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 ⅓ 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.
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Servings: 12 slices
Calories: 416kcal
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Sponge Cake:
- 10 tablespoon aquafaba (already reduced*)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider or white vinegar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil (e.g. avocado, canola etc)
- ⅓ cup hot water, espresso or coffee
- 1 teaspoon 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 tablespoon 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 tablespoon finely chopped nuts (e.g. pistachios, walnuts)
- 1 teaspoon matcha powder
- vegan mushroom meringues
- confectioner's sugar, for dusting
- white decorative sugar crystals/sprinkles
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 ⅓-1/2. I have found doing so by ½ 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.
Did you make this recipe?Tag @crumbs.and.caramel on Instagram!
Heather says
Hello and thank you for the lovely recipe – I love the little tips you add in and you address a lot of the issues that have made my previous rolling attemps to fail. I have high hopes for this recipe! I am going to try your tip regarding covering the sponge with foil to cool. I don’t like to use foil and wondered if you think I will get the same affect with baking parchment? Thank you so much 🙂
Crumbs & Caramel says
Hi Heather! I'm so happy that you've found the tips helpful! As to your question about the parchment paper - yes, I think this should work - the goal is keep in the moisture as the cake cools. That said, I've heard from some readers that it didn't need to be covered at all. Good luck with the recipe and please let me know if you have any other questions! ~ Bronwyn
Max says
I loved this. I had a few hiccups along the way but it all worked out. First off, it didn’t seem to be quite enough substance to fill the baking pan. So one edge was a bit thin. Secondly, I used the toothpick method and it didn’t seem quite done at 15 min, so I gave it two more. This made it crack. I’m new to baking, so, my bad.
It was all fine once the filling and icing were applied. And the aquafaba worked great! Thanks for the recipe : )
Crumbs & Caramel says
Hi Max! I wonder if your pan was a bit too big if that batter did not seem to fill the baking pan? And, yes baking is an adventure but I'm so happy you kept going and that you enjoyed the cake in the end! If you ever have any questions, please let me know and I'll try to help if I can! ~ Bronwyn
Lucy says
Thankyou so much for this recipe! Tried the mushroom meringues and covered one end of the yule log with fruit for those avoiding sugar. Was so much fun to make!
Crumbs & Caramel says
Love the idea of covering the end with fruit, Lucy! I'm so happy that you had fun with this recipe! ~ Bronwyn
Emily says
We made this for Winter Solstice today and it though it didn’t start well it turned out amazing!!!! The cake simple broke when “rolling” but wrapping it up and putting it in the fridge fixed it perfectly. I didn’t have matcha so we grated pistachios to make moss and it looked amazing! I still can’t believe it worked out – even the mushrooms! So fun! A new tradition for our family!
Crumbs & Caramel says
So happy it all worked out in the end and that it's become a family tradition, Emily! Thank you for sharing! ~ Bronwyn
Sam says
I am making this for a friend and want to know if I can keep it in the fridge and how long it will stay fresh. thanks
Crumbs & Caramel says
Hi Sam! Yes, this yule log keeps best in the fridge especially where the filling is tofu based. You can make it a couple of days in advance. I'd leave any decorations like meringues or sugared cranberries until the day of as these don't keep well in the fridge humidity. Hope you and your friend enjoy it! Happy Holidays! ~ Bronwyn
Anna says
I am interested in making this recipe, but can’t have soy. Do you have any suggestions to replace the tofu?
Crumbs & Caramel says
Hi Anna! I don't have any published recipe for a soy-free mousse, but you could use your favorite frosting instead. Some suggestions which would be good with the chocolate sponge would be: whipped chocolate ganache (https://crumbsandcaramel.com/vegan-chocolate-cupcakes-fluffy-ganache-frosting/) , Irish cream frosting ( https://crumbsandcaramel.com/chocolate-stout-cupcakes-with-irish-cream-frosting/ ), brown sugar ermine frosting ( https://crumbsandcaramel.com/vegan-pumpkin-roll/ ), or espresso buttercream ( https://crumbsandcaramel.com/vegan-chocolate-sheet-cake-with-espresso-buttercream/ ). Would love to hear which you use and how it goes! Happy Holidays! ~Bronwyn
Meghan says
I made this for Christmas last year and my kids added marzipan frogs. It was fantastic- to look at and to eat. My 14 yr just asked if we can make the “frog log” again 🙂 Quick question – do you think I could make the cake and mousse and then freeze it? Save the ganache and decorating for Christmas eve? trying to figure out how to save time. Thanks for an amazing veganification of a classic recipe!
