In my first year at secondary school we made a Yule Chocolate Log in our home economics class. This involved a shop-bought Swiss roll, lots of chocolate buttercream and a fork to create a bark effect in the icing. Classy. This month's DB chocolate log challenge is in a different league. More mahogany than cheap knotted pine.

In the end I ignored my inner cheat (and Mr AB) and managed to make all of the layers for the log:







7. Finally, the icing and a bit of New Year's Eve bling:

The end result is rich, Bill Gates rich. But nothing is going to incentivise you to start a new year's health regime more than a log-induced heart attack. The different layers are delicious. I especially enjoyed the crunchy texture* which breaks up the soft mousse and, although I was initially sceptical about including creme caramel in the middle of a cake, it does work. However, and maybe it's just my January austerity kicking in too soon, there is something slightly perverse about this cake. I mean, do you really need six layers in a chocolate log? Now that's a philosophical question to pnder before the clock strikes twelve...
A very happy 2009 to you all.

This month's challenge is brought to us by the adventurous Hilda from Saffron and Blueberry and Marion from Il en Faut Peu Pour Etre Heureux. They have chosen a French Yule Log by Flore from Florilege Gourmand. A special thank you to Tartlette for her helpful additions, although she did make me want to cry when I say how perfect her log looked. Booooo.