It’s hard to imagine a Christmas meal without the traditional bûche. Chocolate, hazelnut, or fruit, there’s something in them for everyone. The good news is that many pastry shops in Texas carry on the tradition, and have plenty of seasonal options for you to enjoy. Here are a few addresses in Houston, Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio where you can find this dessert.
Houston
Mademoiselle Louise
Building on its success, Norman Frederick Fortin’s patisserie, Mademoiselle Louise, offers two gourmet options for the holidays: the classic royale with chocolate dacquoise, and the Félicité with praline mousse, mandarin compote, and a madeleine base. Both bûches are available in two sizes, one for 6 to 8 guests at $49, and a larger one for 10 to 12 guests at $69.
Address: 1725 Main St #1, Houston
French Gourmet Bakery
French Gourmet Bakery is offering four different flavors of bûche this year: chocolate mousse with rum, white chocolate mousse with Grand Marnier, chocolate raspberry (non-alcoholic), and mocha with rum. The bûches come in two (large) sizes: for 12 to 15 people ($99.99), or 15 to 18 people ($119.99). The patisserie also offers other cakes for the festive season: Black Forest, Amaretto, rum mocha, as well as tarts, sugar cookies, and gingerbread. Visit their website for a complete list of holiday desserts. We recommend ordering at least 48 hours in advance.
Address: 2250 Westheimer Rd., Houston
Flo Paris
Flo Paris offers its two traditional bûches: the white chocolate raspberry, and the chocolate, caramel, and coffee Concerto. They are available in three sizes, at $60, $80, or $100. Order by phone at (713) 706-4446, or in person.
Address: 5757 Westheimer Rd Ste 105, Houston
Paris Sweet
Paris Sweet has two bûches on the menu, one with coffee, and the other with chocolate/raspberry. Both cakes are available in three sizes: 8″ at $39, 12″ at $57, and 18″ at $80.
Address: 13505 Westheimer Rd, Ste 8, Houston
Phoenicia
Houston’s Phoenicia offers two choices of bûches, a chocolate/raspberry and a vanilla/raspberry, in two sizes: 4″ at $18.99, and 8″ at $36.99.
Address: 12141 Westheimer Rd and 1001 Austin Rd, Houston
Chef’s Providence
Chef’s Providence will be offering two flavors of bûche this year, chocolate and raspberry, which can be prepared in modern or traditional versions. The difference between the two? A mousse entremets for the modern, and a rolled sponge cake with mousseline cream and whipped buttercream for the traditional. Both options are available in one size, which serves 6 to 8 guests, at a price of $50 for the traditional, and $70 for the modern. Chef’s Providence also offers a Christmas meal for $35: mushroom filet mignon with tomatoes à la provençale, pommes duchesse, and a green bean casserole with bacon. All of these can all be picked up in-store, or at the Tomball and Woodlands markets.
Address: 14300 Cornerstone village drive, Suite #218, Houston
Bonjour Café
Bonjour Café offers a choice of four bûches: three classic, and one fancy. The little newcomer on the list is the rectangle bûche, a less traditional format, but just as tempting a recipe, with a brownie base with pistachio cream, chocolate crumble, and meringue. Expect to pay $90 for a bûche for 8 to 10 people. Classics include vanilla-white chocolate, vanilla-caramel-chocolate, and vanilla-cream-cheese-blueberry. Each is covered in dark chocolate icing, decorated with Christmas figurines, and available for either 4 people ($35) or 8 ($70). Finally, the fancy version is made up of an orange financier, chocolate mousse, and salted chocolate crumble, all enrobed in an Italian-style meringue. One size fits all for 8 to 10 guests ($90). Gourmets can add as many toppings as they like (fruit, hazelnut, crumble, or raspberry jam, for $5 each). Order at least 3 days in advance, until December 20.
Address: 20829 Kingsland Blvd, Suite A, Katy
La Tartine de Houston has closed and will no longer be offering bûches this year.
