It’s Christmas, and with it comes the return of the eternal bûche on our tables. For 2025, here is a roundup of the creations to discover at three Los Angeles pastry shops that practice the art—and love—of the traditional Yule Log.
Pitchoun Bakery, a Taste of Winter
In Downtown LA, Pitchoun Bakery has been an institution of French baking for the past 10 years. Still led by Fabienne and Frédéric Souliès, the bakery has just released its selection of six Yule Logs, as it does every year. Three bûches take on the famous tree-trunk shape with classic chocolate, vanilla, or coffee flavors. But the maison also showcases its creative pastry bûches, with the “Mont Blanc” as the star—constructed of a madeleine biscuit base, chestnut cream, vanilla Bavarian mousse, meringue, and a hint of blueberry jam; an homage to the luxury ski resort “Aspen” in chocolate and hazelnut built on a crispy base of puffed rice, hazelnut praline, dark chocolate mousse, praline crémeux, and choux pastry; and the last one, called “Santa,” flavored with red fruits, strawberry mousse, vanilla cream, white chocolate, and a madeleine biscuit. As a bonus: the special holiday croquembouche with 30 cream choux to devour, trays of mini bites, and traditional Christmas cookies.
The price of indulgence is $55 and pre-orders are recommended. Pick-ups are available seven days a week, including December 25 and January 1.
Pitchoun Bakery, 545 South Olive Street – (213) 689-3240
Ludivine Paris, Classic or Fruity
At Ludivine Paris, the West Side bakery-patisserie (in the Rancho Park neighborhood near the Lycée Français), winning recipes are not changed. Like last year, the shop run by Ludivine and Samuel Bellahssen will offer its two Yule Log versions, both with a modern, clean design. Two styles, two schools: the first is a chocolate-caramel bûche (moist chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, crunchy praline and a touch of caramel), and the second a vanilla-raspberry version (vanilla mousse filled with raspberry, on an almond cake base with feuilletine and white chocolate). One size fits all (equivalent to 8 servings), with a price set at $79.
Orders are available via email at [email protected] or by phone at (424) 832-7166.
Ludivine Paris, 10509 West Pico Boulevard.
Sweet Lily Bakery, Six Shades of Pleasure
Marine and Thibault, the pastry chefs behind Sweet Lily Bakery, which has two locations in Los Angeles, make nearly 2,000 bûches each year during the Christmas season. For their 2025 edition, the duo unveils six signature recipes. On the menu, the Triple Pleasure offers a crunchy praline version with three layers of chocolate mousse. The Red Carpet bûche pairs raspberry mousse with a Madagascar vanilla center. Espresso focuses on dark chocolate, with coffee cream and vanilla sponge cake. The Caribbean Yule Log features passion fruit and a mango center on an almond financier base. Pearfect Caramel blends vanilla and caramel mousse with caramelized pear, while the Traditional pairs a vanilla-rum sponge cake with a light chocolate buttercream. Sweet Lily Bakery bûches are available in a 10-serving size at $68.
Orders can be placed by email at [email protected] or by phone.
3315 Cahuenga Boulevard – (323) 499-1888.
Other location: 9516 Culver Boulevard – (424) 603-4064.
Open December 24 from 7 am to 2 pm.
This article was originally published in French on French Morning. It has been translated into English by Valentine Marchou.
