If you loved our tie dye s’mores and thought nothing could top that level of color, meet the Tie Dye Yule Log Cake. This playful take on the traditional buche de Noël transforms the classic rolled cake into a vibrant, Lisa Frank–inspired centerpiece — complete with pink meringue mushrooms. Our recipe makes a light, airy sponge with colorful swirls inside, and a fluffy marshmallow-butter frosting that’s tinted to match.
For the cake:
6 egg whites, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
4 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup cake flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
For the filling and frosting:
3 sticks unsalted butter, softened
3 cups marshmallow creme
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the meringue mushrooms:
1 large egg white, room temperature
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 cup superfine sugar
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a half-sheet pan with parchment paper.
2. Whisk the egg whites until foamy. Add 1/4 cup of the sugar and the cornstarch, then continue beating on high until stiff peaks form.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, milk, oil, cake flour, and vanilla.
4. Fold a quarter of the egg-white mixture into the flour mixture to loosen the batter. Gently fold in another quarter, then repeat until all the egg whites are incorporated.
5. Divide the batter into five small bowls and color each with food coloring (hot pink, purple, blue, teal, and yellow) to create your tie-dye palette.
6. Drop tablespoon-sized dollops of the different colors randomly across the prepared baking sheet. Use a small spatula to spread the batter carefully to cover the sheet; tap the pan once or twice on the counter to settle the batter.
7. Bake for about 12 minutes, or until set but not browned. Remove from the oven and, while still warm, roll the cake up in a clean kitchen towel (placing parchment, wax paper, or plastic wrap between cake and towel if desired). Allow it to cool completely in the towel.
8. For the filling, cream the butter and marshmallow creme together. Add the sifted powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla, then whisk until smooth and spreadable.
9. Unroll the cooled cake gently and peel away the towel. Spread a 1/4-inch layer of filling evenly over the surface, then re-roll the cake tightly.
10. Reserve some filling for decorating. Divide the remaining filling into five bowls and tint each to match the cake colors. Frost the outside of the rolled cake by alternating colors and swirling them together for a marbled, tie-dye effect. Use a knife to drag lines through the frosting to mimic tree bark. Finish with meringue mushrooms and any candies or decorations you like.
For the meringue mushrooms:
1. Preheat the oven to 200°F (95°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment.
2. In the bowl of a mixer, beat the egg white until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue beating until soft peaks form. Increase speed and gradually add the superfine sugar, beating until stiff, glossy peaks form.
3. If you want colored caps or stems, divide the meringue into separate bowls and tint as desired.
4. Fit a piping bag with a small to medium round tip (size 3 or 6 works well). Pipe stems by holding the bag vertical and piping a small cone while lifting the bag slightly. Pipe caps by piping round mounds; if small peaks form, smooth them gently with a wet finger.
5. Bake the piped mushrooms for 1 hour at 200°F, then allow them to cool and dry.
6. To assemble mushrooms, make a small hole in the underside of each cap large enough to accept the tip of a stem. Secure stems to caps with a dab of melted white chocolate or candy melts and allow to harden.
Photos by Jeff Mindell | Recipe by Theresa Rountree | Creative Direction and Styling by Kelly Mindell
This colorful yule log is a joyful twist on a classic and could easily become a new holiday tradition. Have you tried making a yule log before? Share your experience and any decorating ideas you loved.
p.s. A technicolor dog leash was a past project we loved — colorful ideas are always fun to make!