Kate Fay's twist on the classic chocolate log is not only gluten-free but also incredibly moreish and decadent. This dessert is a wonderful addition to your Christmas spread or any celebration.
Serves 6-8
Sponge
6 eggs
170g caster sugar
1½ tsp Heilala vanilla extract
50g unsalted butter, melted
2 Tbsp hot water
26g Valrhona cocoa powder
60g Sabato gluten-free flour
8g gluten-free baking powder
Filling
230g Alain Milliat Raspberry or cherry jam
250g mascarpone
30g icing sugar
1 tsp Heilala pure vanilla paste or Heilala vanilla extract
250ml cream
Chocolate butter icing
250g Valrhona dark chocolate
85g unsalted butter
1½ Tbsp cream
To make the sponge, preheat oven to 160ºC. Line a baking tray with a 30cm x 42cm sheet of baking paper. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla with an electric beater on medium speed until the mixture becomes very thick, fluffy, and yellow in colour. Fold in the butter and water until combined. Sift the cocoa powder, flour and baking powder over the wet ingredients and fold through gently until the mixture is smooth and streak-free. Pour the mixture evenly onto the baking paper and smooth the surface. Bake for 10 – 12 minutes or until the sponge springs back when touched.
Remove the sponge from the oven, peel it from the baking paper and turn the top side down onto a clean sheet of baking paper. Trim edges to straighten. Roll up the sponge from the short side, using the baking paper to help it roll. Leave the sponge rolled in the baking paper and wrapped in a tea towel until it cools completely.
Once cold, unroll the sponge. Spread cherry jam thinly across the sponge. Then spread the cream mixture across the sponge leaving a 3cm gap along one of the short sides (the outside of the roll). Re-roll the sponge tightly into a log shape. Drizzle the chocolate butter icing across the top of the log.
To make the cream filling, in a mixing bowl whisk the mascarpone, icing sugar and vanilla with an electric whisk or beater on medium–high speed until well combined. Very slowly drizzle in the cream and continue to whisk the mixture until all the cream is incorporated and stiff peaks have formed.
To make the chocolate butter icing, place the chocolate, butter and cream in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of lightly simmering water, ensuring that the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl. Whisk the mixture until all the chocolate is melted and fully combined with the cream and butter.
Recipe courtesy of Kate Fay
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