Vancouver’s Sweetest Yule Log Cakes

Six local bakeries serving up scrumptious Bûche de Noëls this holiday season

It’s hard to think of the holidays without remembering your favourite food traditions. While some superstar home cooks somehow find the time and energy to bake at home, it’s not realistic for all, especially when it comes to those fancier items. If you really want to impress, a Bûche de Noël, or Yule log cake as they are often referred to, might just be the item that tops off that decadent holiday dinner. Or give one as a gift for someone who’s been extra sweet this year. You can try to make them at home, but why not leave it to the experts?

Here are the best places to get your Bûche on in Vancouver

Thomas Haas, 999 Harbourside Drive in North Vancouver and 2539 West Broadway in Vancouver

If you’re a fan of chocolate, you’re sure to know Thomas Haas, the master of all things sweet. His shops in Kitsilano and North Vancouver are crafting Bûche de Noël for pick-up on two days only (December 23 and 24), so order ahead or you may miss out. Each one is $35 for six servings and the flavours include dark chocolate and orange with layers of chocolate-sacher cake, orange confit, caramelized cocoa bean crunch and dark chocolate mousse; milk chocolate tiramisu with milk chocolate mousse, mascarpone cream, almond cake, crispy hazelnut wafer and hints of amaretto and espresso; hazelnut chestnut with candied chestnut ganache, dark chocolate mousse, shortbread crust and a white coconut and lime made with a light white chocolate mousse, lime crème brulee and coconut meringue.

Faubourg, 2156 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver; 769 Hornby Street, Vancouver; and 792 Main Street, Park Royal South, West Vancouver

Faubourg Paris, Vancouver’s trio of elegant boulangeries-pâtisseries, offers a decadent collection of Bûches de Noël. Chef Ricardo Rosas, the head pastry chef at Faubourg, adds a modern touch to the classic Parisian Bûches with four unique creations. You’ll find milk chocolate and passion fruit; raspberry and litchi; the tradional Yule Log (vanilla, salted caramel and chocolate ganache); and a dark chocolate and coconut with dark chocolate mousse paired with a coconut crémeux. All Bûches are available in a 6” size for $35, 8” size for $46.50 or 10” size for $57. Email catering@faubourg.com or visit one of the stores to order.

Ganache Patisserie, 1262 Homer Street

Pastry chef, Peter Fong, opened Ganache Patisserie in Yaletown to bring a little a taste of Paris to Vancouver, as he puts it. Although he was born in Vancouver and graduated from Vancouver’s Dubrulle Institute, his travels through Europe left him with a passion for the true art of patisserie and his pastries are divine. Fong always surprises us with his unique Buche de Noel flavours and this year he will be offering up a chocolate/caramel Bûche Pur Ganache; a Bûche Earl Grey Cerise with bergamot cremeux, Earl Grey parfait and cherry core as well two more classic options. Check online for sizes and pricing.

Chez Christophe Chocolaterie and Patisserie, 4712 East Hastings, Burnaby

Chef and chocolatier, Christophe Bonzon, uses premium Swiss chocolate in his decadent creations at Chez Christophe Chocolaterie and Patisserie. Here you’ll find fine handmade chocolates, truffles, signature chocolate bars, and artistic chocolate sculptures and this season, a Mont Blanc Buche de Noel (chestnut) along with Pear and Caramel and La Chocolatée (intense chocolate). Check the holiday collection online for details.

Temper Pastry, 2409 Marine Drive, West Vancouver

Dundarave’s Temper Pastry jumps right into the festive season with their brilliant chocolate reindeer, snowmen and Christmas tree sculptures, and they even taste as good as they look. Temper is doing three different versions of Bûche de Noël this year, including chestnut, dark chocolate morello cherry and raspberry caramelized apple.

French Made Baking

The holiday selections from French Made Baking include macarons, marshmallows, gift baskets, cooking classs, and, of course, Bûche de Noël. French Made is offering three flavours of the traditional French dessert, all featuring seasonal decorations and mini macarons: 3 chocolats with layers of Valrhona white chocolate, milk chocolate and dark chocolate mousses, chocolate cake with crunchy praline, aurore with raspberry and litchi mousses, raspberry jelly, rose-flavoured almond cake and rose glaze (gluten free) and caramelia, made with pear and caramel mousses, poached pears, soft salted caramel, meringue. Orders may be placed by December 18 for a pick up on December 23 or 24.