Vegan Chocolate Yule Log

This triple chocolate vegan Yule log is decadent, fun and deceptively simple to make. A silky chocolate mousse is rolled up in a tender chocolate sponge cake, and the whole thing is covered in a rich chocolate ganache.

I’ve been wanting to make a Yule log for a long time but have been hesitant to try it out considering this kind of holiday dessert requires a sponge cake which is flexible enough to be rolled without falling apart. Sponge cakes are traditionally made with a lot of egg whites which help provide the airiness and flexibility. So what’s a vegan girl to do when a Bûche de Noël is heavy on her mind? Well, she gets out the aquafaba, of course!

If you haven’t heard of aquafaba before, it’s the liquid leftover from cooking chickpeas. As the chickpeas cook, they release some of their carbohydrates and protein into the water. Once reduced and strained, it whisks up like egg whites and has similar structural characteristics in baked goods. And if you’re wondering, there’s no chickpea flavor in the final product! 

Check out my recipe for Vegan Meringue Mushrooms to take your Vegan Chocolate Yule log to the next level of festive cuteness. That said, if you’re short on time, this Yule log is amazing on it’s own!

Tips for a Perfect Vegan Chocolate Yule Log:

• The trick to getting the most out of your aquafaba is to reduce the volume of it. There’s a huge variation on how thick the aquafaba is right out of the can – this variation happens between brands but also even between cans of the exact same brand. Many recipes suggest reducing aquafaba by 1/3 but I have had better results reducing the liquid by half. Simply keep a measuring cup by the stove while the aquafaba is simmering and occasionally pour it back into the measuring cup to keep an eye on how the volume is reducing. You can always mix a bit of water back in. Strain it through a fine mesh sieve and then chill in the fridge until you need it. Once cooled, it should have the consistency of egg whites. Don’t be put off by the smell while it cooks, or the color as it darkens a bit – it’ll all work out! One of the magical things about aquafaba is the way it becomes a light creamy color once it’s whipped and how the flavor is undetectable once it’s added to a recipe.
• While I have found that over-whipping aquafaba will not harm it like over-whipping egg whites will (they dry out and break), once the sugar is added to the meringue, the air starts getting knocked out as the sugar becomes completely dissolved. For this reason, I recommend beating the aquafaba until stiff peaks form, then gradually adding the sugar and to stop beating once the sugar is blended. It does become glossier with additional beating, but it thins out and doesn’t hold its shape as well if over-beaten.
• Meringue, whether it’s made with eggs or aquafaba, does not like fat. Fat will ruin the meringue and you won’t get the fluffy cloud-like texture which is needed for the sponge cake. Ensure there’s no fat when creating the meringue by washing your equipment really well, and then wiping it down with a piece of paper-towel and vinegar.
• Once the meringue is made and the rest of the cake batter is ready, gently fold it into the meringue. If you’ve made macarons before, the folding is very similar. We don’t want to do harsh, brisk stirring as this will knock a lot of the air out of the meringue which we worked so hard to create!
• Most recipes for Yule logs, or roll type cakes, call for rolling the sponge cake up in a tea towel to set the shape and then to unroll it, spread the filling and then re-roll the whole thing. I don’t know about you, but this stresses me out just thinking of the extra opportunities for splits or major cracks in the cake. That said, small cracks in the cake are okay as they will be covered with ganache or rolled-up, but still, why not simplify if possible? I find that by covering the sponge cake as soon as it comes out of the oven with tin foil until it is completely cool locks in the moisture and creates a flexible cake that is easy to roll just once rather than twice (and no unrolling!)
• For the chocolate mousse filling, things really don’t get easier than doing everything in the blender! Be sure to use the silken extra-firm tofu and not the blocks of extra-firm tofu you find in the cooler section at the grocery store. Silken style is shelf-stable and sold in tetra-packs. It has a very smooth, silky texture and doesn’t require cooking. It’s a lovely mild (no beany taste) base for puddings and mousse!
• Let the ganache for the cake cool to a thick enough consistency that it spreads easily without dripping, and isn’t so cool that it’s hard to spread and tears the cake. If it gets too firm, heat for 10 second bursts in the microwave.

If you make this Vegan Chocolate Yule Log, please let me know in the comments below and feel free to give it a rating! Also, I love connecting on Instagram where you can tag me in your creations using my recipes. I love seeing what you’re up to in the kitchen! Thanks for reading along and I hope you enjoy this recipe!

Vegan Chocolate Yule Log

This triple chocolate vegan Yule Log is decadent, fun and deceptively simple to make. A silky chocolate mousse is rolled up in a tender chocolate sponge cake, and the whole thing is covered in a rich chocolate ganache. This seasonally decorative dessert that will have everyone at your table swooning for more.

