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Twist on traditional Bûche de Noël holiday dessert

A twist on a traditional French holiday treat
<p>Chocolate yule log cake</p>

Looking to make a traditional holiday dessert this year? Try this Bûche de Noël recipe. It's a traditional French Christmas cake that looks like a log and is covered with rich chocolate icing. And this recipe has pistachio ice cream in it, too --- Yum!

INGREDIENTS

5 tablespoons all-purpose flour

5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for dusting

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

5 large eggs, separated, room temperature

3/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 pints pistachio ice cream, beaten until spreadable

Chocolate Wood-Grain

Chocolate Leaves for Pistachio-Chocolate Buche de Noel, for garnish (optional)

Vegetable-oil cooking spray

DIRECTIONS

Cut a thin piece of acetate into a 13 1/2-by-16-inch rectangle, and place on a clean work surface, with a long side facing you. Coat surface of faux-bois tool well with a thick layer of white chocolate. Starting at the left side and working from top to bottom of acetate sheet, rock coated tool back and forth while dragging it in one swift motion to make vertical striation. Continue making striations until the entire sheet is covered. Transfer acetate, chocolate side up, to an inverted rimmed baking sheet; refrigerate until set, about 6 minutes.

Meanwhile, temper bittersweet chocolate: Melt two-thirds of the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water until it registers 118 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove bowl from heat, and add remaining chocolate to the bowl; stir with a rubber spatula (avoid using a wooden spoon which can impart other flavors) until the chocolate cools to 84 degrees. Remove any unmelted pieces; discard. Return bowl to pan; stir until the chocolate reaches 88 to 90 degrees.

Immediately transfer acetate to work surface; pour bittersweet chocolate over the top. Quickly spread evenly over the entire surface with an offset spatula. Try not to spread it too much or white chocolate will smear. Use immediately.

Thanks to Martha Stewart for the recipe!

Want more recipes like this? Watch Great Day Washington weekday mornings at 9am on WUSA9!

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