The Best Christmas Yule Logs in Montreal
Winter is officially here, and if our advent calendar is any indication, the holiday season is getting closer and closer. For most, this means a time to stop, take a break from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives and spend some quality time with those we love. As much as we love traditional meals, we know that everyone is looking forward to dessert! And of course, when it comes to holiday desserts, the traditional Yule log is a classic.
Have you ever wondered why the signature dessert of Christmas is a Yule log? Why not a tree, a sleigh or another image more traditionally associated with this celebration?
The tradition of the Yule log dates back to pre-medieval times, during the Iron Age. The Gaelic and Celtic peoples celebrated the Yule, a pagan festival celebrating the coming of the winter solstice in late December. It was common to burn a huge log, decorated with mistletoe, pine cones and other items. The log would burn in the hearth for several days, its ashes then being collected for the protection of the family. The advent of Christianity led to the continuation of this tradition, but on a smaller scale, as households became smaller and smaller over time. It is not known who created the first edible Yule log, but it has continued to be a part of the holiday tradition in its new and delicious form.
If you’re more the panettone type for the holiday season (although one doesn’t preclude the other, nothing beats a slice of Yule log for dessert and panettone for breakfast!), you’ll find our list of the best artisanal panettone here. For galettes des rois, look here! And if you’re just looking for a sweet treat, check out our lists of the best pastry shops and chocolate shops in Montreal.
Happy Holidays!
Pâtisserie Rhubarbe
When it comes to pastries, Rhubarbe is undoubtedly one of Montreal’s best. Their delicious Yule logs are no exception. Chocolate mousse and biscuit, praline, hazelnut biscuit and coffee mascarpone, or lemon cream, clementine jelly, olive oil mousse and biscuit – just these descriptions are already a holiday treat for the taste buds!
Montréal
Fanfare Brunch Boulangerie
Fanfare is a superb bakery on Rue Jarry Est that opened its doors in March 2019. The address offers excellent breads, pastries, and delicious dishes for morning, lunch or brunch. For the festive season, they are preparing magnificent, but above all delicious, Yule logs.
Montréal
Arhoma
Arhoma spoils us every holiday season with their delicious logs! This year is no exception. You can choose from half a dozen logs to accompany your Christmas feast.
Montréal
Fous Desserts
Fous Desserts is a charming pastry shop on the Plateau Mont-Royal that offers delicious desserts – some of the best in town. The flavours at Fous Desserts are mainly influenced by the seasons, with the house making use of Quebec products in its confections. The shop’s warm, relaxed atmosphere makes it an ideal place to enjoy good desserts, and of course, excellent Yule logs are made for the festive season. Choose from the Chocolate-Passionfruit log, the Vanilla-Pineapple log, or the Blond Chocolate-Pear log.
Montréal
Les Givrés Villeray
Les Givrés is a delightful Montreal ice-cream parlour that offers several ice-cream Yule logs every Christmas. The ‘Convoi de Macarons’ is deliciously chocolatey and vanilla-y, with a chocolate sponge cake and a panoply of chocolate-raspberry and vanilla-cherry macarons. The “Feu de camp” blends caramel, almonds and chocolate around a heart of toasted marshmallow. The “Juste du Sorbet” delights with flavours of mango, raspberry and lemon on a vanilla sponge cake with redcurrant jelly. Les Givrées also offers a vegan and gluten-free log, ‘La Végane’, with raspberry sorbet, caramel and chocolate ice cream and gluten-free sponge cake. And last but not least, the most creative of all, the “Bûche Iglu”, made with maple and vanilla ice creams, vanilla sponge cake and caramel sauce, and blocks of marshmallows assembled piece by piece. Discover them all and order yours directly on their website.
Montréal
Ateliers Sachère Desserts
Sachère spoils us every year, and this year is no exception! You can choose from three delicious Yule logs: The black sesame Kuro log with a lemon confit, yuzu mousse and a centre of black sesame cream and flowing yuzu caramel; The gluten-free Yuki log, made with a gluten-free coconut cake, topped with a light jasmine tea and vanilla mousse, with a lychee-wrapped centre; The Alba vegan log, made with cashew, coconut and hazelnut cream, mounted on several layers of gingerbread cake and cranberry compote with a pinch of smoked Chinese tea, Lapsang souchong. They are all available for pre-order in December.
Montreal
Pâtisserie Rustique
Rustique, the reference in pies in Saint-Henri, has two kinds of logs to round off your Christmas dinners: The Cherry and Almond Yule Log, decorated with a generous layer of whipped cream, cherries and pieces of caramelised almonds, or the Eggnog Yule Log. Please note that each cake is made to order and must be ordered 48 hours in advance.
