Butterscotch yule log: A retro Christmas dessert recipe from the 60s - Click Americana (2024)

FAQs

What is the tradition of the Yule Log cake? ›

A French Christmas tradition that dates back to the 19th century, the cake represents the yule log that families would burn starting on Christmas Eve, symbolizing the new year to come and good luck ahead.

One of the favourite sweet treats of Christmas was first created in remembrance of an ancient tradition. The Christmas Chocolate Yule Log we all know and love actually represents the historical practice of collecting and burning a very large log in the hearth, throughout the Christmas season.

I usually associate a Yule Log with being chocolate or devil's food cake with a cream based filling and decorated to look like a log (with chocolate icing). A Swiss Roll can have any flvor sponge cake and often has fruit or jam in the filling.

A Log of Symbolism and Belief

Celts believed that as the sun seemingly stood still during the twelve days at the end of December, keeping the Yule log aflame would persuade the sun to move again, lengthening the days and heralding the return of spring.

The Yule log, Yule clog, or Christmas block is a specially selected log burnt on a hearth as a winter tradition in regions of Europe, and subsequently North America. The origin of the folk custom is unclear.

​The ancient Irish version of the Yule log (or “Bloc na Nollaig”) tradition took a more literal form: it was originally an entire tree chopped down, trimmed into a log, and brought into the house. But these weren't what we think of as Christmas trees!

The Burning of the Yule Log

It began as part of the winter solstice festivities. The candles and lights associated with Christmas, meant to symbolize guiding beacons for the Christ child, may have evolved from the Yule log, which was lit to entice the Sun to return as part of the jól (Yule) festival in Scandinavia.

The name bûche de Noël originally referred to the Yule log itself, and was transferred to the dessert after the custom had fallen out of popular use. References to it as bûche de Noël or, in English, Yule Log, can be found from at least the Edwardian era (for example, F.

The first known Yule log cake recipe was published in 1895 by French pastry chef Pierre Lacan in Le Mémorial Historique et Géographique de la Pâtisserie. Francophone countries most avidly consume Yule log cakes, although they're common in many countries that celebrate Christmas.

The tradition of the Yule log began in Norway, where a giant log was hoisted onto the hearth to celebrate the return of the sun each year. Hold a simple ritual by having each family member write down wishes, place them in the log, and then burn it in your fireplace.

What is the tradition of Christmas cake? ›

The Christmas cake as we know it comes from two Christian feast days: Twelfth Night and Easter. When families in the sixteenth century made their Christmas puddings for the big day, they would often use some of the mixture, with the addition of flour and eggs, to bake and eat for Eastertime.

A whole tree would be brought into the house and the thick end of the trunk would be stuck into the fire. A little more of the log would be burnt every day during the twelve days of Christmas and this was meant to bring luck into the New Year. The tradition was important throughout many European countries.

The Yule Tree

The Yule tree's brightly colored decorations and lights symbolized stellar objects, spirits of those who died, religious events and figures, and provided edible treats. Cutting a tree for the holidays on the national forest is a family affair.