Yule logs

It won’t surprise you to learn that this Christmas cake is popular in countries such as Belgium and Switzerland, but did you know that Yule logs are also served in Lebanon and Vietnam?

Made to look like, well, a Yule log, this genoise-based sponge cake first became popular in 19th-century France — hence its enduring popularity in Vietnam, a former French colony, as well as its original name, Bûche de Noël. 

The ingredients — marzipan, meringue, spun sugar, and sponge cake — suggest that this dessert could have been around since the 1600s. Real Yule logs would traditionally be burned starting on Christmas Eve as a symbol of the new year — and, if they worked as intended, bring good luck.

However, the cake version has been a more recognizable holiday symbol than its namesake for quite some time. 

Why not add it to your Christmas menu if you do not already serve it?

Thanks, Interesting Facts!