Montréal
Pâtisserie Béline
Patisserie Béline is 100% vegan, gluten-free and soya-free. This charming Verdun establishment – formerly known as Audacieuse Vanille – is ready for Christmas. This year, they’re offering two delicious logs that respect this very interesting trio: “L’Inspiration Lamington” (Coconut dacquoise, almond and dark chocolate crunch, raspberry jam, milk chocolate mousse, decorated with coconut and chocolate sauce) and “L’Inspiration S’mores” (Vanilla and chocolate rolled dacquoise, Graham cracker pieces, toasted meringue cream inside, toasted marshmallow outside, smoked Maldon salt). Both are available in two sizes: 4-5 people and 6-8 people, and are waiting for you. You can order starting at the end of November and they will be available starting December 9.
Montréal
Madeleine Pastry Shop
Pâtisserie Madeleine, a Rosemont staple, makes delicious pastries. For Christmas, they’re treating us to three scrumptious logs, to enjoy with a good cup of coffee or around the dinner table with the family. Choose from the Bûche Mont Tremblant, the Bûche Raspberry and Jasmine or the Bûche Signature. They’re all available for pre-order between now and December 31, so hurry!
Montréal
Mlles Gâteaux
Mlles Gâteaux is a lovely pastry shop in Villeray, and a true haven for those with a sweet tooth (like us). This year, Mlles Gâteaux is offering four gourmet temptations: the classic chocolate and clementine Bûche roulée (already the 11th Christmas for this much-loved recipe! ); the Bûche Louis: vanilla mousse and full-fat yoghurt, creamy chestnut biscuit with cherry-raspberry compote; the Bûche Tropicananas: coconut mousse with nasturtium biscuit and coconut crunch, passion fruit cream and a core of mango, passion fruit and pineapple confit; and the Bûche Romanoff: brownies, almond-hazelnut praline crunch, vanilla mousse, homemade graham financier, dark chocolate ganache, praline mousse and dark chocolate chantilly. All available as of November 30, with the possibility of booking now for the holiday season.
Montréal
Le Elsdale Buvette de Quartier
Elsdale is the place to go for a coffee and a bite to eat in Rosemont. For the festive season, the house is offering two very gourmet, gluten-free logs. You can choose between the Bûche Opéra, made with a Joconde coffee biscuit, Bourdelais raspberry jelly and praline ganache, and the Bûche Miel, made with a Joconde biscuit soaked in wild honey and blackcurrant syrup, blackcurrant jam and a light rose cream.
Montréal
Renoir Restaurant
Every year, Renoir sets itself apart with its traditional and legendary gourmet Yule log. Paul Peyrat, the very talented head pastry chef, has prepared a chocolate-hazelnut log for you to bring home. 25 centimetres of deliciousness to share between 8 people; or less if you’re feeling indulgent.
Montréal
Pasticceria Alati-Caserta
Alati-Caserta is an iconic Italian pastry shop in Little Italy. Every year, the shop offers a fine selection of traditional Italian Yule logs. The flavours will be announced soon, so keep your eyes peeled! If you’re in the mood for something more traditional, but just as comforting, Alati-Caserta is the place for you.
Montréal
Boucherie Édouard et Léo - Ahuntsic
This holiday season, Hoogan & Beaufort’s chef Marc-André Jetté’s superb butcher’s shop is serving up a feast! In addition to two full menus (ballotine of stuffed turkey or roast filet mignon with foie gras), a number of exclusive products will be available at the butcher shop and online, including two succulent chocolate praline and burnt pear logs. Reserve early!
Montréal
Pâtisserie Chouquette
It may be a bit far to go and pick up a Yule log, but you wouldn’t be the first to make the return trip to Quebec City for the delights of Chouquette. Rachel and Olivier offer two equally tempting versions: a citrus log with sweet clover mousse, Viennese biscuit, citrus cream and clementine and grapefruit marmalade; then the chocolate log, with lightened dark chocolate mousse and Île d’Orléans plum compote. As for making the trip, we’ll take both.
Québec
Lecavalier Petrone
Lecavalier Petrone, c’est le projet de deux sympathiques jeunes filles : Chloé Migneault-Lecavalier et Loïse Desjardins-Petrone. Ensemble, elles créent des chocolats haut de gamme, aussi beaux à regarder que délicieux à savourer — une des meilleures chocolateries en ville. Leurs bûches sont présentement en pré-vente, mais attention, elles partent très vite !
Montréal
{{ name }}
{{ html }} Read more
Photography by Arhoma
