A guide to Montréal’s best yule logs
The end of year Holidays are almost here and with them come all the traditional meals and treats. Yule logs are definitely the most loved and consumed Holiday cake. Many Montréal pastry shops go out of their way to create traditional logs as well as more unique and elaborate productions. Below are a few that have caught our attention. Don’t forget to order yours soon as they tend to sell out quickly.
Pâtisserie Rhubarbe
The popular Plateau pastry shop has a much-anticipated Holiday collection every year. For this year’s yule logs, Pâtisserie Rhubarbe has created two flavours, a chocolate hazelnut and coffee one with a crunchy hazelnut-coffee praline, 64% chocolate mousse, coffee mascarpone cream, and dark chocolate decoration, and a grapefruit one with grapefruit cream and marmalade, a cookie base and olive oil-rosemary mousse. Get your orders in early because these will sell out quickly.
1479 Laurier Avenue East
Mlle Gâteaux
This cute pastry shop is the go-to spot in Villeray. Everything here is delicious, especially their rustic yet elegant cakes. Mlles Gâteaux is making five log flavours this year, available in small or large formats starting with a classic, rolled chocolate-orange log with orange cream and dark chocolate ganache, a “Tropicananas” log with coconut, passion fruit, mango and pineapple and a strawberry, rhubarb and vanilla log with strawberry cream and rhubarb compote. Their fourth log is based on their excellent carrot cake with cheese mousse, pineapple confit and walnut cream and the fifth and most decadent log is a “Romanoff” with chocolate brownies, almond-hazelnut praline crisp, vanilla bavaroise, homemade graham cracker financier, and dark chocolate chantilly.
363 Villeray Street
Boucherie Édouard et Léo
Édouard et Léo are neighbourhood butcher shops founded by Hoogan et Beaufort’s chef Marc-André Jetté with the intention of highlighting the work of small local producers and food artisans. One of the best restaurants in Montréal, Hoogan et Beaufort excels at flame cooking. Their snow-white yule log this year is an almond, praline and Zéphyr chocolate creation while their other choice is a beautiful chocolate mousse log with cherries and mascarpone.
Several locations
Farine & Cacao
Elegant Farine & Cacao is located in the heart of Montréal’s Village. Pastry chef Christian Campos has created two very special yule logs with unique flavours for this year’s Holiday season. The mascarpone, purple corn and blackberry log contains quinoa sand, a lime cake, a mascarpone mousse, a blackberry and purple corn confit and a blackberry mousse. The second log is a chocolate, lemon leaf, and crème brûlée creation with timut pepper. It comprises a chocolate and fleur de sel Breton shortbread, a chocolate ganache infused with lemon leaves, a cocoa cake, a timut pepper crème brûlée and a chocolate mousse.
1315 Ontario Street East
Les Givrés
Les Givrés’ frozen yule logs have become somewhat of a classic. Choose among 7 specialty logs featuring their outstanding ice creams and sorbets. The “campfire” one is especially delicious with its almond-caramel and chocolate ice cream, homemade grilled marshmallows, sponge cake and chocolate sauce. The “La Sainte Paix” one is shaped like a little log cabin and is made with praline and chocolate ice creams, haskap sorbet, dried meringue “walls”, a crunchy praline “roof”, a chocolate and haskap jelly sponge cake floor, and marshmallows.
Several locations
Boulangerie Andalos
You can find traditional yule logs at Boulangerie Andalos like their traditional chocolate or vanilla rolled logs adorned with old school decorations or their decadent Ferrero Rocher log with hazelnuts. However, every year, this Middle-Eastern pastry shop creates a special flavour inspired by their Lebanese heritage and this year’s creation is a meghlé log. Meghlé is a luscious Levantine rice flour pudding infused with warm spices like cinnamon and anise and studded with nuts and dried fruits.
