Creating A Log Wedding Cake: A Step-By-Step Guide

A wedding cake is a once-in-a-lifetime dessert, so it should not only taste delicious but also look stunning. A log wedding cake is a unique and beautiful choice for a wedding cake. This type of cake is designed to resemble a yule log, a specially selected log burnt as a Christmas tradition in Europe. The yule log cake is one of the oldest Christmas traditions, dating back to the 1600s, and was popularized in French bakeries during the 19th century.

To make a log wedding cake, you will need to bake a cake, fill it with a sweet filling, roll it up, and frost it to create the appearance of a log. The key to successfully rolling the cake is to do so while it is still hot, as the cake is much more pliable at this stage. Once the cake has cooled, you can carefully unroll it, fill it, and roll it up again.

There are several filling and frosting options to choose from when making a log wedding cake. For the filling, you can use sweetened whipped cream, pastry cream, mousse, chocolate buttercream, jam, or preserves. For the frosting, a chocolate ganache is a popular choice, and you can use a fork to create a bark-like texture. You can also get creative with additional decorations, such as meringue mushrooms, holly sprigs, fresh berries, or a dusting of powdered sugar to resemble snow.

A log wedding cake is a unique and elegant choice for a wedding, and with the right ingredients and techniques, you can create a stunning dessert that will impress your guests.

Prepare the cake pans

To prepare the cake pans for a log wedding cake, you will need to grease the pans with butter or cooking spray and line them with parchment paper. This will ensure that the cake releases easily from the pan. Here are the steps to follow:

First, lightly grease the bottoms and sides of your round pans with non-stick spray or butter. Then, add a parchment paper round to each pan. You can make your own parchment paper rounds by tracing the bottom of your cake pan onto regular parchment paper and cutting out the rounds. This will guarantee that the cakes will release seamlessly from the pans.

Next, grease the parchment paper rounds as well. This will help the cake batter stick to the pans and ensure an even bake.

Finally, if you are using a dark or non-stick pan, you may want to lower the oven temperature by 25°F to prevent overbaking.

Make the batter

To make the batter for a log wedding cake, you will need the following ingredients:

• Eggs
• Sugar (granulated or powdered)
• Vanilla extract
• Flour (cake flour or all-purpose)
• Cocoa powder
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Butter
• Cream (heavy or whipping)
• Vegetable oil
• Sour cream or buttermilk
• Milk

The exact quantities of each ingredient will depend on the size of your cake, but as a general rule, you will need more eggs, sugar, and flour for a larger cake.

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (or 375°F if using a dark or nonstick pan).
• Grease and line a baking pan with parchment paper. You can use a 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet, a 15x10x1-inch pan, or a 13 x 18-inch baking sheet.
• In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks and sugar together until they are light in color, fluffy, and slightly thickened. You can use an electric mixer or a stand mixer for this step.
• Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until combined.
• If using melted butter, add it to the batter along with the milk and beat until combined.
• If using softened butter, beat it in a large bowl until light and fluffy before adding the sugar and other wet ingredients.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
• Tap the pan lightly on the counter to remove any large air bubbles.
• Bake the cake for 8-12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the edges of the cake pull away from the sides of the pan.
• Let the cake cool for a few minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack or a clean kitchen towel to cool completely.

Once your batter is ready, you can bake your cake and assemble your log wedding cake!

Bake the cake

The first step in making a log wedding cake is to bake the cake. This process will vary depending on the recipe you are using, but there are some general tips that can help ensure your cake turns out perfectly.

First, it is important to gather all your ingredients and preheat your oven to the temperature specified in your recipe. It is also a good idea to prepare your baking pan by greasing it or lining it with parchment paper. This will help ensure that your cake does not stick to the pan and make it easier to remove once it is baked.

Next, you will need to mix your dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately. This typically includes flour, baking powder, and salt for the dry ingredients, and eggs, butter, and milk for the wet ingredients. Once your dry and wet ingredients are combined, you can slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, stirring continuously to avoid lumps.

Once your batter is ready, pour it into your prepared pan and bake it in the oven according to the instructions in your recipe. It is important not to overbake your cake, as this can lead to dryness and cracking when you try to roll it later.

