Gluten Free Chocolate Yule Log Cake

Chocolate Swiss Roll Sponge

1. Pre-heat the oven.
2. Rub some butter around the inside of a 23 x 33cm/9 x 13” baking tray or insert a baking liner.
3. Put the cocoa and water into a bowl, mix until smooth then set aside.
4. Break the eggs (or chickpea flour + water + baking powder) into a large bowl and beat really well.
5. Add the caster sugar and beat for two minutes.
6. Sieve the flour into the bowl and beat for another two minutes.
7. Add the prepared cocoa mixture and beat for a further minute.
8. Tip the mixture into the prepared tray and spread it out to the edges.
9. Bake for 13-15 minutes.
10. Leave the cake in the tray for two minutes then gently tip it out onto a tea towel. With the tea towel, gently roll the sponge up from the short end and leave to cool.

Vanilla Buttercream Filling

1. Sieve the icing sugar into a bowl, add the softened butter and vanilla extract.
2. Beat together until smooth.
3. Gently unroll the cold sponge, spread the buttercream evenly over the top, then roll the sponge up quite tightly from the short end, making sure the filling stays inside. You can use the tea towel to help with this.

Chocolate Topping

1. Put the cream into a saucepan, bring it to the boil then remove it from the heat and add the chocolate. Stir until smooth.
2. Cool the mixture for a few minutes, stirring occasionally as it thickens.
3. Spread the topping over the cake. Drag the prongs of a fork length ways through the topping to create a log-like texture.
4. Chill until set.
5. Sieve a little icing sugar over the cake before serving.