To make the meringue mushrooms.

Line a baking sheet with none stick paper.

Whisk the egg white until stiff and add 1oz / 25g of the sugar. Then whisk again until stiff fold in another 1oz / 25g of sugar.

Fill a piping bag with a plain nozzle with the meringue. Pipe the meringue onto the baking sheet to resemble small mushroom caps and stalks.

Bake in a oven at 110c or 225f gas mark 1/4.

Bake for about 1 1/2 hours until dry, then leave to cool.

To make the log

Grease a 33 x 23cm / 13in x 9in swiss roll tin with grease proof paper and dredge with castor sugar.

Put the eggs in a deep bowl sitting over a pan of simmering water. Not touching the water so it dose not get to hot.

Whisk the eggs and sugar until thick. Take the mixture off the pan and whisk for 5 mins.

Sift in the flour and coca gently fold in and add 1 tablespoon of water. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin.

Bake in the oven at 200c or 400f. gas 6 for 12 mins until shrunken slightly.

Meanwhile place a sheet of grease proof paper over a tea towel. Dredge the paper with sugar turn the cake out on to the paper.

Roll it out with the paper and transfer to a wire rack seam side down, leave for 20 mins. Melt the chocolate and leave to cool slightly.

Beat the icing sugar and butter and then add the cool chocolate. Unroll the swiss roll and spread with chestnut puree.Roll up again without the paper and place on a cake board.

Cut a diagonal slice off one end and attach it to the side of the roll with the butter cream.

Using a piping bag with a large star nozzle. Pipe thin lines of butter cream over the log.

Pipe one or two swirls of butter cream to represent the knots in the wood.

Sandwich the meringue together to make the mushrooms.

Decorate the log with the mushrooms and holly. Dust lightly with icing sugar.

Buche de Noel a is traditional cake at Christmas.

The tradition of serving this and the English Yule log date back to the days when a huge log was burnt on Christmas eve

Gartin de raisin noir Black grape gratin

Holiday cottages to rent in Brittany

Bannalec This delightfully decorated semi-detached cottage is situated in peaceful countryside and is well placed for exploring Information

Carentoir This detached former barn provides excellent holiday accommodation, the interior is warm and cosy with an open fireplace,Morbihan Information

Trans la Forêt Within 20km drive away from Mont-Saint-Michel, this detached stone house makes a spacious holiday cottage in a very tranquil area. Information

Hotels in France

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Holiday cottages to rent in Normandy

Hambye This renovated, stone holiday cottage is attached to the owner’s home and opens onto a dedicated patio and one of three pretty garden areas. Information

La Chaumiere d’Oherville This picture-postcard detached cottage with its traditional thatched roof has been lovingly cared for. Set in a lovely garden Information

St. Michel-de-Montjoie Set at the end of a peaceful country lane with amazing views into the valley, is this pretty, spacious detached holiday cottage Information

P & O ferries to France

Whether it's a day's shopping trip or a holiday break you're after, at 90 minutes journey time, our Dover to Calais ferry crossing Information

Take a ferry to Belgium - the easy, stress-free way of arriving on the continent from the North of England with minimal driving Information

Your Hull Rotterdam ferry is the gateway to Holland and Germany, thanks to the city's excellent motorway connections. Information

Holiday cottages to rent in the Vendee

La Jonchère, Vendée Semi-detached holiday cottage with swimming pool set in beautiful mature gardens and also has a covered games area Information

La Faute-sur-Mer, Vendée This three bedroom house is bright, airy and spacious, and is very well situated 500 metres from the beach of La Faute, facing the Ile de Ré. Information

La Plaisance This charming stone cottage enjoys an attractive countryside location, yet is only half an hour’s drive from the coast, and the lively fishing port of St. Gilles Croix-de-Vie Information