2017 Nöel Logs

My friend Christine has an annual tradition of making Nöel Logs for all of her friends.  She was born and raised in France but moved here when her parents immigrated here when she was 7 years old.  Her mother made these cakes ever year until she passed (about 15 years ago) and Christine decided that she would carry on the her mother's holiday baking tradition in her honor.

The process is pretty involved and took her almost two days to make them.  On the first day she made the center cake that serves as the log.  

The next day she made the icing which is an art in of itself.  Finally it was time for the construction that I sorta helped her with.  

Oh, and did I mention how DELICIOUS they are?!?!