The Yule log is a real field of competition for Luxembourg brands. Behind each creation, there is a stake in image, know-how... and business. To understand what each one puts on the table, we tasted both the must-have classics and the more unexpected ones, covering all price ranges, from 85 euros all the way down to 16.49 euros.
And by comparing the extremes, we can see straight away how each brand asserts its personality: some play the spectacular card, others the traditional one, and still others bank on simplicity.
The diva
We open the ball with the most upmarket log in the selection, signed by the new kid on the luxury block in Luxembourg: Villa Pétrusse. At the helm are chef Kim de Dood and his pastry chef Thomas Studer, who have come up with a signature log designed to turn heads: La Villa.
As its name suggests, it takes the shape of the villa itself, with a level of detail that borders on a pastry jewel. Inside, a soya-infused vanilla mousse (extremely light, with a hint of salt that completely breaks the mould of classic logs) meets a melting dulce de leche, a creamy salted butter caramel, caramelised peanuts and a soft biscuit. It’s a surprising combination, really, but one that’s still extremely delicious. The kind of dessert for those who want premium, real, and flavours that are out of the ordinary without falling into gratuitous eccentricity.
A word of warning though: at this price, you’ll have to grit your teeth a little when cutting. The chocolate shell is a little thick, the mousse is very soft, and you’re clearly afraid of cracking the whole thing if you try to serve clean slices. Let’s just say that you can quickly go from architectural jewel... to little chocolate carnage.
The whole thing is presented in a transparent box illustrated with the historic garden of Villa Pétrusse, imagined in the 19ᵉ century by landscape gardener Édouard André. Yes, even the packaging is luxury.
Price: 85 euros for a log for six.
The indestructible
Oberweis is Luxembourg’s sweet tooth. It’s the kind of place where all the generations come together, from breakfast to afternoon tea. You can eat there, yes, but let’s be honest: it’s their sweet creations that put everyone in agreement.
For this selection, it’s impossible not to try a great classic: the Wendy log. The Wendy cake is available all year round, in mini or shared versions, but in log format, it’s clearly a cut above the rest. Between the shortbread pastry, chocolate biscuit, almond crisp, vanilla crème brûlée and milk mousse, it’s the perfect combo for those who want a truly gourmet dessert but without the heaviness that nails guests to the table.
At the tasting, the editors were unanimous: what makes the difference is this crunchy, crunchy side and this melting, melting side, all in a log that remains surprisingly light and not too sweet. In short, a very fine balance.
Price: 39 euros for a six-person log.
The nostalgia machine
Direction Namur, another iconic Luxembourg store. Those of you who already know Namur will know that entering it is like stepping back in time. Everything has been left as it was, with that unchanging atmosphere that is part of the house’s charm.
For this selection, we turned to their undisputed best-seller: the mocha log. The decor alone reveals the Namur DNA: a resolutely vintage aesthetic, very much like a “grandmother’s log”, the kind that used to take pride of place on the table at New Year’s Eve parties. Mocha-flavoured buttercream, classic sponge cake... a real tribute to tradition.
On tasting, the coffee really comes through: a straightforward mocha, recognisable from the first bite. And while the buttercream provides all the generosity expected, the sponge cake (quite thick but surprisingly light) balances it all out. The result: for a buttercream log, it’s still delicious but not overpowering, a balance that avoids the overly buttery effect of the genre. It’s a log very much in its style, assumed, with that retro feel that some people are looking for precisely for the festive season.
Price: 38.50 euros for six people.
La beurrée
A visit to Cocottes, the fast-food chain that has established itself in Luxembourg in record time, is a must. You go there for the everyday dishes, the salads, the ready meals... but Cocottes also does pastries, and of course, logs. This year, there’s just one on the menu: coffee buttercream. Perfect, we can put it opposite the one in Namur.
First point for Cocottes: here, we have a real rolled log, with a tightly-wound joconde biscuit delicately soaked in coffee syrup. Visually and technically, this is a classic log at its purest.
On tasting, it’s pretty clear: this log is for real buttercream fans. The lightly soaked sponge cake adds a little extra coffee note and the whole thing has a good coffee-caramel flavour that works quite well. But the buttercream, which is very generous, still takes up a lot of room: it sometimes gives the impression of biting into a slice of mocha butter. This is a dense, compact log, less sweet than others but with a real “butter-first” side, which is bound to please those who like that... and may raise an eyebrow with those who prefer lightness.
Price: 36.80 euros for six to eight people.
The bluffing
Direction Fischer, where the price range drops significantly... and where, to be honest, we weren’t expecting such a surprise. Their new Spéculoos mousse log was the editor’s favourite... for its value for money. At this price level, it’s hard to beat it.
The tiramisu-style mousse is very soft, almost like an ultra-light custard. The almond biscuit gives it an airy texture and the speculoos give it a spicy crunch that’s a pleasure to taste without being too caricatured. Not too sweet, not too full of speculoos, with a really good balance between cream, biscuit and spices: this is a log that is very easy to eat.
To sum up, Fischer scores points in the “price + lightness + balance” combination. It’s soft, airy, controlled... and it won over everyone around the table.
Price: 29.10 euros for a six-person log.
The reasonable
For those who have neither the time to go shopping nor the inclination to drop half a wage, Cactus offers a very decent option with its Black Forest log. The idea: an accessible version of the great classic, with chocolate biscuit, kirsch-flavoured whipped cream, chocolate mousse, cherries in jelly and dark chocolate shavings. A word of warning: we couldn’t get our hands on a six-piece log, so the test was carried out on an individual version.
On tasting, it’s a perfectly honest Black Forest, not at all nauseating and rather light for this type of dessert. The sponge cake is soft and pleasant, the kirsch does not dominate (which avoids the overly acidic or alcoholic side that some versions can have) and the whole thing is easy to eat at the end of a meal. The only downside is a slight lack of whipped cream and candied cherries, which would have added a little more deliciousness and generosity. But overall, this remains good value for money, a log that does the job without pretension and has the merit of being simple, readable and effective.
Price: 23.50 euros for a six-portion log.
The modest
Last log in the selection... and also the cheapest: the Delhaize fruit log. A simple, classic version, with a light sponge cake, a dollop of whipped cream and jellied fruit. And as with the Black Forest, it’s impossible to get your hands on a family version.
On tasting, the biscuit is well soaked, the sponge cake airy just right and the whole thing remains light and not too sweet; a pleasant surprise for a fruit dessert. The appearance is clean and perfectly presentable for the festive season. There is a slight lack of fruit, clearly shy in the composition, and a very generous whipped cream that takes over a little. The tinned fruit, meanwhile, fulfils its role without convincing the purists, but we remain in something consistent for the category.
In the end, it’s a simple, pleasant log without any heaviness, which does the trick perfectly when you’re looking for something light and easy to serve, without any intention of competing with the top-of-the-range houses.
Price: 16.49 euros for six people.
