9.21.2012

Log Lady Cake (ok, it's Buche de Noel)


2012's version:
Log cake (Buche de Noel) with bark frosting, candy mushrooms, and edible mossLog cake (Buche de Noel) with bark frosting, candy mushrooms, and edible moss


Log cake (Buche de Noel) with bark frosting, candy mushrooms, and edible moss



This post is really old. Like, January old. But it deserves to be written, mostly because my sister is Log Lady.
Two log ladies. One with the traditional log, one with a cat dressed as a log
Mirror images.
For my sister's birthday, I made her a log lady cake. Okay, really, it's Buche de Noel, but I think Log Lady Cake is more appropriate. It is fitting that it is traditionally French. It's also equally important to note this is the second Twin Peaks themed birthday gift/celebration I have done for her. One time, we threw her a Twin Peaks/David Lynch themed surprise costume birthday party complete with cherry pie, donuts, and plenty of coffee.

David Lynch surprise birthday party with Twin Peaks characters
"I'm Paul", Sherrif Harry Truman, Albert, BOB, Audrey Horne, James Hurley, Frank Booth, Ben, Margaret Lanterman (Log Lady), "Rita", Leo Johnson, Special Agent Dale Cooper, Big Ed Hurley, Nadine Hurley, Mutant baby from Eraserhead.

So this year (and by that I mean ten months ago) I made her Buche de Noel Log Lady cake. And it was fun. And delicious. And now her birthday cake tradition. It is conveniently flour-free, because her birthday fell mid-Primal challenge. Although, there's plenty of sugar...
First, you make the filling, what is essentially a chocolate whipped cream. While it chills, you make a chocolate sponge cake. 

Chocolate sponge cake

chocolate sponge cake




While the cake is still warm, you turn it out. I found my silicone mats very convenient for this, although you could use a dish towel. You sprinkle on confectioner's sugar, and roll the cake up to set.

chocolate sponge cake with powdered sugar




After the cake cools completely, you roll it out again. You then spread the chocolate whipped cream inside, and roll it back up. After filling, you cut off a piece from one end to add a protrusion, then frost again.
Log cake (Buche de Noel) with bark frosting, candy mushrooms, and edible moss
2011's



I used a wooden skewer to make a bark pattern in the frosting. I then used existing clay mushrooms I had from our wedding shower. I also used warm fingers to mold chocolate kisses into mushroom shapes, and used wooden skewers as stems.
Log cake (Buche de Noel) with bark frosting, candy mushrooms, and edible moss
2011's

Log cake (Buche de Noel) with bark frosting, candy mushrooms, and edible moss
2011's

Log cake (Buche de Noel) with bark frosting, candy mushrooms, and edible moss
2011's

Teapots make great vases.