350 Lebeau Boulevard
Pâtisserie Madeleine
Rosemont pastry shop Pâtisserie Madeleine has created three yule logs for this Holiday season. Their signature log with a crunchy hazelnut base layer, creamy gianduja and hazelnut mousse sounds delicious. The other two choices include a gluten-free blueberry, honeyberry and almond log as well as a nut-free coco and chocolate one.
2105 Beaubien Street East
Ritz-Carlton Montréal
The glamourous Ritz Carlton Montréal has created 3 varieties of their elegant and sophisticated Ritz-Carlton Montreal Signature Logs. The first log is a Yuzu Pear one with milk chocolate mousse and hazelnut crunch; the second contains a matcha biscuit, Philadelphia cream, raspberry confit, and oat crisp. And the third has a a choclate ganache, almond crunch, chocolate crémeux and mandarin confit. The logs are available for 6 to 8 people and orders must be made 48 hours in advance.
1228 Sherbrooke Street West
Lecavalier Petrone
Lecavalier Petrone’s gorgeous chocolates and cakes are beautiful pieces of ephemeral art. The two logs they created this year are no exception. The Tanariva milk chocolate mousse log contains Bourdelais Farm raspberry confit, dark chocolate cream, chocolate cake, cocoa crumble, dark chocolate dipping sauce and cocoa crumble. The second creation is a milk chocolate mousse, with caramel, homemade hazelnut praline, soft hazelnut cookie, hazelnut crunch and Dulcey chocolate dipping and crushed hazelnuts. Order yours as soon as you see them as they sell out in the blink of an eye.
2423 Centre Street
Chez Potier
Beloved pastry chef Olivier Potier is offering four incredible logs this season. The Mancono frozen log contains a soft pistachio base, mango sorbet, raspberry sorbet and coconut ice cream. The Tiramisu log has a soft cake base soaked in coffee flavoured with Baileys, a hazelnut crisp, a coffee cream and a tonka and vanilla mascarpone mousse. The Childhood memories log is made with chocolate pecan soufflé cookies, a Dulcey crémeux, vanilla and fleur de sel caramel, and a vanilla mousse. And finally, the Red Forest log has a chocolate fondant base, cocoa nib crisp, a Morello cherry confit, a dark chocolate and Morello cherry cream, a vanilla mousse flavoured with Kirsh and Morello cherry marmalade.
630 Wellington Street
Mamie Clafoutis
Popular bakery and pastry shop Mamie Clafoutis has many shops around Montréal. Their breads and croissants are some of the best in town, and so are their pastries. This year, they will be offering three flavours, a chocolate, hazelnut and caramel log, a pistachio and raspberry log, and a new addition, the signature “piña colada” log with pineapple, white chocolate, coconut and rum.
Several locations
Le Toledo
Le Toledo is creating 3 flavours of yule logs this season. They will have a chocolate and raspberry log, a caramel, vanilla and buckwheat log and a coconut, pineapple and assion fruit one. They will be offering all three flavours in mini formats from the end of November to allow customers to taste them before choosing their favourite flavour for the holidays.
Several locations
Première Moisson
The Première Moisson bakeries are masters at crafting great breads, pastries and desserts. For the Holidays, they are offering several yule logs starting with their signature praline rustic yule log with pecan and hazelnut dacquoise covered with roasted pecans, roasted pecan ganache, vanilla panna cotta, praline mousse made with hazelnuts and almonds, and milk chocolate icing and praline crumbs. Chocolate lovers will appreciate the Chocolate Buttercream log with chocolate buttercream and ganache, the Royal yule log with a homemade milk chocolate praline feuilletine, dark chocolate mousse, and milk chocolate glaze or the Black Forest log with chocolate Chantilly cream, morello cherry jelly and kirsch-flavoured cream. The Raspberry-Red Velvet has a chocolate-chip red velvet base, covered with raspberry jam, cheese mousse and topped with raspberry icing. And finally, their Praline buttercream log has a sponge cake with the Quebec-made liqueur Noisettino, and is covered in praline buttercream and caramelized nuts.
