Those who have signed up for A World in a Pan Newsletter have learned about the French tradition of the Christmas Log Cake and how to make one in our December issue.This is a log shaped cake is typically served for Christmas in France, but also in Belgium.
In the old times, a real log was burned before going to midnight mass which was supposed to burn till the end of Christmas day. But in 1945, the log moved from the hearth to the oven and nowadays they come in different colors and flavors.
The classic log cakes are Grand Marnier, chocolate, or coffee. The ones you see here are "individual" portions.
Traditionally, it is a rolled sponge cake filled with creme au beurre (butter cream) - or creme patissiere, a light custard. It is decorated with creme au beurre in a way that it looks like bark. Small plastic items have been added, like a Santa, or a tree, or a saw. 
Often, both ends are decorated with a thin chocolate round that reproduces the aspect of a tree, or concentric circles in chocolate and vanilla are made as shown below.
Early in the morning I went to make pictures of the Buches de Noel displayed at the different pastry shops in my neighborhood . I have seven such shops! Here they are for you to enjoy! 
The ones above are made with exotic flavors, like passion fruit or red currents.
This one here is an all dark chocolate with chocolate thin rounds on the side.
Special mention ought to be made for Le Notre , the famous Paris pastry Chef. He opened his first Paris pastry shop in my neighborhood, Auteuil, many years ago. We had ordered our wedding cake at hos shop. The shop is a regal for the senses! 
Every year, he asks a couturier to create a Christmas Log Cake. Last year it was Lagrafeld, and it was very successful. This year, Givenchy had accepted the challenge. 
In sharp contrast to the sophistication of Le Notre are the home made Log Cakes from the Auteuil Open Market bread and pastry stand, that you can see above.
Some are so original that the shop displays a tag with the features: Snow Ball: almond flavored sponge cake, vanilla flavored bavaroise cream, red fruits (red current, raspberries), meringue.
I am finishing this post with the one a chose: a very traditional chocolate log cake from Les Grillons pastry shop on rue d'Auteuil.
Enjoy and Merry Christmas to you all!
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