Still undecided about your holiday menu? We can take care of at least one thing: dessert. From Miami to Florida’s west coast, here is a non-exhaustive yet highly indulgent roundup of bakeries where you can find the famous bûche de Noël.
Miami
Recently opened on Biscayne Boulevard, in the heart of the MiMo District, Oui Bistrot prides itself on being one of the city’s most approachable French tables. As the holidays draw near, this bakery offers a Yule log in two versions. The first pairs white chocolate and raspberry. The second is aimed at cacao lovers, with a gianduja—the Italian blend of chocolate and hazelnuts—set on a chocolate base dotted with praline crunch for texture. Two sizes are available: one that serves 6 to 8 people at $68, or 10 to 12 guests at $98.
5700 Biscayne Blvd, Miami – (305) 395-8011
Behind the Atelier Monnier name, present at several locations across the Miami area, Patrick Feyten offers three different creations. The “Rocher-Hazelnut” combines dark chocolate crémeux, melting praline and roasted hazelnuts under a milk chocolate coating. The “Dark-Vanilla” pairs dark chocolate mousse and vanilla cream on a dark chocolate sponge cake. More daring, the “Dubai” blends pistachio mousse and crémeux, chocolate, and crispy strands of kunafe. The bûches de Noël are designed to serve 8 to 9 people and are priced between $55 and $60. Individual slices are offered at $8.50.
9825 SW 40th St, Miami – (786) 452-7780; 9563 S Dixie Hwy, Pinecrest – (305) 666-8696
Claiming “the real French touch,” Bonjour Bakery has expanded its network across southeast Florida and now counts four locations between Miami, Coral Gables, Pembroke Pines, and Weston. Éric Buffenoir and Lucas Bistoquet offer the “French Christmas Mousse,” priced at $46.99, available in four flavors, including a trio of chocolate mousses or a dulce de leche and walnut combination. Purists can opt for the traditional rolled bûche de Noël, priced at $52.99, in chocolate, praline, or fruit versions.
10800 Pines Blvd, Pembroke Pines – (786) 534-8141; 1435 N Park Dr, Weston – (786) 534-8141; 16650 SW 88th St, Miami – (786) 534-8141; 997 N Greenway Dr, Coral Gables – (305) 722-8785
Doral
A well-known bakery among lovers of French pastry in Doral, La Croquantine, run by Matthieu Cartron, has lined up an appealing range of bûches de Noël. Exotic fruits, a trio of chocolates, or hazelnut are among the flavors offered. Two sizes are available: a version for 4 to 6 people at $45 and another for 8 to 10 guests at $70.
7930 NW 36th St, Doral – (786) 899-0509
Miami Beach
On Alton Road, the bakery-pastry shop Douceurs & Tralala, formerly Crazy Croissant, is headed by chef Grégory Fournier-Bidoz, a member of the Disciples of Escoffier, and his wife Nathalie. For the holidays, the duo offers a range of bûches de Noël with enticing flavors: chocolate and coconut, crunchy praline, vanilla-raspberry, as well as a chocolate-hazelnut version. These desserts, which will delight 6 to 8 people, are priced at $55.
1570 Alton Rd, Miami Beach – (786) 960-6866
In South Beach, Maison Valentine makes sweet-toothed customers salivate with three indulgent creations. The first combines hazelnut biscuit, crunchy praline, hazelnut crémeux and milk chocolate mousse. The second focuses on freshness, with a vanilla, mango and passion fruit composition. The last is for cacao lovers, built around dark chocolate mousse, a vanilla crème brûlée insert, and a chocolate biscuit. Each Yule log is designed for 8 people and is priced at $84.99.
1112 15th St, Miami Beach – (786) 535-1432
South Miami
On Sunset Drive, Cécile Bakery + Café unapologetically buries any notion of dieting as the holidays approach. The bakery offers a collection of generous bûches de Noël, designed for 8 to 10 guests and priced at $58, with individual slices at $9.50. The “Black Forest” pairs dark chocolate mousse, kirsch cherry compote, and chocolate sponge cake. The “Exotic Passion” blends passion fruit mousse and milk chocolate crémeux. The “White Mountain” plays on softness, with mandarin marmalade, praline mousseline, and milk chocolate mousse. The “3 Chocolates” stays true to its name.
5744 Sunset Dr, South Miami – (305) 397-8206
Coral Gables
At Bachour, a gourmet institution in Coral Gables, the signature creation imagined by the eponymous Puerto Rican chef combines milk chocolate mousse, passion fruit cream, and chocolate financier, offered at $80. The “Santa’s Belt” entremet, inspired by Santa Claus’s coat and belt, pairs vanilla mousse, strawberry jelly, and almond biscuit at $65. The “Snow Flake” creation, shaped like a snowflake, combines cinnamon mousse, apple compote and apple cake, priced at $80.
