Caramelised Popcorn Yule Log

One of the best things about Christmas - regardless of age - has to be Christmas films. Everyone has a favourite, from the classics (It's a Wonderful Life), to the endlessly quotable (Elf), to the ones with a ridiculous cast (Love Actually), to the dubiously festive (Die Hard), and the quite frankly terrifying (Gremlins).

You might not be the biggest fan of a Santa Clause triple bill on Christmas Eve - as I am - so Bad Santa might be more your style. Maybe nothing beats watching the Muppets Christmas Carol first thing on Christmas Day while waiting to open presents. Who knows!

There's something for everyone and every channel is naturally saturated with them over the next week. Despite all the differences between all of the millions of movies on offer - festive or not - one thing remains the same: nothing accompanies a film quite like popcorn. Plus, it's Christmas, so chocolate for every meal is not only expected but also guilt-free if you believe in Father Christmas.*

*not really, but let's pretend.

This recipe is the last of my Christmas bakes, and I like to think I've saved a bit of a showstopper to go out with a bang with this Caramelised Popcorn Yule Log from John Whaite.

Gingerbread Latte Cake

Growing up, the first viewing of the Coca-Cola Christmas advert signalled that the festive season had officially begun. These days it seems like there's another indicator. It's the first sight of the Starbucks red cups and boards declaring the arrival of seasonal drinks in coffee shops that are the new sign that it's both the right time and finally appropriate to start feeling Christmassy.

Toffee nut lattes, peppermint mochas and orange hot chocolates are everywhere at the moment in cups covered in snowflakes, snowmen and candy canes, and it's getting harder ever day to order a drink without being offered a fancy 'Christmas blend' (whatever that is). With so many to choose from it can be a little overwhelming - in the best possible way - but the undisputed king of the Christmas coffee has to be the humble but delicious Gingerbread Latte.

I downloaded John Whaite's 12 Bakes of Christmas pretty much as soon as he uploaded it to his website, and I've been dying to try out all 12 of his bakes! His recipe for this Gingerbread Latte Cake looked so appealing that I knew I had to include an attempt at in on my blog, and it does not disappoint. Layers of rich ginger sponge are sandwiched together with the lightest and most delicious coffee frosting, making a cake that's a million times better than its namesake.

It's a bold statement, but I think this is one of the tastiest cakes I've ever made. John Whaite, you genius.