|
Prehear oven at 425 degrees.
In your CLEAN mixer, beat 4 egg whites and 1/4 cup of sugar until soft peaks form (DO NOT OVER-BEAT). Transfer to a glass or stainless steel bowl.
In a separate glass bowl, SIFT the flour, cocoa powder and salt.
In your cleaned mixer bowl, combine 4 egg yolks and the remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Whisk for approximately 5 minutes until the eggs are pale yellow and thickened. Remove bowl from the mixer and fold in the beaten egg whites GENTLY, DO NOT OVER-MIX. Add the flour mixture and mix for one minute until well blended - DO NOT OVER-MIX.
Line a 11" x 17" jelly roll pan with buttered waxed paper. Spread the mixture in the pan and bake for 7 to 10 minutes, or until the cake is springy to touch or it begins to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Take immediately out of the jelly roll pan and let cool.
In the meantime, make the butter cream. In a double melt the white chocolate or place in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds. In a mixing bowl, place the softened butter (not melted, just out of the refrigerator for about 1 hour). Add the 10X sifted powder sugar, mix until well blended. With machine on low speed, slowly add the egg whites, B&B liqueur, orange zest and orange extract. With machine on medium speed, mix until light and fluffy then fold in the white chocolate.
Place a piece of plastic wrap on your table and invert the genoise cake top side down. Carefully remove the wax paper. Cover the entire surface of the cake with an even layer of the butter cream (save some for the outside). Using the plastic wrap as an aid, roll the cake on the long side, tight as a log.
Using a sharp knife, even both ends of the cake with a clean cut. Then cut 2 end pieces approximately 2" at a 45-degree angle. Transfer the rolled cake onto a platter, seam side down. Place the 2" end pieces on the cake to resemble tree stumps. You may use some of the butter cream to make them stick better.
Add the melted dark chocolate to the remaining butter cream. Using a spatula spread the now dark butter cream to cover the entire surface. Using a fork, run lines thoughout the entire cake to simulate tree bark. Garnish with some meringue mushrooms and fresh holly.
| 
