Daring Bakers Challenge: French Yule Log

This month's Daring Bakers challenge is brought to us by the adventurous Hilda from Saffron and Blueberry and Marion from Il en Faut Peu Pour Etre Heureux.

They have chosen a French Yule Log by Flore from Florilege Gourmand.

Let me just say that I was terrified when I read the instructions for the French Yule Log. Not only would it require 6 parts and almost 2 days, but I'd have to make caramel: a frightening task. However, having skipped November challenge, I did not want to fall behind, and decided the 4 day weekend would be a good time to make this challenge (good thing I don't celebrate Christmas!).

This is not a rolled log: instead you make 6 components and layer them in a mold (I used a bread pan) and then freeze it overnight before glazing the entire concoction and then freezing it again.

The six components were:
1) Dacquoise Biscuit: I made mine with almond meal
2) Mousse: I made mine mango flavored! (the store was out of normal mangoes, so I had to buy the ones already caught up, and simply pureed them)
3) Ganache Insert: I used dark chocolate and mixed it with home-made caramel, per instructions. Making caramel was scary, but I did it!!!
4) Praline (Crisp) Insert : I attempted to make mine with the home-made crispy crepe, but I must not have spread it thin enough and ended up keeping it in the oven for too long and burning it! Instead, I used Honey Bunch of Oats!
5) Creme Brulee Insert: I used orange rind to flavor my creme brulee. It took almost 2 hours in the oven to set instead of 1, but the final result was good.
6) Icing: I used dark chocolate, of course.



Sorry, I did not take any photos of the process: I was too busy washing the dishes, cooling things down, and trying to keep my composure. I was very relieved and happy once the yule log was completed. And as far as the taste, I was happy with the results. I think the ganache layer was overpowering, and am happy I decided to do mango mousse instead of a chocolate one.

Saturday Anna and I went to visit Cindy and her family and to share some of the cake with them. There are still a few slices left in my fridge :)