the inner skins while they are still hot. Place them in a pan with the milk, sugar, salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Process the chestnuts to a puree in a food processor. If you would like add sugar to make a sweet pure.

Make a chestnut puree and mix the butter into it. Put the chocolate in the milk and melt over gentle heat, stirring occasionally. Mix the chocolate into the chestnut puree very thoroughly. Allow to cool for several hours. Shape into a log, decorate with the candied flowers and surround with the cream.