Several locations
Aux Merveilleux de Fred
Famous Lille-based pastry shop Aux Merveilleux de Fred specializes in the Merveilleux, an airy cake from the north of France made of layers of meringue and whipped cream. The two yule logs they’re offering this year are inspired by their pastries. The Merveilleux log will be chocolate-flavoured with shavings of dark chocolate and the Incroyable will have speculoos biscuit and whipped cream coated with shaved white chocolate.
4200 Saint-Denis Street
Unicone
Plateau ice cream and cookie shop Unicone is offering 3 flavours of yule logs this Holiday season. Choose between the Dubaï chocolate log with pistachio ice cream, chocolate coating, vanilla génoise and phyllo pastry with pistachio paste; the Chocociola log with chocolate ice cream, hazelnut praline, butter puff pastry and El Mordjene paste; and the vegan Aurore Boréale log with coco and pandan ice cream, mango puree, crispy rice in Christmas colors and decorated with vegan whipped cream.
3873 Saint-Denis Street
Pâtisserie Mélilot
Pâtisserie Mélilot on chic Laurier Avenue West makes absolutely gorgeous pastries. They’ve created 3 logs for the end of year holidays. The first features ingredients from the Québec pantry like haskap berry, poplar balsam and sweet clover. The second is more exotic with chestnuts and lapsang suchong. And the third “log” is actually a beautiful circular piece with an unusual flavour combination of black truffle, kalamansi and chocolate.
1062 Laurier Avenue West
Pâtisserie TM
Pâtisserie TM is a pastry shop that blends Japanese flavours and tradition with French knowhow. This year they will be making 4 different yule logs flavour: a Mont-Blanc log with chestnut mousse, blackcurrant mousse and apple compote with red wine, a bonnet-shaped log with cheesecake, yuzu cheese mousse and passionfruit mousse, and a chocolate log with dark chocolate mousse, pecan praline cream and marmalade.
1011 Ontario East
Arhoma
The beloved Hochelaga-Maisonneuve bakery is in a festive mood and has created three yule logs for the season available in individual, 6, 10 and 20 person formats. The first one is the strawberry and sweet clover log with a lime madeleine base, white chocolate crisp, Québec strawberry confit and sweet clover namelaka. Chocolate lovers will love the choco-hazelnut log made with a hazelnut base and crisp, hazelnut cream and chocolate mousse. Finally, the coffee and Dulcey log with a chocolate cake base, coffee crisp, coffee mousse and Dulcey namelaka will surely appeal to coffee lovers.
15 Place Simon-Valois and 1700 Ontario Street East
Fanfare
One of Villeray’s most popular and loved bakery and brunch and pizza spot, Fanfare also makes great desserts. In fact, their pastry chef, Pascale Billy Robert, has honed her skills for a decade in some of Montréal's most famous establishments such as Graziella and Europea. Their Holiday logs include a gluten-free buckwheat and cocoa log with a buckwheat biscuit, milk chocolate mousse, chocolate crémeux, cocoa icing, and oatmeal crumble. Their other available log is a pear, caramel and almond affair containing pear mousse, nougatine, salted butter caramel, white chocolate ganache and pear icing.
751 Jarry Street East
Rustique Pie Kitchen
Located in the Saint-Henri neighbourhood, Rustique has a loyal fan base who love their fun edible treats. This Holiday season, Rustique has created three yule logs that are sure to please everyone. The chocolate yule log has layers of chocolate cake, a white chocolate crisp, milk chocolate mousse and a dark chocolate ganache. The mango and passion fruit log has a coffee cake, passion fruit mousse, mango jelly and white chocolate crisp and is topped with whipped cream, passion fruit jelly and dark chocolate Christmas trees.
4615 Notre-Dame Street West
Pâtisserie Zébulon
Vegan pastry shop Zébulon has created two yule logs for this year’s holiday celebrations. The Black Forest log contains a dark chocolate mousse, a cocoa and almond biscuit roulade, cherry jam, Madagascar vanilla whipped cream, chocolate cream, and a crispy almond and fleur de sel base. The strawberry and yuzu log has a Quebec strawberry mousse, a yuzu-lime cream puff, a strawberry-vanilla confit, a Valrhona yuzu and vegan white chocolate shards with an almond financier.
