Embark on a delectable journey to explore the most exquisite and mouth-watering Christmas 2023 desserts and Yule logs from the crème de la crème of hotels worldwide.
Christmas 2023 promises to be a season of indulgence and gourmet delights, especially for those with a sweet tooth. As the festive spirit spreads across the globe, the world’s top hotels are gearing up to showcase their culinary expertise, particularly in the realm of desserts and the iconic Yule log. This year, these prestigious establishments are not just sticking to traditional recipes; they’re reinventing them with innovative twists, luxurious ingredients, and artistic presentations that are as much a feast for the eyes as they are for the palate.
Here is our list with the best Christmas 2023 desserts and Yule Logs from the top hotels of the world:
The Chocomotive at Cheval Blanc Paris
Maxime Frédéric, Cheval Blanc Paris’ pastry chef, invites you to a unique holiday experience with “The Chocomotive,” an all-chocolate train. Echoing childhood’s wooden toys, it takes a whimsical journey to a land of dreams, arriving at the iconic Art Deco Cheval Blanc Paris at 8 quai du Louvre. This steam train, crafted from fine chocolate and cocoa nibs, includes a dark chocolate locomotive filled with crunchy Gianduja, a carriage of caramelized hazelnuts in chocolate, and a dessert carriage with gingerbread, orange confit, and cardamom mousse.
Info: “The Chocomotive,” 78 cm long, comes in three separate boxes. Store the first two parts at 17-19°C and the dessert carriage in the fridge for up to 3 days. This limited edition dessert serves 6-8 and is available for €220, for collection from December 20-25, 2023, at Cheval Blanc Paris.
Martinez Hotel’s Exclusive Yule Log: A Riviera Christmas Delight
In a stunning display of culinary artistry, the esteemed Martinez Hotel has once again outdone itself with its latest creation: the Signature Yule Log. This extraordinary dessert, a brainchild of Pastry Chef Fabrice Fernandes and Chef Jean Imbert, is a testament to the hotel’s commitment to luxury and innovation. Mimicking the grandeur of the French Riviera’s façade, this Yule Log is not just a feast for the eyes but also a symphony of flavors.
Enveloped in a delicate sheath of pristine white chocolate, each slice reveals an intricate blend of vibrant citrus, rich Piedmont hazelnuts, and the exotic warmth of green cardamom. This dessert is more than just a sweet treat; it’s an ode to the Riviera’s elegance.
In keeping with the hotel’s dedication to sustainability and festive cheer, the Martinez Hotel is offering a unique delivery service.
Info: The Signature Yule Log will be delivered in their electric Martinez Méhari, charmingly repurposed as Santa’s sleigh. This special delivery service is available to residents of Cannes and its surroundings on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of December.
For those who appreciate the finer things in life, this culinary marvel from the Martinez Hotel is a must-try this holiday season. It’s a perfect blend of luxury, tradition, and a hint of whimsy, promising to make this year’s festivities unforgettable.
The Woodward Geneva and Piaget’s Luxurious Collaboration: A Yule Log That Redefines Elegance
The Woodward Hotel, renowned for its opulent offerings, has once again elevated the holiday experience with its latest creation: a Yule Log that encapsulates the essence of luxury and refinement. This edible masterpiece, crafted by the hotel’s skilled pastry chef Titouan Claudet in partnership with the esteemed Swiss jeweller and watchmaker La Maison Piaget, is a tribute to extravagance and elegance.
At the heart of this dessert lies a crunchy dark chocolate biscuit, crowned with a luscious fleur de sel chocolate layer. Concealed within is a delicate praline core, infused with a refreshingly subtle cocoa pod juice. This exquisite composition is enveloped in a light, cocoa nib-flavoured mousse, creating a harmonious blend of textures and flavors.
The Yule Log’s design is a work of art, chiseled to mirror Piaget’s signature Palace Décor motif. Its solar sphere is a radiant homage to the brilliance of light, while the velvety beige topping evokes the enchantment of sleepless Christmas nights. This culinary gem not only celebrates Piaget’s audacious style and savoir-faire but also embodies the timeless elegance of The Woodward, Geneva.
Info: Available for a limited time, this Yule Log can be ordered online for CHF 90, serving 4-6 people. Collection is available from the hotel between 22nd to 26th December 2023, with a 48-hour reservation required.
