Yule Log (Made Easily, Delicious and Gluten Free!)

Step 1

Prepare 15x10x1 jelly (Swiss) roll pan by buttering the pan, lining with parchment paper and then lightly butter the paper.

Step 2

In large bowl, beat egg whites at high speed until soft peaks form when beaters are slowly lifted. Add 1/4 cup (2 oz) sugar, two tablespoons at a time, beating until stiff peaks form.

Step 3

Using the same beaters, beat yolks at high speed, adding remaining 1/2 cup (4 oz) sugar, two tablespoons at a time, until very thick (about 4 minutes.

Step 4

At low speed, beat in cocoa, vanilla and salt until smooth.

Step 5

With a spatula or large spoon, gently fold cocoa mixture into egg whites just until blended (until there are no egg whites visible.) Spread evenly into pan.

Step 6

Bake 15 minutes or until surface springs back when gently pressed.

Step 7

Place a clean linen kitchen towel on workspace and sprinkle with confectioner's sugar, in a 15"x10" area. Turn cake out onto sugared towel and carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake, starting with the short end.

Step 8

Continue rolling until the end, and then place seam side down onto cooling rack. Allow to cool completely. Meanwhile, prepare the filling.

Step 9

Re-roll without the cloth, and place seam side down onto serving plate.

Step 10

Cover loosely with foil and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. This can also be frozen for up to a week, wrapped in foil.

Step 11

Let stand at room temperature for one hour before serving.

Step 12

Prepare buttercream frosting: mix all the ingredients together until smooth and creamy, adding enough coffee until a smooth, spreadable consistency is reached.

Step 13

Before placing the filled yule log on a serving plate, cut a small piece off each end of the log, at a slight angle. Cut smaller than you think you should or you'll end up with a stump.

Step 14

Spread a little frosting on an end of each piece (outside ends) and attach it to the log to make it look like a log with two cut branches on it.

Step 15

Frost the entire log, using a butter knife and make the frosting look like bark, by making rough streaks with the knife.

Step 16

Alternately, you can run a fork along the entire dessert, to make it look like the bark on a log. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar just before serving (to make it look like snow.)

Step 17

Decorate with meringue mushrooms, pine needles, sugared cranberries, rosemary, and/or other decorations.