2020 Salzedo St, Coral Gables – (305) 203-0552
Wilton Manors
In Wilton Manors, near Fort Lauderdale, Colombian chef Mario Ramírez carries on a craft inherited from his father, a baker in Colombia. At D’Liras, bûches de Noël are made to order, with flavors adjustable according to preference. Coffee, chocolate, pistachio, and raspberry are among the options, with reservations placed at least 24 hours in advance. Two sizes are available, with prices ranging from $38 to $42. Their Yule log is also available by the slice, at $7.
2172 Wilton Dr, Wilton Manors – (954) 530-0422
Delray Beach
Located in Delray Beach, between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, L’Atelier des Pains is run by Yves François, trained under Frédéric Lalos, Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF) in baking. This former compagnon du devoir prepares three bûches de Noël with well-balanced pairings: vanilla-lemon, hazelnut-caramel-chocolate, and pistachio accompanied by a raspberry coulis. Only one size is available, serving 10 to 12 people, priced at $89.
1445 N Congress Ave, Delray Beach – (347) 303-1237
Lake Worth
In Lake Worth, south of West Palm Beach, Vincent Durin and his wife Christine, who head Vincent’s French Bakery, champion generous, no-compromise French pastry. Their Christmas menu highlights several bûches de Noël designed to serve 8 people. The most spectacular takes the shape of a chocolate and hazelnut train, priced at $79. Other recipes round out the offering, including a wild berry mousse, a tiramisu version, and a rolled Yule log with chocolate ganache, all priced at $59. The couple, who also run a location in Boca Raton, have announced the opening of a third establishment in West Palm Beach as early as January.
516 Lucerne Ave, Lake Worth – (561) 533-0840; 2831 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton – (561) 576-3151; 6405 S Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach – (561) 335-3871
West Palm Beach
At Loïc Bakery in West Palm Beach, there is no overdoing it. Just one Yule log on the menu, crafted according to the rules of the art. Light sponge cake, raspberry jam, chocolate ganache, and buttercream make up this creation built to serve 10 to 12 people, priced at $85.
480 Hibiscus St, West Palm Beach – (561) 570-1425
Melbourne
In Melbourne, southeast of Orlando, Jacqueline Dittmore, trained at Le Cordon Bleu Institute in Paris, and her husband Christophe Molitor offer several Yule logs with traditional flavors at Jacqueline’s Bakery. Chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and praline dominate the collection, available in two sizes, for 4 to 5 or 8 to 10 guests. Prices range from $57.20 to $72.80. The establishment also offers passion-raspberry, passion-coconut or triple chocolate entremets, priced between $57.20 and $72.80 depending on size.
906 E New Haven Ave, Melbourne – (321) 312-6594; 6977 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne – (321) 622-4776
Winter Garden
In Winter Garden, near Orlando, Le Petit Paris showcases French pastry under the leadership of Stephan Martin, master artisan pastry chef, chocolatier, and ice cream maker. For the holidays, the bakery offers several bûches de Noël, including the “Mont Blanc” with milk chocolate mousse, chestnut, and a caramel insert on a brownie biscuit; the “Feuilletine” with chocolate mousse and crunchy praline; and the “Black Forest” with whipped cream, cherries, and chocolate ganache. More original, the “Sunset Grove” was born from a recipe suggested by artificial intelligence, blending citrus mousse, citrus jelly, and coconut dacquoise. These Yule logs are offered at $49, and serve 8 to 10 people.
1201 Winter Garden Vineland Rd, Winter Garden – (407) 614-4477
Windermere
In Windermere, at the gates of Orlando, My French Cafe, run by Hervé Rouge, offers for the holidays a range of bûches de Noël with varied flavors, from coffee-chocolate to praline, including a creation combining vanilla ganache, caramel, and a creamy speculoos spread center. A fresher version, pairing vanilla and passion fruit, completes the selection. Two sizes are available: for 6 to 8 people at $36.03, or for 10 to 12 guests at $66.96.
7782 Winter Garden Vineland, Windermere – (407) 347-8945
Sarasota
On Florida’s west coast, Rendez-Vous in Sarasota celebrates the holidays with a selection of indulgent bûches de Noël. In the kitchen, Joël Garcia offers several flavors, including raspberry, mango-passion, chocolate, and praline. These creations, designed to serve 6 to 8 people, are priced at $49.90.
5336 Clark Rd, Sarasota – (941) 924-1234
Established for more than 25 years in Sarasota, pastry chef Christophe Coutelle, accompanied by his wife Géraldine, offers one of the most extensive selections in the region. No fewer than eight recipes appear on the menu at his establishment, C’est la Vie, including three gluten-free options. Among them are the “Royal” with almond sponge cake and milk chocolate mousse, the “Sunlight” with raspberry and exotic fruit mousse, and the “Pear Delight” with chocolate mousse and caramelized pears. These bûches de Noël, designed for 4 to 14 people, are priced between $28 and $98.
1553 Main St, Sarasota – (941) 906-9575
This article was originally published in French on French Morning. It has been translated into English by Valentine Marchou.