4522 Saint-Denis Street
Fous Desserts
Beloved pastry shop Fou Desserts offers great Christmas logs every year. Their logs come in two flavours this year. The Bianca is an almond, cranberry and orange log with an almond and hazelnut shortbread, a rolled center with almond and gingerbread cake, orange and cranberry coulis, orange and green cardamom crémeux, almond mousse, and an almond and hazelnut shortbread made with Kamut flour. The nut and gelatine-free Gaïa log is a dark chocolate, red fruits, and spice creation with dark chocolate mousse, a rolled cocoa cake with chocolate and tonka bean crémeux, a red fruit compote (raspberry, cranberry, morello cherry, blackberry) and a chocolate base with Madagascar pepper.
809 Laurier East
Dalla Rose
Saint-Henri’s favourite ice cream purveyor Dalla Rose is offering 3 flavours of frozen yule logs for this year’s holiday season. A chocolate hazelnut one with caramelized cocoa nibs, milk chocolate ice cream, chocolate icing and a rich gianduja ganache centre; a lemon raspberry one with Québec raspberry sorbet, their classic vanilla ice cream, lemon curd, and a fluffy Swiss meringue buttercream and a S’mores one with graham and vanilla ice creams, homemade toasted marshmallows and dark chocolate stracciatella. Dalla Rose is also offering a showstopper lemon and raspberry baked Alaska.
4609 Notre-Dame Street West
La Bête à Pain
La Bête à Pain is an exceptional bakery, pastry shop and all-around purveyor of phenomenal food. This year, they are offering 3 yule logs that will appeal to all tastes. The Royal log is a timeless classic made with a cocoa cake base, praline crunch and creamy dark chocolate mousse. The Cappucino has a chocolate with caramelised almond slivers, espresso coffee cream, and Tahitian vanilla crème brulée. Finally, the Soleillade has a madeleine base with sesame nougatine, lemon cream, milk chocolate ganache & dark sesame nougatine, all covered in a beautiful lemon glaze. All 3 logs are on sale at their 3 locations, in Griffintown, Ahuntsic and Laval.
Several locations
Aube Boulangerie
Located in the heart of Hochelaga, Aube Boulangerie is the latest project by the team behind well-loved eateries Hélico and Helicoptère. Breads, pastries, sandwiches, and excellent coffee are on offer in a minimalist, light-filled space that includes the bakery and a café. They are making two yule logs this Holiday season. The first classic rolled log contains a mascarpone and honey mousse, crab-apple jelly and poached pears with mulled wine spices with a light butter cream. The second log has a crunchy maple feuilletine, a buckwheat and maple base, a Québec cranberry compote, raspberries from local Ferme Bourdelais, and a chocolate mousse from local chocolate maker allo simonne.
4715 Sainte-Catherine Street East
Mollo Boulangerie
Pointe-Saint-Charles’ Mollo Boulangerie is an artisanal boutique where everything is made by hand, including their pretty holiday creations. Their first log is inspired by a strawberry shortcake and has a vanilla cake soaked in strawberry syrup, a puffed rice crisp with white chocolate and freeze-dried strawberries, a strawberry ganache, strawberry jam and a strawberry-yogurt mousse, and topped a vanilla meringue. The second log is a chocolate-praline one with a chocolate sponge base, a praline and buckwheat crunch, a vanilla and hazelnut mousse topping with a chocolate and feuilletine glaze.
Several locations
Mayssam Samaha
Mayssam Samaha is a food and travel writer and blogger and the founder behind the blog Will Travel for Food. She travels the world in search of the next culinary discovery. From Iceland to South Africa, she’s already visited over 36 countries and there’s nothing she enjoys more than wandering around a farmers’ market in a foreign city. She is also the founder of the SAISONS intimate dinner series highlighting Québec products and chefs.