The ultimate makeover: Chocolate log

The ultimate makeover: Chocolate log

The lighter version of this much-loved festive treat keeps all of the chocolatey richness

Difficulty and servings

Moderately easy

Serves 10

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 35 mins

Cook time

Cook 15 mins

plus cooling
Freezable

Method

  1. Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Lightly oil and line a 23 x 32cm Swiss roll tin with baking paper. Mix the coffee with 1 tbsp warm water. Beat the eggs, both sugars and the coffee mix together in a large mixing bowl with an electric whisk for about 8 mins or until the mixture is thick and airy like meringue and holds a trail when you lift up the beaters.
  2. Sift the flour and cocoa powder over the fluffy egg mix, then fold in very gently using a large metal spoon. Pour the mixture evenly into the lined tin and carefully tip it so it spreads evenly without being deflated. Use a knife if necessary to very gently tease it into the corners. Bake for 12-15 mins or until the cake feels spongy but firm when touched.
  3. Lay a sheet of baking paper on the work surface and sprinkle with a little caster sugar. Tip the tin upside-down onto the paper and let the cake fall out. Carefully peel off the paper. Roll up the cake lengthways from one of the short ends with the help of the paper, rolling it inside so the cake doesn't stick. Cool. The cake becomes even more moist if left overnight wrapped up, then iced the next day.
  4. For the chocolate icing, put the chopped chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat a small pan of water (one-third full) until boiling, remove it from the heat, then sit the bowl of chocolate over the top. Leave for a few mins off the heat until melted. Remove the bowl from the pan, then leave the chocolate until it is cool to the touch. Beat the mascarpone and quark together, then sift and stir in the icing sugar and cocoa powder. Stir in the cooled melted chocolate (keeping a couple of tsp back for drizzling), then the coffee mixed with the vanilla extract.
  5. Carefully unroll the cake, don't worry if it cracks a bit, and discard the paper. Spread half the icing over the unrolled cake, then re-roll it, finishing with the join underneath. Place the cake on a serving plate. Swirl the rest of the icing all over the cake to cover it, then drizzle over the reserved melted chocolate. Decorate with a sprig of holly.

271 kcalories, protein 8g, carbohydrate 33g, fat 13 g, saturated fat 7g, fibre 1g, sugar 22g, salt 0.29 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, January 2010.

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Latest comments and suggestions

Results 21-22

  • 28 December 2010

    andreea rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    i really liked this cake because it was really easy to make, the preparation took only 15-20 minutes.it tasted really nice.i used cream cheese instead of quark and 100g of chocolate instead of 50g.

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  • 09 December 2012

    patchybear rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Fantastic Recipe- I made this today with 3/4 of the recipe to make it a bit smaller. I made this in a 19cm by 28cm tin. It rolled perfectly and didn't crack at all I must admit Sainsburys don't stock mascarpone light so I substituted it for 150ml of extra thick cream which set firm in the middle and topped with my own chocolate topping. even though the ingredients I added defeats the object it still doesn't matter as what I did made the serving 320 calories per my 7th of log serving meaning it still by far less calories than other yule logs on here. Definitely will make again with Christmas coming very soon!

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Difficulty and servings

Moderately easy

Serves 10

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 35 mins

Cook time

Cook 15 mins

plus cooling
Freezable

Ingredients

FOR THE CAKE

  • 1 tsp instant coffee granules
  • 4 eggs , at room temperature
  • 85g golden caster sugar , plus extra for rolling
  • 50g light muscovado sugar
  • 120g self-raising flour
  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder

FOR THE CHOCOLATE ICING

  • 50g plain chocolate , 70% cocoa solids or more, very finely chopped
  • 250g mascarpone light
  • 140g Quark
  • 50g icing sugar
  • 1 ½ tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp instant coffee granules
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

FOR THE DECORATION

  • holly sprigs
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271 kcalories, protein 8g, carbohydrate 33g, fat 13 g, saturated fat 7g, fibre 1g, sugar 22g, salt 0.29 g

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