4.81 from 86 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: French

Keyword: Vegan Christmas Dessert

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

Chilling: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 42 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 slices

Calories: 416kcal

Author: Bronwyn

Ingredients

For the Chocolate Sponge Cake:

• 10 tbsp aquafaba (already reduced*)
• 1 tbsp apple cider or white vinegar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil (e.g. avocado, canola etc)
• ⅓ cup hot water, espresso or coffee
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Chocolate Mousse:

• 1 cup vegan chocolate chips (or ~187g vegan semi-sweet chocolate)
• 349 g extra firm silken tofu, drained (the shelf-stable kind)
• ½ cup dark maple syrup
• 1 tbsp dark rum, optional
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Ganache:

• 1 cup vegan chocolate chips (or ~187g vegan semi-sweet chocolate)
• 1 cup coconut cream**

For Decoration:

• 2 tbsp finely chopped nuts (e.g. pistachios, walnuts)
• 1 tsp matcha powder
• vegan mushroom meringues
• confectioner's sugar, for dusting
• white decorative sugar crystals/sprinkles

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

For the Chocolate Sponge Cake:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 15" x 10" jelly roll pan (or cookie sheet with sides) with parchment paper. Spray the sides and parchment lightly with oil.
  
• Wipe the stand-mixer bowl (or a medium bowl if you're using a hand-held beater) lightly with vinegar and dry. Add the aquafaba and vinegar, and beat on high until stiff peaks form, about 3-7 minutes depending on the appliance.
  
• In a large bowl, sift in the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Whisk well. In a small bowl, combine the oil, hot liquid and vanilla extract.
  
• Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing just until blended. The batter will be very thick and some flour may remain, don't stress! Add about a cup of the whipped aquafaba, folding the mixture rather than stirring so you don't lose all of the air you've trapped in the aquafaba. If you've made macarons before, this is a similar process. Add the rest of the aquafaba, folding gently until the mixture is even. There may be a few small lumps but this is fine.
  
• Pour the mixture on the prepared baking pan, smoothing out the batter to the edges. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean or with a few cooked crumbs on it.
  
• As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, place the tray on a cooling rack and gently cover the whole thing with foil. This will trap the moisture so the cake cracks less when you go to make the log. Let cool completely before assembling.
  

For the Chocolate Mousse:

• Melt the chocolate. You can do this in a double boiler, or in the microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring well each time you check it. Do not overheat or it will seize and become unusable. Let cool until just warm, not hot.
  
• Combine the drained tofu, maple syrup, rum (if using) and vanilla extract in a blender. Blend on high until smooth and silky. Add the melted chocolate and blend again until well combined. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 30-45 minutes to cool  and thicken.
  

For the Ganache:

• Heat the coconut milk in a small pot over low heat. Stir in the chocolate, and whisk constantly until smooth and shiny. Remove from heat and set aside to lower to room temperature.
  

To Assemble the Log:

• Slowly and gently peel the foil from the cake. A bit of the "skin" of the cake might come off, this is fine. Spread the mousse evenly over the cake. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for about an hour so that the mousse firms up.
  
• Starting at the long side of the cake, roll the cake over the filling firmly but gently. If it tears a bit, the tears will be covered with ganache later. Keep rolling, slowly releasing the parchment paper as you go and using it to help roll the log over and down. When you get to the end, roll the log onto its seam and roll the parchment paper back around it (the last bit of parchment will not have been peeled off the cake). Keeping the log on the tray and wrapping in plastic, store in the fridge until completely chilled 2-3 hours, or overnight. Having it chilled will make it easier to decorate.
  
• Remove the cake from the fridge. Cut 1 or 2 small pieces off the log at a 45° angle. Place the log on the serving tray, and position the angled side of the branches on the log for a cut branch effect. Use toothpicks or cut straws for support if necessary.
  
• Using a pastry brush or small frosting spatula, cover the cake in ganache. Don't worry about making it smooth, some roughness creates a nice bark effect. Brush from one end of the log to the other to create bark lines. For the cut ends, swirl the ganache in a circular fashion, or wait until it's almost set up and use the tip of a skewer to create growth rings.
  
• Create moss along the base of the log and in spots where the branches connect with the log by mixing finely chopped nuts with matcha powder. Store in the fridge until serving time. 
• To serve, sprinkle with confectioner's sugar and coarse white decorative sugar crystals for a snowy effect. If decorating with mushroom cookie meringues, apply them with bit of melted chocolate to "glue" them to the log.
  

Nutrition Info:

Serving: 10servings | Calories: 416kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Sodium: 30mg | Potassium: 216mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin C: 0.6mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 3.7mg

Notes:

*Aquafaba varies in thickness and protein content between homemade and storebought, between brands, and even cans from the same brand. Drain the chickpeas, measure the aquafaba and the bring to a simmer on the stove. Reduce the volume by 1/3-1/2. I have found doing so by 1/2 gives the best, more consistent results for sponges and meringues. Strain with fine mesh strainer and chill. It should have the consistency of egg whites once cold.

**Coconut cream can be found in stores as is. If you can only find coconut milk, get the kind with no gums in it, chill it overnight and then scoop the fat off the top, saving the water for another use.

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