1. Classic Indulgence: Chocolate Yule Log (Bûche de Noël)

Servings: 8–10
Prep time: 30 min | Bake time: 12–15 min | Chill: 1–2 hours

Ingredients:
Sponge Cake:

• 4 large eggs, separated
• 100g (½ cup) granulated sugar
• 30g (¼ cup) cocoa powder
• 60g (½ cup) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Filling:

• 200ml (¾ cup) heavy cream
• 50g (¼ cup) powdered sugar
• 50g dark chocolate, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Ganache:

• 100g dark chocolate
• 100ml (½ cup) heavy cream

Decoration (optional):

• Powdered sugar, berries, meringue mushrooms, rosemary sprigs

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a 10x15-inch jelly roll pan with parchment.
2. Beat egg yolks + half sugar until pale. Whip egg whites + salt until soft peaks, gradually add remaining sugar.
3. Fold egg whites into yolk mixture gently. Sift cocoa + flour, fold carefully.
4. Spread evenly in pan, bake 12–15 min until springy. Let cool slightly, then flip onto a clean towel sprinkled with sugar, peel parchment. Roll sponge with towel; cool completely.
5. Whip cream + sugar + vanilla until soft peaks. Fold in melted chocolate. Unroll sponge, spread filling, re-roll gently.
6. For ganache: heat cream until just boiling, pour over chopped chocolate, stir until smooth. Spread over roll.
7. Dust with powdered sugar or decorate as desired. Chill at least 1 hour before serving.

Tip: Use a fork to create “bark” texture in ganache for a realistic log look.

Health tweak: Use dark chocolate ≥70% and replace cream with Greek yogurt cream for a lighter version.

2. Lighter Option: Spiced Apple Crumble

Servings: 6–8
Prep time: 15 min | Bake time: 35–40 min

Ingredients:
Filling:

• 5 large apples, peeled, cored, sliced
• 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Crumble Topping:

• 100g (1 cup) rolled oats
• 50g (½ cup) almond flour
• 2 tbsp coconut oil or butter
• 2 tbsp maple syrup

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
2. Toss apple slices with syrup, spices, and lemon juice. Spread in a baking dish.
3. Mix oats, almond flour, coconut oil, and maple syrup until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples.
4. Bake 35–40 min until topping is golden and apples are tender. Serve warm.

Serving suggestion: Pair with vanilla yogurt or low-fat custard.

Health tweak: Reduce topping sugar, use coconut oil, and focus on natural sweetness from apples.

3. Healthy Twist: Peppermint Greek Yogurt Parfait

Servings: 4
Prep time: 10 min | Chill: Optional

Ingredients:

• 400g (2 cups) Greek yogurt (unsweetened)
• 1–2 tsp peppermint extract
• 2–3 tsp honey or maple syrup
• 50g (¼ cup) dark chocolate shavings or cocoa nibs
• ½ cup fresh berries or pomegranate seeds
• Optional: 2 tbsp chia seeds or granola

Instructions:

1. Mix Greek yogurt with peppermint extract and honey until smooth.
2. In serving glasses, layer yogurt, berries, chocolate shavings, and optional granola/chia seeds.
3. Repeat layers for 2–3 layers depending on glass size.
4. Chill 15–30 min for a firmer texture or serve immediately.

Tip: Top with a small candy cane or sprinkle of cocoa for festive presentation.

High in protein, lower in sugar, includes antioxidants from berries and dark chocolate.