Hi guys, if you’re here from my Christmas Chocolate Desserts post, thanks for clicking on a link! If you’ve randomly stumbled across this post, it’s a part of a festive recipe series which you can check out here! When I started my list of what to include in my festive desserts post, I knew I wanted something traditional. Then I started seeing a lot of yule log recipes and decided to attempt a vegan friendly one. But I wanted to mix it up a little and make a chocolate orange yule log recipe instead. Orange is festive, after all.
I’m going to be honest here, I was so scared of trying this. Making a sponge is easy, making a buttercream is also easy. Attempting to roll this thing without breaking it was giving me heart palpitations. It’s one of those things where you can do everything right, it can all be perfect, but can still (literally) fall apart in the last few seconds. Not a fan of this process. Baking shouldn’t be stressful. It did work though. I can’t stress that enough, I mean that’s the important part…
If you’re a seasoned baker, or just less of a wimp than me, this recipe shouldn’t be too difficult.
I decided to make a chocolate orange one to make things a little bit different but kept it simple for the sake of a traditional festive recipe.
Chocolate Orange Yule Log
A classic festive dessert made vegan. This chocolate orange yule log will ensure you're not missing out on anything this Christmas
Ingredients
for the sponge
- A cup of almond milk
- 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
- 210g of self-raising flour
- 100g of golden caster sugar
- 2 tablespoons of cacao powder
- 1 tbsp orange oil
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
- 60 vegan butter melted or 65ml sunflower oil
Ingredients for the filling
- 100g of dairy-free butter
- 160g of icing sugar
- Zest of one orange
- 3 tsp orange oil
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 180c and line a large baking tray with grease proof paper.
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In a small bowl combine the almond milk with the apple cider vinegar and whisk until fully combined. Set aside for 10 minutes to curdle. This creates a vegan 'buttermilk'. I know it sounds gross...
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In a large mixing bowl, sift the flour, sugar, cacao powder, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda.
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Mix well to combine.
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Add the melted butter/oil and orange oil to the 'buttermilk' and whisk to combine.
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Add the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until smooth.
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Pour into the lined tray and level with a spatula, making sure to spread it to the corners. Tap the tray on the worktop to remove any air bubbles.
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Put the tray into the preheated oven and bake for 18-20 minutes.
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You will know when its done when you put a knife or skewer in and it comes out clean.
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Lay a large piece of baking paper on your work surface, sprinkle over cacao powder and tip the sponge onto the paper, peel way the original baking paper. I found cutting it from the middle and peeling towards the edge the easiest option. Then trim the edges to make them even.
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Roll up (from the longer edge) using the paper, rolling it up with the paper inside. Set aside to cool. Rolling it up with the paper inside helps the cake not to stick to itself. This is when the palpitations started...
Make the filling
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When your butter/margarine is soft, add in the remaining icing ingredients and whisk until completely smooth and fluffy.
Assemble Log
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Once the sponge is cool, unroll and spread a thin layer of the filling then re-roll tightly without the paper inside. Prepare for the palpitations to get more severe.
Serve and enjoy!
Do you like the idea of a chocolate orange yule log recipe, rather than plain chocolate? Is this something you’d serve at Christmas? This one is going down very well at my house!
Until Tomorrow,
Sophie
This looks absolutely like something I would enjoy however I would be so afraid to try to make it myself. I understand the stress of the roll and am sure my anxiety cannot take it. lol
It looks SO moist and yummy! I’m not such a good baker but I’d give this a try too besides the brownies! The roll might be difficult to do though!
I love Yule logs but every single attempt I did so far to make them turned into a disaster mainly because when I roll them they get broken!
I might try it again and let you know how it goes!
xo
Anastasia
http://www.natbees.com/
You have done amazingly though even if you were a bit worried about rolling it! It looks so delicious, I’m not a fan of orange though but I’m sure there’s alternatives.
Chloe xx
http://www.chloechats.com
I love making Yule logs and you’re right, the vegan sponge is easier than some other vegan things to bake! x
rhymeandribbons.com
This looks so good! I love the combination of chocolate and orange! Also it is wonderful that this is vegan! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
http://roadesque.com
You did so much better than what I would have done. Great job!
http://www.fashionradi.com
OMG this looks amaaaaazing!! Defo need to give this a try
http://www.petiteelliee.com
Ellie x
Reading you talk about rolling the Yule log stressed me out on your behalf. I was triggered and brought back to that one level on Cooking Mama where you had to roll a Yule log and it used to BREAK ON ME EVERYTIME. I’m very glad it worked for you though! Looks great!
Jas xx | https://thoughtsfromjasmine.co.uk
I absolutely love chocolate orange and Yule logs just have to be done at this time of year too! Yours looks amazing, the inside looks so creamy for a vegan recipe and I usually crack the cake when I roll it up haha!
Soph – https://sophhearts.com x
Looks so delicious and healthy! Will absolutely try this!
Marie
The Flower Duet
Erm am I dreaming? Chocolate orange is my all time favourite so I’m desperate to give this a try! Haha even just watching the contestants on The Great British Bake Off roll their swiss rolls or yule logs looks stressful, so I can imagine how difficult it must be! This looks so delicious ✨
Evie x | https://eviejayne.co.uk
This looks fabulous and delicious. Who doesn’t love chocolate and orange? I will definitely try making it. Thanks.