Crumbs & Caramel says
Hi Meghan! I love that you and your kids made a frog log, so fun and cute!! As to your question on freezing, while I haven't tried it, I have received reports back from readers who have been successful in doing so (with the ganache applied, too). Hope you all enjoy the frog log again this year! ~ Bronwyn
Luisa says
This looks amazing! Definitely trying for Christmas.
Can i substitute ap flour for gf ap flour?
And to clarify: you mean silken tofu, not extra firm? As they’re at the opposite end of the tofu density spectrum…
Luisa
Crumbs & Caramel says
Hi Luisa! I have not tried gluten-free flour in this recipe, so I can't be sure! If you do give it a try, I recommend using a gluten-free flour blend which contains xanthan gum to help with binding. Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Baking Flour 1:1 blend is an excellent option (the blue bag, not the yellow one!) Also, be sure to read through my the tips for rolling as gluten-free tends to be much more delicate and I suspect you'll have to be extra careful.
Yes, that's right please use "extra firm silken tofu". It is very mild in flavor compared to other types of tofu. Silken tofu also has a much different texture - it is very soft even when "extra firm" and blends silky smooth in mousse, dips etc unlike regular tofu which would result in a pasty filling. Silken tofu comes in varying density from soft to extra firm, too - we're going with extra firm silken in this mousse. I hope you enjoy this recipe! ~ Bronwyn
Luisa says
@Crumbs & Caramel, thanks, so enlightening! I made this and it was delightful. I used gf flour (not bob’s) and it worked a treat. The closest thing I could find to extra firm silken was semi firm semi silken, so I used less tofu, more chocolate, and folded in some beaten aqua faba for good measure. Worked very well. My father in law was so cynical that I could make a good Yule log that was vegan. And he was SO SURPRISED. It made me smug. Only thing, avocado oil in the cake was definitely palpable (to me), I don’t think it’s as neutral as canola etc. oil.
Crumbs & Caramel says
Love that your father in law was so pleasantly surprised (and I can't blame you for feeling smug lol)! So happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing your modifications! ~ Bronwyn
Victoria says
This is a 5-star family favorite recipe! I’ve been meaning to comment sooner, but I forgot until the other day when I found 2 pieces I had saved in the freezer for 2 almost months. So to all who wondered about freezing: yes, you can! I wrapped each piece in waxed paper, then put into a freezer storage bag. I was very careful thawing and used the defrost on the microwave just 30 seconds at a time until it was thawed. Plus, I cannot eat a lot of oil so I actually subbed in applesauce for ALL of the oil and it worked great. I was pretty shocked, but I’ve been trying that a lot in baked goods and have had success. You cannot taste it at all, and the crumb was great. Nobody could believe it didn’t have any oil in it. The filling is divine! I used a different ganache as well, that only used dark chocolate and nut milk; it worked fine but a bit harder to work with (dries fast when applying to cake). Anyway, thank you for a wonderful recipe and for those of you who try to bake oil-free, this recipe can easily adapt for you!
Crumbs & Caramel says
Hi Victoria! Thank you so much for taking the time to share! I'm so happy you and your family enjoy the recipe and were able to modify it to be oil free. That's great news about freezing the cake successfully, too 🙂 Thanks again! ~Bronwyn
Aubrey says
Made this for Christmas and it was enjoyed by all. It was a bit of a labor of love, but the final product did not disappoint. Next time I’m going to make a raspberry sauce to break up the chocolate flavor a bit. Thank you for the wonderful recipe, this will be a new holiday tradition for our family.
