Chocolate Orange Christmas Log
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Ingredients
- 280g 70% cocoa solids dark chocolate
- 280g caster sugar
- 10 free-range eggs
- Grated zest of an unwaxed orange
- ½ tsp orange oil
- Pinch of salt
- 300ml double cream
- 150ml crème fraîche
- 2-3 tbsp brandy
- 100g bag of plain chocolate chips
- A little icing sugar to dredge
Method
Break the chocolate into pieces and place them in a bowl and stand on a piece of kitchen paper to melt at the back of the AGA top plate. Line a full size hard anodised AGA baking tray with a pre-cut piece of Bake-O-Glide or line with lightly oiled baking parchment. As soon as the chocolate has completely melted, stir and remove from heat.
Separate the eggs and use an electric whisk to mix together the yolks and sugar until they are pale and thick. Stir in the chocolate and orange zest and oil.
Whisk the egg whites and salt in a clean metal or glass bowl until stiff and holding peaks. Using a metal spoon, stir a quarter of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to slacken it. Carefully fold in the remainder and pour into the tray. Bake on the lowest set of runners in the baking oven or roasting oven* with a cold plain shelf on the second set. Bake for 20-25 minutes, turning once.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin, covered to keep the cake moist. When quite cold invert onto a large piece of baking parchment and peel off the liner. Whip the double cream until a little thicker than just holding its shape. Stir in the crème fraîche and brandy and spread and roll up tightly along its longest side.
Place the unopened bag of chocolate chips to melt at the back of the AGA top plate. You will need a helper to join you when moving the finished log to a flat presentation platter. Lightly dredge with icing sugar and, when the chips are full melted, snip open and decorate the top with zig-zag lines of drizzled chocolate. Freezes well filled but not decorated. Allow two hours to defrost.
AGA eR7 Series and AGA Total Control: place on the lowest set of runners in roasting or baking oven on B4
AGA 60 and AGA eR3 Series: place on the lowest set of runners in the top oven on baking setting
AGA eR3 Series 150, 160 or 170 fan oven: place on any shelf in preheated oven on 160oc
