Chocolate, Caramel & Vanilla Yule Log

You guys have to try this Christmas dessert! It’s rich and super creamy and has the perfect combination of flavors! Introducing Chocolate, Caramel & Vanilla Yule Log!

This naturally sweetened yule log, or ice cream cake if you prefer, consists of two layers: chocolate and vanilla, a surprising caramel center, and a no-bake chocolate chip brownie base. I almost forgot, there is also a dark chocolate glaze!

It makes the perfect Christmas dessert and can be made ahead of time. Let’s do this!

While this ice cream cake has 3 different layers and might look intimidating, it’s actually less time-consuming and easier than you would believe.

We start by making the caramel center, which is my go-to salted caramel recipe. It’s made with only 5 ingredients: almond butter makes the base, maple syrup gives it the caramel taste, coconut oil brings the richness and helps firm it up, and finally, vanilla extract and salt give it a deeper flavor.

You combine all the ingredients together, pour it into a square tart circle, and let it firm up in the refrigerator or freezer.

For the chocolate/vanilla layer, I went with a mix of raw cashews, full-fat coconut milk, maple syrup, and cocoa butter.

Combine all the ingredients in a blender, and blend on high-speed until super creamy! Then, set aside 2/3 of the cashew cream and stir in the vanilla extract. The recipe calls for one full tablespoon of vanilla. That is correct! For the chocolate layer, blend the rest of the cashew cream (1/3) with unsweetened cocoa powder.

The rest is just a matter of assembling everything. The chocolate cream comes first because we want it on top. Then, place the caramel in the center, on top of the chocolate layer. And finally, you pour the vanilla cream on top of the chocolate and caramel. You will have to freeze the cake between each layer. Otherwise, you won’t get distinct layers as they would mix together.

The last layer is the base, which is a raw chocolate chip brownie! It’s your basic nut crust made with dates, almonds, cocoa powder, coconut oil, and chocolate chips for a nice chocolate crunch. Process everything in a food processor and pack the mixture tightly on top of the vanilla layer.

And finally comes the chocolate glaze. Once your yule log is ready, it’s time to flip it and glaze it with a creamy chocolate ganache.

For the decoration, I went with aquafaba meringue (I couldn’t find my blowtorch, but if you have one, it would be nice to caramelize it), some shaved chocolate, and crushed hazelnuts. You obviously don’t have to decorate it the same way. Let your creativity flow! Fresh fruits like strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries would be great on top!

We can store this yule log in the freezer and thaw it on the counter for about 1 hour before serving for the perfect texture!

If you are looking for a Christmas or New Year’s Eve dessert, look no further! This dessert combines chocolate, vanilla, and caramel into a rich and creamy ice cream cake.

Let me know in the comments if you try this recipe!

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Chocolate, Caramel & Vanilla Yule Log

5 from 5 votes

Author: Thomas Pagot

Deliciously creamy ice cream cake with a layer of chocolate, vanilla, and a salted caramel center on a base of raw brownie.

Print Pin Review Text Recipe

Prep Time : 1 hour hr

Resting Time : 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Total Time : 3 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Servings 12 Slices

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

Salted Caramel Center

• ▢ 1/3 cup almond butter
• ▢ 1/3 cup maple syrup
• ▢ 1/3 cup melted coconut oil
• ▢ 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• ▢ 1/4 tsp salt

Chocolate & Vanilla Cream

• ▢ 2 cups raw cashews soaked overnight
• ▢ 1 13.5-ounce can full-fat coconut milk
• ▢ 6 tbsp maple syrup
• ▢ 1/2 cup melted cocoa butter
• ▢ 1/4 tsp salt
• ▢ 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• ▢ 1 tbsp vanilla extract

Brownie Base

• ▢ 1 cup pitted dates
• ▢ 1/4 cup raw almonds
• ▢ 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• ▢ 1 tbsp coconut oil
• ▢ 2 tbsp chocolate chips

Chocolate Glaze

• ▢ 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
• ▢ 1/2 cup almond milk

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Instructions

 

• Start by making the salted caramel center. Combine all the ingredients together in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Line a small plate with parchment paper and place a 4-inch square tart ring on top. Pour the caramel into the square ring, and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or in the freezer for 1 hour. If you don’t have a square ring tart, you can use a small baking dish or container.
• In the meantime, prepare the filling. Drain the soaked cashews and add them to a blender. Add the full-fat coconut milk, maple syrup, melted cocoa butter, and salt. Blend on high speed for 20-30 seconds, or until smooth. Transfer 2/3 of the cashew cream to a mixing bowl and set aside, leaving 1/3 in the blender.
• Add the cocoa powder to the blender and blend on high speed for 5-10 seconds, or until well combined. Line a 12-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, and pour the chocolate cream into the pan. Place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
• Remove the caramel from the fridge/freezer and cut it into 3 large sticks (about 4×1.3-inch). This will be our caramel center. Keep in the refrigerator until needed.
• Once the chocolate cream layer is firmer, remove from the freezer. Place the caramel sticks centered on top of the chocolate layer (see photo).
• Add the vanilla extract to the bowl with the 2/3 of the reserved cashew cream. Whisk well. Pour the vanilla cream on top of the chocolate and caramel. Place in the freezer for at least 45 minutes.
• In the meantime, prepare the raw brownie base. Add the pitted dates, raw almonds, cocoa powder, and coconut oil to the bowl of a food processor. Process until you get a fine meal. Test the mixture by pressing a tablespoon of it between your hands, it should stick together. If it’s too crumbly, add more dates, and/or a teaspoon of water. Stir in the chocolate chips.
• Remove the yule log from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes. Add the brownie mixture on top of the vanilla layer and press down firmly to flatten. I recommend placing a sheet of parchment paper and using the bottom of a glass to pack it tightly. Place in the freezer for another 30 minutes.
• Finally, make the chocolate glaze. Place the chocolate chips in a bowl, set aside. Heat the almond milk over medium heat. As soon as it reaches a boil, remove from heat and pour over the chocolate chips. Let sit 1-2 minutes and whisk well until the chocolate is fully melted and well combined with the almond milk.
• Place a grid on top of the loaf pan and flip it. Remove the loaf pan and the parchment paper. Your yule log should now be the right way up. For easier cleaning, place a silpat or serving tray under the yule log. Now, pour the chocolate glaze on top of the log and use a spatula to make sure all faces are coated. Be aware the chocolate glaze will firm up very quickly since the yule log is cold.
• Keep the yule log in the freezer and thaw on the counter about 60 minutes before serving. Alternatively, you can transfer the yule log from the freezer to the refrigerator 3-4 hours before serving, this way it will slowly soften and your guests won’t see it before dessert time!

Notes

For the decoration (optional), make some aquafaba meringue: Add 1/2 cup of aquafaba, 1/4 tsp guar gum, and 1/3 cup icing sugar to a large mixing bowl. Using an electric whisk, beat on high speed for about 1 minute, or until you get stiff peaks. Transfer to a piping bag and pipe dots of meringue on top of the yule log.

Course : Dessert

Cuisine : French

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About the Author

Thomas Pagot is the founder, photographer, and recipe developer behind Full of Plants. He created the blog in 2016 as a personal cookbook for vegan recipes. Through years of recipe development, Thomas has successfully grown Full of Plants into a trusted resource for plant-based recipes.

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