Crumbs & Caramel says
Hi Aubrey, Thanks so much for letting me know and I'm absolutely tickled (and honored!) that this will be part of your family's holiday tradition! 🙂 The raspberry sauce sounds divine with the chocolate! Thanks again, Bronwyn
Suzanne Brady says
I was so excited to try this recipe, but honestly was not thrilled with the taste at the end... i really did not like the flavors at all. The look overall was amazing, but the sponge did not taste very good in my opinion and the mousse was not good at all. I think the mousse may not have been good because we did not have the right tofu on hand, but I was so sad that it did not turn out as I expected. I might try this in the future with a different sponge and mousse recipe... but the ganache and mushroom decor were fabulous! I also made little meringue christmas trees dusted in matcha powder.
Crumbs & Caramel says
Hi Suzanne! Thanks for trying the recipe. Unfortunately, regular tofu does not work well in this recipe which is why the recipe specifies silken tofu and this is discussed in the blog post tips. Regular tofu has a different texture and a beany flavor which would be unpleasant in a dessert. Silken tofu, however, is almost flavorless, is silky smooth and gives the filling a lush mouthfeel while allowing the chocolate to shine as the flavor. As for the cake, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it - did you make substitutions to it as well or perhaps the strong tofu flavor from the filling was overpowering to the entire log? I'm glad you enjoyed the ganache and mushrooms, though. The meringue Christmas trees sound adorable! ~ Bronwyn
Brandi says
I just made this for Christmas (mushrooms and everything) and it honestly turned out so well! I took my time with it over two days and followed every step, and it turned out perfect! It tasted amazing as well, I got nothing but compliments all around for it!
Crumbs & Caramel says
Hi Brandi! I'm so happy you enjoyed the yule log! Thank you for letting me know 🙂 Happy Holidays! ~ Bronwyn
Rosie Helperin-Lange says
Five stars. It’s amazing. It tastes great and looks great. The mushrooms got sticky when we waited and we had too much meringue. But overall very good.
Crumbs & Caramel says
Hi Rosie! Thank you for taking the time to let me know how it went! I'm so happy you enjoyed it 🙂 Happy Holidays! ~Bronwyn
Julia says
Hi! We were really excited to see an option for a vegan yule log this year! I've been vegan for 4+ years and done a lot of baking. Unfortunately we followed all of the instructions for the mousse and used silken tofu, but never got it to set up properly so it was relatively runny while we were trying to put the log together. We refrigerated it for a few hours and are confused on where we might have gone wrong. Any ideas?
Crumbs & Caramel says
Hi Julia! The mousse will not firm up like a mousse filling that you'd have in, say, a tart - it should thicken when chilled though, and be like a soft frosting or pudding. If it's runnier than this, a couple of things come to mind - unnoticed error in measuring (either not enough chocolate or too much maple syrup), not draining the tofu completely, using a softer silken tofu than extra-firm, or perhaps using a chocolate with low cocoa butter (it's the cocoa butter firming up that will cause the mousse to thicken). Have you finished assembling? If you tried but stopped and put it back in the fridge, I'd melt more chocolate and blend it with the mousse. As for the amount, 1/2 cup will certainly make a difference. With the addition of more chocolate, you won't need all of the mousse - the excess will make a nice snack 🙂 Thanks for trying the recipe, and I hope you enjoy it. Happy Holidays to you and yours! ~ Bronwyn
Karen says
I made this today – it is SO good! I made the cake as is, then left it to cool under a towel and still in the glass tray I baked it in (I had no tin foil). Then when ready to roll, rolled it in the tray so it didn’t slip and left it rolled, still in the baking paper, in the fridge for a few hours before I took it out. No cracks at all, beautiful taste and texture, just gorgeous! I made chocolate buttercream for the centre and ganache for the outside, and will finish decorating tomorrow.
Thank you so much! I struggled to find a recipe I trusted but so glad I tried this one. Off to look at your other recipes now 🙂 Merry Christmas!
Crumbs & Caramel says
Thanks so much for the lovely feedback, Karen! I'm so happy you're enjoying the yule log and that it was such a success! I'm just in the process of making our annual log 🙂 Merry Christmas to you, too! ~ Bronwyn