Austin
Julie Myrtille
Julie Myrtille offers a unique bûche, the gluten-free triple chocolate ($90 for 10 people), which has been their house signature for years. It is composed of a soft almond dacquoise (flourless), a dark chocolate mousse, a milk chocolate mousse, and a white chocolate mousse. All are covered with a chocolate mirror glaze. Order on their website before December 18th for collection on site on December 23rd, between 10:30am to 2pm, or on December 24th, between 10:30am to 2pm.
Address: 1023 Springdale RD. Building 1D, Austin
Bakery Lorraine
Bakery Lorraine bûches will be available on the French Morning website from December 12th. Please note: all Bakery Lorraine stores and outlets will be closed on December 25th.
Address: 11600 Rock Rose Ste #100, Austin
La Pâtisserie
Orders can be placed on the La Pâtisserie website before December 16, for pickup in one of the two Austin boutiques between December 20 and 24. They cost $80 for a bûche.
Addresses: La Pâtisserie South, 602 W. Annie St., Austin; La Pâtisserie North, 7301 Burnet Road Ste 102, Austin
Saveurs la Boulangerie
Saveurs La Boulangerie bûches will be available on the French Morning website from December 9. Sylvie takes orders by phone at (210) 639-3165.
Address: 3801 N Capital of Tx Hwy, Suite D 180, Austin
Dallas
Salut Paris Bakery
Salut Paris Bakery, the Gallerias patisserie, will be making bûches to order only this year. Each bûche serves between 8 and 10 people, and costs between $75 and $80.
Address: 13350 Dallas Pkwy, Dallas
Main Street Bistro Bakery
There’s only one option on the menu at this Grapevine patisserie this year: the Chocolate Bombe, with chocolate mousse and crème brulée (gluten free). Sold in one size for 6-8 people for $48.
Address: 316 S Main St, Grapevine, Dallas
Central Market
For an economical option, we turn to the bûches from the HEB Central Market store group, available in 3 flavors: chocolate, praline, and mocha. Each bûche serves 8 to 10 guests and retails for $29.99. Visit their website to locate a store near you.
Lubellas Patisserie
The chocolate bûche from pastry chef Maria Becerra at Lubellas patisserie is still available to order, with a few minor variations. This year, it has been rounded off to take the shape of a classic cake, and enlarged to serve 10 to 12 people ($65). Orders can be placed in-store or by telephone (214) 484-4825, and the last day to order is December 22nd, for collection on site on December 24th.
Address: 10323 Ferguson Rd, Dallas
The Bisous Bisous patisserie leaves the list of bûches after going out of business at the end of October.
San Antonio
Saveurs 209
Saveurs 209‘s bûches will be available on the French Morning website from December 9. Sylvie takes orders by phone at (210) 639-3165.
Address: 209 Broadway St, San Antonio
Bakery Lorraine
Bakery Lorraine‘s bûches will be available on the French Morning website from December 12. They will also be available at several other locations: Pearl Brewery, Rim, Medical Center, and Doseum. Please note: all Bakery Lorraine boutiques and outlets will be closed on December 25.
Addresses: Pearl Brewery – 306 Pearl Pkwy #110; Rim – 17503 La Cantera Pkwy; Medical Center – 7338 Louis Pasteur Dr.; Doseum – 2800 Broadway St
Délice chocolatier et pâtisserie
Délice chocolatier et pâtisserie offers two traditional bûches, with a vanilla or chocolate base, to which you can add the filling of your choice: raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, apricot, dulce de leche, white chocolate ganache, or dark chocolate ganache. They cost $60 for a bûche for 12 people, ordered before December 19 in-store, by phone (210) 545-2200, or online. In-store pickup will be available on December 23rd or 24th.
Address: 946 N. Loop 1604 W, Canyon Creek, Suite #145 (between Blanco Rd and Stone Oak Prwy)
Cake Art
Cake Art offers an entirely à la carte option, a one-size-fits-all cake for 15 people at a price of $45. Order by December 19 by phone (210) 277 0308 or in store.
Address: 18402 U.S. 281 Access Rd, San Antonio
This article was originally published in French on French Morning.
