Mocha Christmas Yule Log

This is a delicious Christmas Yule Log! This recipe is adapted from Taste of Home's. I made this with Lynne on Christmas Day!

Ingredients:

Cake

• 5 eggs (separate into yolks and egg whites)
• 1 cup sugar (divided into 1/2)
• 1/2 cup cake flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar

Mocha Cream Filling:

• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1/2 cup icing sugar
• 1.5 tsp instant coffee granules

Mocha Buttercream:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, unsalted
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 2 cup icing sugar
• 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp brewed coffee
• 3 tbsp 2% milk

Steps:

Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 10 inch by 15 inch by 1 inch deep tray with parchment paper and spray/grease with butter or shortening. 
2. Separate eggs into a bowl for egg yolks and another bowl for egg whites. 
3. In a large bowl beat egg yolks until light and fluffy. Add 1/2 cup sugar and beat until thick. 
4. In a separate bowl for dry ingredients, whisk together flour, cocoa powder and salt. 
5. Add the flour mixture gradually to the egg mixture beating thoroughly. Set aside.
6. In a third separate bowl, beat egg whites until foamy Add cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks appear. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar beating until there are stiff peaks. 
7. Fold egg white mixture into chocolate mixture until there are no longer any streaks. 
8. Pour batter into the tray and spread evenly with spatula.
9. Bake for 12-15 minutes until cake springs back (careful not to over bake). 
10. Once done, invert onto a towel dusted generously with icing sugar.  Remove parchment paper, Roll up the cake in towel starting with the short side. Allow to cool.

Mocha Cream Filling:

1. In a large bowl, beat heavy cream as it starts to thickening. Gradually beat in sugar and coffee granules until stiff peaks from. 
2. Unroll cooled cake, and apply the filling throughout the entirety of the cake within 2 cm of the border. Roll up once more and transfer to your serving platter. 

Mocha Buttercream Frosting:

1. Add 1/3 cup butter, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, 1.5 cups icing sugar, 1.5 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tbsp brewed coffee and 3 tbs 2% milk to a large bowl, beat until smooth. 
2. Ice the cake with your Mocha Buttercream, using a spatula to make large lines, and a fork to create smaller lines. 

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Ingredients:

• 8 chicken thighs
• 1 lbs mini red potatoes, halved
• 1 lbs sliced carrots
• 1 lbs green beans, ends trimmed
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/4 tsp red chili flakes
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Steps:

1. In a large bowl, mix honey, ketchup, garlic powder, basil, chili flakes, and ground black pepper.
2. In the slow cooker, add chicken thighs, red potatoes, carrots and sauce. Note: Green beans will be added in the last 30 minutes.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours, or high for 4 hours in the slow cooker.