Christmas Already?

Wow how time flies as you get older.  I feel like I was just cooking my GF Thanksgiving Dinner.  As a person who has to stay away from wheat products Christmas can be a dreadful time.  It seems every time I turn around someone is handing me a cute container filled with Christmas cookies.

Well here is a  suggestions for those who want to indulge.

My family loves this recipe passed down from my mother-in-law.

Holiday Chocolate Log

6 egg whites
3/4cup sugar
6 egg yolks
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla
dash of salt
confectioners' sugar

Filling

1 1/2 cup heavy cream, chilled
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 c unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp instant coffee (optional)
1 tsp pure vanilla

*Note: let egg whites warm to room temperature about an hour

1. Grease bottom of a Jelly roll pan; line with wax paper, grease lightly. Preheat over to 375.  In a large bowl, at hight speed, beat egg whites just until soft peaks from when the beater is slowly raised.

2.Add 1/4 cup sugar, 2 TBS at a time, beating until stiff peaks form when beater is slightly raised.  With same beater, beat yolks at high speed, adding remaining 1/2 cup sugar, 2 TBS at a time.  Beat until mixture is very thick (about 4 minutes)

3. At low speed, beat in cocoa, vanilla and salt just until smooth. With wire whisk, using an under and over motion, gently fold the cocoa mixture into the beaten egg whites, until they are blended (no egg whites should show)

4. Spread evenly in pan, Bake 15 min. till surface springs back when gently pressed with fingertip.  Sift confectioners' sugar on a 15x10 clean towel.  Turn cake out on sugar; lift off pan, peel paper off cake very slowly and carefully.

5. Roll up jelly roll fashion starting with the short end, towel and all. Cool completely on rack, seam side down at least 1/2 hour.

Make Filling 
Combine ingredients in medium sized bowl. Beat with mixer until thick then refrigerate



6.Unroll cake;spread with filling to 1 inch from edge; reroll. Place seam side down. Cover loosely with foil, Refrigerate 1 hour before serving.  Or place in freezer. Get out of the freezer at least 1 hour before serving.

7. To serve; Sprinkle with confections sugar.

Let me know how much you love it!