Bûche de Noël is a traditional French Christmas cake.

• Literally translated as "yule log."
• A traditional French Christmas cake shaped and decorated to resemble a log.
• Made of a sheet of génoise that is spread with mocha or chocolate buttercream, rolled into a log shape and covered with more buttercream. The surface is ridged to resemble the bark of a log and is sometimes garnished with meringue "mushrooms" and "moss" made from chopped pistachio nuts.

Some information adapted from the following sources:  On Food and Cooking, The Science and Lore of the Kitchen by Harold McGee, Food Lover’s Companion by Sharon Tyler Herbst and Wikipedia.com.