Ingredients
4 eggs, yokes and whites separated
1/4 cup white granulated sugar
1/ cup white granulated sugar(Yes, I know sugar is listed twice…)
1/2 tsp vanilla (or peppermint extract, almond extract…)
2/3 cup white flour
1/4 cup cocoa (the dry powered, not the blocks)
1 teaspoon baking powder
Whipped cream
Chocolate icing (Homemade or store bought)
Directions
Using a wire whip or hand held electric mixer, beat the egg yolks until thick and very close to the color of lemon peels. Gradually add in the 1/2 cup sugar. Set aside. Using extremely clean beaters, whip the egg whites until soft peaks form.
Peaks will form but will quickly “slump” over. (Note: oils and fats on the beater or in the bowl will prevent the egg white from whipping correctly.) Gradually add in 1/2 cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
They will hold the peaks very well at this point. Gently fold the egg whites into the egg yolks. Try not to beat it up too bad, this cake raises mostly because of the air you’ve just incorporated into the eggs.
Sift the dry ingredients together. Gently mix or fold into the egg mixture.
Spread batter evenly into a well greased and floured jelly roll pan (15 1/2″ x 10 1/2″ x 1″ pan). Bake at 375 degrees for about 10-12 minutes.
When done, a tooth pick inserted into the center will come out clean.
Immediately loosen the sides and turn the cake out onto a lint-free towel that has been sprinkled with flour or powdered sugar. Starting at the narrow edge, roll the cake and the towel up together. When cool, unroll and remove the towel. Completely cover the upper surface with the whipped cream. We like to add shreds of chocolate, but this is optional.
Re-roll the cake. Now you have a brown and white spiraled “log”. Place it on the serving tray or plate to ice it because you won’t be able to move it to another server once it has been iced. Spread the chocolate icing over the surface of the cake, don’t worry about it being even.
After the surface is covered, take a fork to make short,wavy patterns coming the entire surface to give a log like texture.
If you want, garnish the center with small pine trimmings or cones (clean ones…)