top of page
Jelly Roll

Bûche de Noël Day

Dec 9

Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day

Today's Musings, History & Folklore

"You say jam, I say jelly, You say preserves, I say what the hell-y?" ~ "Spread it on Toast"

A Yule log (or bûche de Noël) is a traditional holiday dessert served near Christmas, especially in Belgium, France, Switzerland, Canada, Lebanon and several former French colonies, as well as the United Kingdom and Catalonia. Made of sponge cake to resemble a miniature actual Yule log, it is a form of sweet roulade, swiss roll, or jelly roll - a sponge cake filled with cream, jam or icing. In the UK, a similarly inspired everyday dessert, Jam Roly-Poly, is made with a flat-rolled suet pudding rather than cake, then filled with jam and served hot with custard. For added naming whimsy, this dessert is also called Shirt-Sleeve pudding, DeCleats' Arm, Dead Man's Arm or Dead Man's Leg! Pastry, cake, puddings, it's all good, especially during the holiday season! Recipe Included: Pistachio Roulade with Raspberries and White Chocolate

Jelly Roll

December 9th is Pastry Day and Bûche de Noël Day, for traditional holiday desserts!  

Pastries are differentiated from bread by having a higher fat content, which contributes to a flaky or crumbly texture.   The secrets of a flaky pie crust or a light buttery pastry layer are the subject of endless study and secret recipes.  

The Jelly Roll, also known as a Swiss roll, sweet roulade, or cream roll is a type of sponge cake roll filled with whipped cream, jam, or icing.

In spite of the name Swiss roll, the cake is believed to have originated elsewhere in Central Europe, likely Austria.  In the United States, the name changed with the fashions.  From 1852 to 1877 such a dessert was called: Jelly Cake (1852), Roll Jelly Cake (1860), Swiss Roll (1872), Jelly Roll (1873), and Rolled Jelly Cake (1876). 

In the UK, Jam Roly-Poly is a similar dessert, but made with a flat-rolled suet pudding rather than cake, filled with jam and served hot with custard.  This dessert is also called Shirt-Sleeve pudding, DeCleats' Arm, Dead Man's Arm or Dead Man's Leg!  The name Shirt-Sleeve Pudding came from the fact that it was often steamed and served in an old shirt-sleeve, which lent itself to the other nicknames of Dead-Man's Arm and Dead Man's Leg.

A Yule log (or bûche de Noël) is a traditional holiday dessert served near Christmas, especially in Belgium, France, Switzerland, Canada, Lebanon and several former French colonies, as well as the United Kingdom and Catalonia. 

For a prize winning jelly roll recipe, click the picture below!   And for some myths and science about the perfect pie crust, click the flaky crust!

And for a holiday worthy Swiss roll, Pistachio Roulade with Raspberries and White Chocolate, click below.

Jelly Roll

Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!

Jelly Roll

Jan    Feb    Mar    Apr    May    Jun    Jul    Aug    Sep    Oct    Nov    Dec

bottom of page