What is a Bueche de Noel?

Bûche de Noël, which means "Yule log" in French, is a traditional Christmas cake that resembles a Yule log, the large piece of wood that was traditionally burned in the hearth on Christmas Eve. The cake is made from a chocolate sponge cake that is rolled up and filled with a chocolate ganache or butter cream. It is then covered in chocolate frosting or ganache and decorated to look like a log, often with icing "bark," sugar "snow," and meringue mushrooms or other decorations.