What is the Difference Between Yule Log and Swiss Roll

The main difference between yule log and swiss roll is their appearance. Yule logs are made to resemble Yule logs that are burned on the Christmas eve while Swiss rolls are just cylindrical cakes with a spiral cross-section.

Yule is a traditional cake with a log shape we make during the Christmas season while a Swiss roll is a type of rolled sponge cake that has fillings of jam, whipped cream or icing. Moreover, yule logs are a type of traditional Christmas food while Swiss rolls have no such significance.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Yule Log 
     – Definition, Features
2. What is Swiss Roll
     – Definition, Features
3. What is the Difference Between Yule Log and Swiss Roll
    – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Swiss Roll, Yule Log

What is Yule Log

Yule is a traditional, log-shaped cake served near Christmas. It represents the yule log families traditionally burn on Christmas eve. This burning of the yule log is a symbol of the new year and good luck it would bring to the family. The yule log cake is a form of sweet roulade that resembles a miniature Yule log.

Yule log is typically made from a genoise (an Italian sponge cake). It is baked in a large, shallow Swiss roll pan, iced, rolled to form a cylinder, and iced again on the outside. Chocolate buttercream and yellow sponge cake are the most common combinations. However, there are variations including ganache, chocolate cake, as well as icings with espresso or liqueur flavours.

We usually serve yule logs with one end cut off and protruding from its side to look like a branch that is chopped off. The exterior of the cake has a bark-like texture. We obtain this texture by dragging a fork through the icing. Some people also sprinkle powdered sugar on the cake to represent snow. You can also see fresh berries and mushrooms made of marzipan or meringue as decorations.

What is Swiss Roll

A Swiss roll is a type of rolled sponge cake filled that is with jam, whipped cream or icing. We also call them jelly rolls, roll cake, and cream rolls. We can trace the history of swiss rolls to Central Europe, but not to Switzerland as its name suggests.

Swiss rolls are not very difficult to make since they are just cakes spread with cream or jam and then rolled into a cylindrical shape. They come in a variety of flavours, including chocolate cakes with cream fillings, as well as vanilla sponge cakes with jam fillings. You can use any jam filling for swiss roll – strawberry, raspberry, apricot, blackberry. Moreover, swiss rolls can come in different sizes

Difference Between Yule Log and Swiss Roll

Definition

Yule is a traditional, log-shaped cake served near Christmas while a Swiss roll is a type of rolled sponge cake filled that is with jam, whipped cream or icing.

Significance

Yule logs are a type of Christmas food while Swiss rolls have no such religious or cultural significance.

Appearance

Moreover, yule logs look like logs with decorations like sugar snow, fresh berries, leaves and mushrooms while Swiss rolls are just rolled sponge cake filled that is with jam or cream.

Flavours

Chocolate buttercream and yellow sponge cake is the most common flavour combination in yule logs; however, Swiss rolls come with various types of sponge cakes and jam fillings.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the main difference between yule log and swiss roll is their appearance. Yule logs are made to resemble Yule logs that are burned on the Christmas eve while Swiss rolls are just cylindrical cakes with a spiral cross-section.

Reference:

1. “Swiss Roll.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Nov. 2020, Available here.
2. “Yule Log (Cake).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Oct. 2020, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “3881666” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “4797451” (CC0) via Pixabay