Christmas Blogfest

Unedited and Through the Looking Glass are hosting the Be Jolly by Golly Christmas Blogfest today. Participating writers will be posting recipes of their favorite Christmas treats and drinks as well as pictures of their favorite Christmas decorations. Click here to see the official description and to find out who's participating.

 Favorite Christmas Treat - Christmas Cake with Chocolate Cream Frosting

It's an ancient pagan practice during the Winter Solstice to burn a log in the fireplace to bring luck in the coming year. This tradition has now been replaced by eating Christmas cake. The cake comes in many varieties, ranging from an ice cream cake to cake with chocolate cream and marzipan, but they alway have that typical trunk pattern and brown color that reminds us of the old tradition. The following Christmas cake recipe comes from my grandmother. She has been making this Christmas cake for almost 20 years now and it's my favorite cake ever.

Ingredients for the cake

• 4 eggs
• 100 grams of sugar
• 100 grams of flour

Ingredients for the chocolate cream frosting

• 3 eggs
• 150 grams of powdered sugar
• 250 grams of butter
• 100 grams of black chocolate

Preparation of the cake

• Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together until soft and foamy
• Beat in the flour and whipped egg whites
• Pour the dough into a rectangular shape
• Bake in a preheated oven (180) for about 10 minutes
• Remove the cake from its shape and cut into three layers
• Wrap in a damp cloth so that the cake remains soft

Preparation of the chocolate cream frosting

• Heat the sugar and egg yolk until foamy
• Add butter lumps when cooled
• Stir in the melted chocolate and egg whites
• Add a little almond flavor

Decoration

• Cover each layer of cake with a thick layer of chocolate cream frosting and make sure that all sides are covered
• Use a fork to make grooves in the top layer of the chocolate cream frosting so that the cake looks like the trunk of a tree
• Decorate with Christmas figures such as marzipan

Favorite Christmas Drink - Hot Almond, Coconut and Cocoa Drink

This hot cocoa drink differs from the original one in that it is made with almond milk and coconut oil... and it tastes so much better. An ideal drink to start the day with a smile or to add warmth and atmosphere to the cold evenings leading up to Christmas.

Ingredients

• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

Preparation

• Heat the almond milk to warm temperature
• Add the coconut oil and the unsweetened cocoa powder 

Favorite Christmas Decorations - Christmas in Colmar, France