Thursday, December 27, 2012

Red Velvet Christmas Yule log Cake

It's so fast! Christmas is finally over...gosh I am already feeling to the "blues" coming on. :P I guess that has A LOT to do with the school reopening soon. ~Dread!!~ 6 weeks seems to fly pass so fast...it almost seems like it was only yesterday that we just started our holidays, no? Lol! Anyways, we all have to face the inevitable ...come what may, we deal with it one day at a time with an open heart! ;) 

Although Christmas has already past, but I reckon that I best post up this fabulous red velvet Swiss roll log cake recipe for future reference. I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas celebration...and got their desired Christmas present! I know I did! Will elaborate on that on my coming pot. ;) For now...the Red Velvet Yule Log Cake.
It almost always that I made 2 yule log cakes for Christmas every year. And I always prefer to try a new recipe. And since I love red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting, I thought it will be really nice to bake it into a log cake! Plus that red coloring just adds on the festive mood!  And of course I referred to none other then Martha Stewart's recipe since her red velvet is the best I've tasted. :)
This recipe is the "bomb", I can eat it everyday, haha! I actually made these cuppies for my kid's form teacher awhile back and she loved it too. ;) And remember I actually used it in my mum's birthday cake: Red Velvet & Light Cheese Cake with Pink Ombré Roses.

However for this log cake, I need to change the recipe so that the cake can be soft and "flexible" enough to roll up nicely. So here is the version I have come up with, without compromising the wonderful velvety taste of the cake:

Ingredients for Red velvet Swiss roll cake: (makes a 13" by 14" tray) (serves 10 -12 ppl)
3tbsp quality cocoa powder (I used Valrohna)
20ml hot water
- Mix cocoa powder and hot water together to form a thick paste. Let cool for use later.
80g egg yolk
40g caster sugar
100ml buttermilk
50ml vegetable oil
130g cake flour, sifted
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp red food coloring (I used Wilton no-taste red)
1/2 tsp white vinegar

120g egg white
80g caster sugar
  • Using the double boiler, place a mixing bowl over it. Add in the egg yolks and sugar. Beat the mixture till it thickens and double the volume. 
  • Remove from the boiler and stir in the cocoa mixture. Also add in buttermilk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract and stir gently till well combined.
  • Then add in the red food coloring and white vinegar and combine well.
  • Lastly add in the sifted cake flour and gently mix in till well combined.
  • Preheat the oven to 170C and lined and grease the baking tray with parchment paper.
  • In another clean mixing bowl, beat the egg white till foamy and gradually add in the caster sugar and beat till stiff peaks.
  • Gently fold in the whites to the egg yolk batter in 3 separate portions. Remember to fold in gently and not deflate the batter.
  • Pour the batter on the prepared tray and spread evenly. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes till done.
  • Remove from oven and let cool completely.
Cream Cheese frosting
340g cream cheese, soften 
227g unsalted butter, room temperature
200gg confectioner's sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • Beat butter and cream cheese with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low. Add sugar, 1 cup at a time, and then vanilla; mix until smooth.
 Assemble:
  • Once the cake has cooled completely, spread about 1/3 of the cream cheese frosting on the surafce, evenly, leaving about 1" at the edge so as to have a cleaner edge when rolled up.
  • Roll the cake from the longer side inwards. Trim the sides and slice portions of the cake as desired to make different log segments.
  • Frost the cake till all is covered and use a fork to run through the frosting to create the log texture. Decorate at will! Chill as per needed so that the cream cheese frosting is more stable.

 I actually made the same recipe twice....and both occasion was a success! My friends raved about it and even her 5 year old daughter (picky eater) had seconds!
A look at the interior of the cake. :P Yummy! I definitely will be baking it over and over again. I was really glad the cake still turned out great after the modifications. :D

I am going to submit this to Aspiring Bakers #26 - Creative Christmas Motif Bakes! hosted by Alan of Travellingfoodies.

And also linking this post to Cook Like A Star organised by Zoe of Bake for Happy Kids, Baby Sumo from Eat your heart out and Riceball from Riceball Eats
Cook like a Star - December 2012
Martha Stewart


14 comments:

Mich Piece of Cake said...

This is so gorgeous! Love the texture of your cake. Keeping this for next year :)

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

From the picture, i can see your red velvet cake is very moist and good! I have never done a log cake before, maybe i should try this cake next year..Happy New Year 2013 to you!

鲸鱼蓝蓝蓝 said...

太有圣诞气息了吧,我喜欢:)

Molly @ Toffee Bits and Chocolate Chips said...

I love Yule log cakes! You did such a nice job and it looks delicious!

lena said...

fantastic log cake! i also like your cuppies and the cream cheese looks velvety smooth too! i guess next month will be another busy baking month for you..prep for cny!

Quay Po Cooks said...

I wanted to make a log cake for Christmas but my Quay Lo said not to for there were so much to do. Ended up bought one from our favorite bakery. I still would love to try making one. Must try your recipe on this soon. Great job on the yule log cake Bee. Happy New Year to you and family.

Passionate About Baking said...

HBS, I love your red velvet log cake! It's so beautifully decorated and the roll is so nicely done up. I did one, but really pale in comparision. Must try your recipe instead. :) Thanks for sharing. Actually I love RVC too! ;)

Lite Home Bake said...

Hi Bee,
A very lovely log cake! Happy New Year 2013!

Baby Sumo said...

What a beautiful Yule Log! I also made a chocolate one for my family for Christmas.

Happy New Year!

Zoe said...

Hi Bee,

Happy 2013!

Sorry that I was late visiting your post as I was away for a short Christmas break.

Your red velvet log cake looks amazing! I would love to try baking this too... maybe for the next Xmas.

Zoe

Jaques said...

Hi Bee Bee,
I actually tried your red velvet cheesecake n it's the best!!
All my friends love it! May I ask how many min
did u bake in cupcake form n what temp ? Thank you..;))

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Hi Jaques, actually it depends on your cupcake size. But I would say an average of 12-15mins at 175C-180C.

Jaques said...

Thank you Bee Bee! i m going to try it out.. yummy!! thanks so much again for your reply. =)))

Chrish said...

Hi,
These sounds like Yummy..!!
This Christmas Red velvet Cake looks delicious and adorable.
I love red velvet cake most.I read your recipe really unique and easy to make.
Thanks For Sharing....