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The best yule logs for your Christmas dessert, tried and tested
Our tasting panel ate their way through a range of supermarket and branded bakes to find the best
Tested by Callum BlackFood and Drink Testing Manager
The tradition of the festive yule log began when a log was burnt on the hearth to mark the first twelve days of Christmas.
Over centuries, this custom evolved, giving rise to the modern-day yule log; an indulgent chocolate-flavoured cake decorated in rich buttercream, which is marked to resemble tree bark.
Unsurprisingly, this decadent treat is popular with kids (and big kids) alike, and makes a delicious chocolatey alternative to traditional Christmas cake, pudding or stollen.
From white chocolate versions to ones oozing with toffee sauce, these are our experts’ favourites at a glance but keep scrolling for their full verdicts.
Best yule logs 2024
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How we test yule logs
The Good Housekeeping Institute tasting panel tried 12 chocolate yule logs from all the major supermarkets, as well as key brands, to find the best for Christmas 2024. To avoid bias, all were tasted blind and fully evaluated on their aroma, flavour and presentation.
We were looking for a yule log that offered a light, airy sponge, generous cream filling, and rich chocolate icing.
Read on to see which came out on top for your festive table.
Score: 85/100
Chocolate orange is a classic flavour combination at Christmas, but this clementine and white chocolate treat takes things up a notch. The bright citrus helps to balance the creamy white chocolate, and the sponge is airy and light – just as it should be. Delicious.
Available: 24th November 2024
Score: 81/100
Aldi has opted for a sweet cream filling rather than chocolate, which creates a striking swirl inside the rich chocolate sponge and brings freshness to the indulgent ganache on top. With a pleasant, light and airy texture the whole family will enjoy, this one is best served chilled.
Available: 24th December 2024
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Millionaire's Yule Log 725g
Score: 81/100
This Sainsbury’s yule log is a real looker, with a rich chocolate fudge topping, milk chocolate curls, and bronze shortcake balls to add texture and embellishment. The combination of light sponge, whipped cream, and “oozing toffee sauce” had our panel going back for seconds (and thirds!)
Score: 79/100
Testers felt Lidl’s entry offered the most “authentic chocolate flavour,” with rich, cocoa depth throughout the sponge, frosting, and crisp shell. It cut neatly into slices without crumbling, making it great for serving guests this Christmas.
Available: 28th November 2024
Score: 76/100
Dusted with a layer of sugary snow, Tesco’s neatly iced log enticed testers with its complex aroma, filling the kitchen with cocoa, vanilla, and a hint of coffee. The flavour is equally complex, with a rich Belgian chocolate ganache, airy sponge, and light buttercream.
Score: 75/100
Morrisons’ entry impressed the panel with its simple yet effective design, complete with rose gold chocolate swirls. The sponge proved a touch dry at times, but overall delivered a moreish milk chocolate flavour, and we loved the fudgy frosting, too.
Score: 75/100
Waitrose’s vegan yule log wowed with its indulgent texture (think: moist yet airy sponge topped with a velvety smooth fudge icing). The flavour is equally impressive and “grown-up,” with a bitter cocoa and a hint of just-brewed coffee.
Score: 73/100
Fancy a change from classic milk chocolate? This white chocolate and passionfruit yule log offers a taste of the tropics (no matter how cold it is outside). The creamy white chocolate icing pairs perfectly with the bright, tangy passionfruit, and the sponge is airy and light – we couldn’t get enough.
Score: 72/100
ASDA may have kept it simple when it comes to decoration, but the budget-friendly grocer certainly hasn’t cut any corners on the chocolatey flavour. The cocoa is nostalgic and sweet (almost like hot chocolate) and is complemented by a thick layer of fudge icing, though some found the sponge a little dry in parts.
Available: TBC
Score: 71/100
The piping work on Co-op's yule log impressed our panel from the get-go – but, more importantly, it also delivered on taste. Our testers enjoyed the sweet, soft sponge, which is lightly flavoured with cocoa and dipped in chocolate, before being coated with icing, to create a good snap.
Available: 4th December 2024
Score: 71/100
Finished with freeze-dried cranberries and matcha green tea, this is not your average yule log. However, all the key components are still present — we’re talking tightly rolled layers of moist chocolate sponge and milky cream for the perfect swirl.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Millie is freelance journalist and editor with five years’ experience writing product reviews, buying guides, breaking news and about the latest trends.
Millie has also reviewed countless restaurants and written travel features for British GQ, The Telegraph and the Independent, and has interviewed a number of leading chefs, including Jamie Oliver, Heston Blumenthal and Raymond Blanc.
Founder of creative catering brand @grazeandgorge, Millie also spends her time creating seasonal recipes and tablescape content, as well as planning her next golden retriever-friendly getaway and rearranging her own home bar cart (... again).
Callum is our Food and Drink Testing Manager and has been part of the world of professional catering for 10 years, from cheffing to food manufacturing. While working in manufacturing he specialised in bespoke product and menu development for several start-ups and well-known brands such as Wrap It Up! and HOP Vietnamese. He holds the WSET Level 2 in wine, a Level 3 in spirits and has a particular interest in agave spirits.
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