best chocolate chestnut yule log

[Lucifera]

I've always wanted to make a yule log, would like it to look nice and Christmassy for a party. Have found lots of recipes online, anyone have a tried and tested favourite? I do fancy chocolate sponge (rather than plain) and a filling that includes chestnut puree.

The only one I've ever made was Nigella's Buche De Noel but that doesn't have chestnuts in. iirc, it was quite a faff to make.

Delia has a Choc Chestnut log in her Christmas book I was considering, but haven't tried it.

my son made a mary berry one last year which was nice. had choc sponge but not chestnut puree. agree faff to make, even though i was only supervising

he's talking about making his cheesecake one this year - rick steins recipe. at least when he leaves home he will all be able to cook something!

he's not as domesticated he sounds though!

Just a tip, if you do find a recipe, don't bother with faffing about with shelling chestnuts etc, buy a tin of purée. I can remember buying loads of chestnuts, boiling etc. Half had mouldy bits inside and I ended up buying a tin of purée anyway.

thanks folks, I'll have a look for the Mary Berry recipe. As long as it gets a robin and a sprig of holly on top, eh? Don't worry TB, I had no intention of buying chestnuts, have had irrational fear of them ever since my DB got shard of shell under his thumbnail several years ago and spent days in agony until resulting infected abcess lanced in A&E...