Adding to its allure, this Christmas delicacy is not just a treat for the palate but also a gift of kindness. Proceeds from each sale will be donated to the Foundation Action Innocence Association, which is dedicated to educating and supporting children and teenagers in their digital practices and addressing online dangers. This initiative by The Woodward and Piaget not only offers a taste of luxury but also contributes to a noble cause, making it an exceptional addition to this year’s holiday celebrations.
A Sweet Journey to ‘Village de Noël’ by Yann Brys at Cour des Vosges
Yann Brys, a distinguished Meilleur Ouvrier de France and the Director of Sweet Creations at Evok Group, has unveiled a captivating array of Yule Logs for 2023, inspired by the enchanting theme of a “Christmas Village”. This festive collection promises to transform the traditional holiday dessert into an exquisite experience, showcasing the pinnacle of French patisserie expertise.
A highlight of the collection is the “La Bûche Cour des Vosges”. This creation is a symphony of flavors and textures: a biscuit base interlaced with nougat pieces, paired with a citrus jelly, and finished with a crunchy almond layer. Each element of this Yule Log intertwines to create a delightful culinary narrative, reflecting the magical essence of Christmas.
Info: The ordering window for these festive delights runs through the entire month of December 2023, with a 48-hour advance notice required. For those eager to indulge in these extraordinary creations, the collection will be available for pickup from the 15th to the 31st of December, directly at Brach Paris or La Cour Des Vosges.
Cédric Grolet’s Desserts at Le Meurice
Celebrate this festive season with the eagerly awaited creations of renowned pastry chef Cédric Grolet and his executive pastry chef François Deshayes. The Yuletide Log and the Galette des Rois take center stage, crafted with nostalgic flair to add warmth and joy to your celebrations.
Sweet Wrapper Yuletide Log: Inspired by classic chocolate sweets, a staple from Santa’s gift list, the chefs have masterfully combined this with the timeless chocolate and orange duo. Encased in a delicate shell, you’ll find a creamy dark chocolate mousse embracing a rich mandarin center, introducing a dance of acidity and bitterness. This is complemented by a smooth chocolate biscuit and a chocolate praline, warmly spiced with festive seasonings. The result? A decadent dessert with layers of textures and flavors, each bite taking you on a journey back in time.
Vanilla Yuletide Log: For those who find comfort in the familiar aroma of vanilla, this Yuletide Log is a dream come true. Grolet and Deshayes have explored every aspect of vanilla, even crafting the log to mimic the appearance of a vanilla pod. Inside, a trio of vanilla delights awaits a praline, a creamy center, and a luxurious mousse, all bursting with the sweet spice’s enchanting flavors. This dessert is not just a treat for the palate but also a feast for the eyes, capturing the essence of the holiday spirit.
The Pink Tree at Mandarin Oriental Paris
Emerging from a dreamy landscape reminiscent of a cotton candy and lollipop forest, the Mandarin Oriental, Paris, presents a Yule Log shaped like a mystical pink tree. This creation, a brainchild of Pastry Chef Adrien Bozzolo, draws inspiration from the fairytale “Le Loup qui Croyait en ses Rêves” (Auzou Éditions), authored by Orianne Lallemand and illustrated by Éléonore Thuillier, a story cherished by Bozzolo’s children. The Yule Log is an amalgam of delightful tastes, featuring a hibiscus crunch, a coconut cookie base, and a lush coconut cream layered with mango and passion fruit confit.
Info: For a gathering of six, this Yule Log is priced at EUR 130. It’s available for order between the 20th and 26th of December 2023, requiring a 48-hour notice at Camélia. For those preferring a personal treat, an individual portion is offered at EUR 20 from December 1st to 30th, 2023. This single serving can be enjoyed either as a takeaway from the Cake Shop or savored on-site.
The Pine Branch at Four Seasons Georges V Paris
Michael Bartocetti has crafted a sophisticated Yule Log to celebrate the holiday season, inspired by the graceful shape of a pine branch. This elegant dessert perfectly complements any festive gathering, serving as a subtle homage to the head pastry chef’s childhood memories of Christmas at his grandmother’s table. He recalls, “She would place a fir branch at the center of the table, cut from our own family tree, bringing a warm and timeless atmosphere to our Christmas dinner.”