While the cake is baking, you can prepare a clean kitchen towel by sprinkling it with a layer of powdered sugar. This will help to prevent your cake from sticking to the towel when you roll it up.

Once your cake is done, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a minute on the baking sheet. Then, carefully turn it out onto the prepared kitchen towel and remove the parchment paper. Starting from one of the long sides, roll up the cake with the towel inside. This helps to shape the cake into a log and makes it easier to fill and decorate later. Allow the cake to cool completely before proceeding to the next step.

Tips for Baking the Perfect Cake

• Make sure your oven is preheated to the correct temperature before baking your cake.
• Use room temperature ingredients, as this will help them combine more easily and evenly.
• Do not overmix your batter, as this can affect the texture of your cake.
• Avoid overbaking your cake, as this can lead to dryness and cracking.
• Allow your cake to cool completely before filling and decorating it.

Make the frosting

The frosting is a key part of the log wedding cake, as it helps to create the bark-like texture and appearance. You can use a variety of frostings, including chocolate buttercream, vanilla buttercream, or chocolate ganache. Here are the steps to make each type of frosting:

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:

• In a large bowl, beat butter until light and fluffy. You can use an electric mixer or a stand mixer for this step.
• Add powdered sugar, cocoa powder, salt, milk, and vanilla extract to the butter. Mix until well combined and light and fluffy.
• Increase the mixer speed to high and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.
• Fold in mascarpone cheese using a rubber spatula.
• Cover the bowl and refrigerate the frosting until you are ready to use it.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:

• In a large bowl, beat butter until creamy.
• Add confectioners' sugar, milk or heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt to the butter. Mix on low speed until combined.
• Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the frosting is thick and creamy.
• Adjust the consistency by adding more confectioners' sugar if the frosting is too thin or more milk/heavy cream if it is too thick.

Chocolate Ganache Frosting:

• Combine chopped chocolate, butter, vanilla extract, and salt in a small heatproof bowl.
• In a saucepan, heat heavy cream over low heat until it starts to bubble around the edges.
• Pour the hot cream over the chocolate mixture and let it sit for about 5 minutes.
• Stir the mixture until smooth and well combined.
• Let the ganache cool and thicken at room temperature for about 2 hours or until spreadable.

Once you have prepared the frosting, you can assemble the cake by spreading it over the cake layers and creating a bark-like texture using a fork or a small spatula.

Assemble the cake

Now that you have your log cake layers, filling, and frosting ready, it's time to assemble your wedding cake! Here are the steps to put together a stunning log wedding cake:

• Place your first cake layer on a cake board or serving platter. This will be the base of your wedding cake.
• Using a large icing spatula, spread a generous amount of filling or frosting onto the cake layer. Ensure the filling is evenly distributed.
• Place the second cake layer on top of the first layer. Gently press down to secure it in place.
• Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you have stacked all your cake layers.
• Apply a thin layer of frosting to the entire cake. This is called a crumb coat, which will help create a smooth surface and prevent crumbs from getting into your final layer of frosting.
• Refrigerate the cake for about 30 minutes to allow the crumb coat to set.
• Remove the cake from the refrigerator and apply the final layer of frosting. Use a large icing spatula or a bench scraper to create a smooth, even finish.
• To create the log texture, use a small icing spatula and run it around the cake while slowly turning the cake. This will create beautiful, elegant ruffles that resemble woodgrain.
• For added stability, especially if you have a multi-tiered cake, insert cake dowels into the bottom tier. Measure the height of the bottom cake and cut the dowels to match. Place them in a square formation in the centre of the cake, pushing them straight down until they touch the bottom cake board.
• If you are adding a second tier, repeat steps 1-9 for the top tier. Place the smaller tier in the centre of the bottom tier, using the cake board for support.
• To cover any gaps or imperfections between the tiers, pipe frosting around the bottom of the top tier. You can also pipe dots of frosting between the tiers to create a pretty pearl-like effect.
• For a smooth finish, moisten your fingertip with water and gently press down on any pointy peaks in the frosting.
• Decorate your log wedding cake with artificial flowers, fresh berries, or other desired toppings. You can also add "bark" by dragging the tines of a fork through the frosting.
• Refrigerate the assembled cake until it is ready to be served. Enjoy your beautiful and delicious log wedding cake!

Frequently asked questions