What is buche?

"Buche" (pronounced "boosh") most commonly refers to Bûche de Noël, a traditional French dessert. It's a Yule log cake, typically made of a rolled sponge cake, filled with buttercream, and decorated to resemble a log.

Here's what you should know about Bûche de Noël:

• Appearance: The cake is cylindrical, often slightly curved to mimic a log. It's decorated with chocolate frosting, sometimes with meringue mushrooms, candy "leaves," powdered sugar "snow," and other festive elements.

• Flavor: The classic Bûche de Noël features a light and airy sponge cake with a rich and creamy buttercream filling, often flavored with chocolate, coffee, or praline. Variations exist with different fillings and flavors.

• Origin: The tradition stems from the ancient practice of burning a Yule log during the winter solstice celebrations. The cake is a symbolic representation of this log.

• Seasonality: It's primarily enjoyed during the Christmas season, making it a popular holiday dessert.

• Preparation: Making a Bûche de Noël involves several steps, including baking a sponge cake, spreading the filling, rolling the cake, frosting it, and adding decorations. While it can be complex, many recipes exist to suit different skill levels.

Therefore, when you encounter the term "buche," particularly in a culinary context, especially around Christmas, it almost certainly refers to the Bûche de Noël. There might be other less common uses of the word, but this is the primary meaning.