The Yule log is beautifully garnished with delicate sprigs of 68% Nicolas Berger Colombian dark chocolate, dark chocolate ganache, and bonbon pralines shaped like pinecones, resulting in a harmonious blend of flavors and textures. At its core, a light and airy cocoa pod mucilage-infused mousse offers fruity and zesty notes, revitalized by a 70% Papua New Guinea dark chocolate cream that adds woody, earthy undertones. A praline made from toasted, lightly smoked hazelnuts enhances these flavors, creating a nostalgic experience reminiscent of cozy winter evenings by the fire.
Info: Starting December 21, 2023, the Yule log will be available at Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, priced at EUR 135 for eight servings. For true dessert aficionados, Bartocetti and his team will also present a Yule log-inspired treat during the Christmas Tea-Time at La Galerie on December 1, 2023, offering a splendid occasion for loved ones to gather, savor, and embrace the holiday spirit permeating the hotel.
The ‘Full Vanilla’ Yule Log at Le Royal Monceau-Raffles Paris
In our roundup of Christmas’s finest desserts, the ‘Full Vanilla’ Yule Log, a collaborative masterpiece from Messika and Pastry Chef Quentin Lechat of Le Royal Monceau-Raffles Paris, takes center stage. This limited-edition delight embodies festive luxury with a design inspired by the dynamic allure of moving diamonds. Chef Lechat, known for calling vanilla the “diamond of Pastry chefs,” masterfully blends praline, cream, and Bavarian elements to highlight this star ingredient. The dessert is gracefully finished with a cascade of golden, caramelized choux buns, a nod to Maison Messika, and a creative twist on the traditional Gâteau Saint-Honoré. It’s an elegant and surprising indulgence, perfect for the holiday season.
Lulu at Lutetia Paris
This holiday season, Chef Nicolas Guercio unveils a charming “LuLu”-themed Yule Log. A masterpiece of culinary art, it showcases a lifelike depiction of LuLu, the Shar-Pei emblem of Lutetia Paris, cozily nestled on a scrumptious cushion. This creation is poised to become a highlight of festive gatherings.
Crafted with meticulous care, the endearing puppy is sculpted from Valrhona Manjari 64% dark chocolate by skilled chocolatiers, promising a treat for chocolate aficionados. The Yule Log itself, fashioned as a cushion, offers a symphony of delightful flavors to please the entire family. It consists of a gluten-free chocolate cookie base, a refreshing lime crunch, a zest of passion fruit cream, and a creamy Madagascar vanilla mousse.
Info: Priced at 130€, this limited edition yule log serves 6-8 people and is available exclusively by pre-order until December 22, 2023. Collection can be arranged at the Lutetia Paris Boutique on December 22, 23, 24, 25, and December 30, 31, 2023, from 12pm to 8pm.
‘Le Mont Plaza’ at Plaza Athénée
Every year, Hôtel Plaza Athénée brings the magic of Christmas to life with a special Yule Log, designed just for this season. For 2023, Jean Imbert, in collaboration with pastry chefs Angelo Musa and Elisabeth Hot, dreams up ‘Le Mont Plaza’ for your delight. Shaped into a snowy winter wonderland, ‘Le Mont Plaza’ is inspired by the Ardèche chestnut, which you’ll find in its biscuit base and infused into its luxuriously silky mousse. A rich ganache and mandarin-soaked brioche finish it off with a harmonious balance of deep chocolate and zingy citrus.
The Black Diamond at Shangri-La Paris
Maxence Barbot enchants your festive tables with the Black Diamond. This sublime Christmas creation is brought to life through nutty walnut flavours and a delicate touch of truffle, harmoniously complemented by an indulgent vanilla mousse, and delicately perched atop a base of biscuit and walnut crisp. Finally, subtle notes of crème brûlée complete the Black Diamond for a comforting dose of childhood nostalgia.
Info: For 6 to 8 people, limited edition, at €118. Available for pre-order from November 1st and to take away at La Bauhinia restaurant from December 9th to December 31st, 2023.
See also:
Best Christmas Trees 2023: Unveiling a Scent-Inspired Tree at Shangri-La The Shard
TheHotelTrotter.com is curated by greek journalist and fanatic hotel lover Eleni Stasinopoulou. With the eye of a fashion and lifestyle editor, Eleni hopes to inspire all connoisseurs of traveling, focusing on stylish hotel moments around the globe.
