This dessert is the perfect Christmas “savior”: a no-bake Christmas tree. It’s perfect because it doesn’t require an oven, it’s made with ingredients that are almost always in the pantry, and the visual effect is truly worthy of a pastry shop.
Here’s how to make it in just 10 minutes of preparation (plus resting time).
🎄 “Quick and Chic” Christmas Tree (No Bake)
This version is a cross between a chocolate salami and a Russian brick, but with the shape of the iconic Christmas tree.
Ingredients
Dry biscuits (e.g. Petit or Digestive): 300 g
Mascarpone or light cream cheese: 250 g
Hazelnut (or cocoa) cream: 200 g
Milk (for dipping the biscuits): as needed
Dark chocolate (for coating): 100 g
Icing sugar or coconut flour: for the “snow” effect
Quick preparation (10 minutes)
Cream: In a bowl, mix the mascarpone with the hazelnut cream until you get a smooth, stiff foam.
Preparation: Take a piece of foil or baking paper. Quickly dip the biscuits in the milk and place them on the foil to form a rectangle (usually 3 rows of 4 or 5 biscuits).
Filling: Spread the cream generously on a biscuit tray.
Stretching: Using foil, roll the biscuits from their long side. The milk will immediately soften the biscuits and make them pliable. Seal the roll with foil as a “sugar”.
Final decoration: Freeze for 15-20 minutes (or put in the fridge for 15-20 minutes). (one hour). Remove the foil, spread with melted dark chocolate and draw stripes with a fork to imitate tree bark.
Secret to success
“Branch” effect: Cut the two ends of the roll diagonally. Attach one piece to the side of the log with a little cream as “glue”: it will look like a real cut branch!
Easy option: You can replace the mascarpone with well-sifted ricotta and use wholemeal biscuits to lower the glycemic index.
Decoration tip: A sprinkling of powdered sugar at the end will imitate fresh snow and hide minor surface imperfections.
Have you decided how you will decorate your log? If you want, I can suggest 3 picturesque decoration options with fresh fruit or currants!