Basic or exotic, designer or traditional, no Christmas is complete without one. The bûche de Noël makes our mouths water, and reinvents itself every year. So, for the pleasure of it all, we have compiled a list of patisseries where you can find the best festive pastry creations this year.
Upper West Side
Délice Macarons
Inventive and original, these creations from Délice Macarons are sure to create a sensation on your Christmas table. There’s the Santa’s House, with raspberry mousse, pistachio crème brûlée, chocolate sponge, and a hazelnut base. The Santa Hat comes with the same ingredients, but in a more original shape. They also have the classic Bûche de Noël with chocolate ganache, caramel, chocolate sponge cake, and a hazelnut base. And finally, there’s Santa’s Train, with vanilla mousse, raspberry marmalade, brownie, and a hazelnut crunch base. All are available in 8-person versions for $65, or individual slices for $7. Order by phone or on site, and pick up at one of their two boutiques.
Addresses: 321 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10023; 19 Eastman St Cranford, NJ 07016
Mille-Feuille
With locations in the Upper West Side, Greenwich Village, and Prospect Heights, Mille-Feuille continues the tradition this year with three bûches created by chef Dimitri Viaud that are sure to delight every palate! One of the bestsellers of recent years, the Infinite Triple Chocolate bûche, is a flourless chocolate sponge topped with three distinct layers of chocolate (63% creamy dark chocolate, 38% milk chocolate mousse, and 35% white chocolate Bavarian cream). The Capitol Rolled bûches feature a rolled cookie filled with passion fruit/mango confit, fresh raspberries, vanilla mousse, and meringue. Finally, the Breizh Apple Caramel is a caramel cookie topped with apple cider confit, caramel ganache, and caramel Bavarian cream. Available for pre-order on their website and in store.
Addresses: Greenwich Village, 552 La Guardia Place; Upper West Side, 2175 Broadway; Park Slope, 622 Vanderbilt Ave.
Upper East Side
Ladureé
The Parisian house of Ladurée blends tradition and modernity with the pastries that have made it famous. The result is 3 bûches crafted by chef Julien Alvarez. La Plume Blanche: vanilla joconde sponge, raspberry-pink jelly, and vanilla-mascarpone mousse. La Pistache: pistachio shortbread, Savoy sponge, mascarpone cream, and pistachio praline. And the Chocolate-Caramel: a praline base, hazelnut cream, and chocolate mousse. These bûches, which serve 6, are priced at $80. They will be available in Ladurée’s boutiques (Soho and Madison) from December 23 to 25, and for pre-order throughout the month in all stores. Individual versions will also be available from December 7 to 25 in-store (Soho and Madison) and by pre-order.
Address: Ladurée Madison – 864 Madison Ave.; Ladurée Soho – 398 West Broadway; Ladurée Hudson Yards – 20 Hudson Yards – Level 1; Ladurée New Jersey – 1200 Morris Tpke, Short Hills NJ.
Eclair Bakery
There are two Christmas bûches to choose from at Eclair Bakery: the Wendy (milk chocolate mousse with vanilla crème brûlée) and the Crunchy (dark chocolate mousse, hazelnut crunch, and chocolate sponge cake). It will cost you $50 for 6 to 8 people, and $65 for 10 to 12 people. Delivery is available if you live between 23rd and 86th Streets, on the East Side.
Address: 305 E 53rd St.
Miss Madeleine
Three types of bûches are available at Miss Madeleine: the Rocher-Chocolat Noisette at $64.90, the Pistache/Framboise at $59.90, and the Grand Marnier at $59.90. Formats for 4 people are also available for $30. Order now.
Address: 400 E 82nd St.
Midtown/Chelsea
La Bergamote
La Bergamote has classic buttercream Christmas bûches in three flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and Grand Marnier. The one for 4-6 people is $49 and the one for 8-10 people is $74. There is also a Chocolate Mousse Bûche for $51 or $79. A Chestnut version is available for $51 or $79. The boulangerie-pâtisserie also offers 2 original creations: Chloé has caramel Bavarian cream, almond sponge cake, and pear purée, while Krista has a praline sponge, Grand Marnier panna cotta cream, and dark chocolate mousse. The 4-6 person version is priced at $55, compared with $85 for the 8-10 person version. All will be available from December 16, by pre-order only.
Addresses: Chelsea – 177 Ninth Ave.; Midtown West – 515 West 52nd St.
Gabriel Kreuther
Every year, the double Michelin-starred chef’s chocolate workshop, Gabriel Kreuther, offers a wide range of treats for the Christmas holiday. Among them this year: an assortment of Holiday Cookies as cute as they are delicious, based on shortbread filled with a chocolate-citrus ganache. They cost $45 and serve 12. The Alsatian-born chef has also created a Stollen (a classic candied fruit cake covered in powdered sugar), for $42, as well as a Babka, a brioche filled with dark chocolate ganache. They are available to order online or direct from the boutique.
Address: 41 W 42nd St.
L’Ami Pierre
Pierre-Antoine Raberin, aka l’Ami Pierre, will offer a haute-couture bûche this year: La Royale Chocolat (with chocolate, cocoa nibs, and gold leaf), at a cost of $58, which serves 6 to 8 people. It is also available individually for $9. Galettes des Rois will be on sale from January 1.
Address: 149 West 51st St.
Angelina
Now with two locations, one in Bryant Park and the second in the UES, the legendary Angelina café will once again delight New Yorkers with two different bûches. The signature Mont Blanc has a base of meringue, chantilly cream, and chestnut cream. The Trocadéro combines a crunchy hazelnut base, hazelnut cream, and a chocolate-almond glaze, with milk chocolate chantilly cream. The cost is $56 for 4-6 people. Also on sale, there are bûches for one person at $12 each: Coconut-Mango, Trocadéro, and Vanilla-Raspberry. Pre-orders are available now and in-store from December 13 through December 20. The patisserie will also be offering its Galettes des Rois from January 6 to 19 (serves 6 people, priced at $56).
Addresses: Lexington Ave; 1050 Sixth Ave.
Benoit
The bûches prepared by Restaurant Benoit pastry chef Clément Loubeyre will be available between December 15 and 25. An elegant chocolate praline version serves 6 to 8 people, and is priced at $60. You can order by email or telephone starting December 15 (be sure to place your order at least two days before the desired pickup date). Throughout January, you’ll be able to order Alain Ducasse’s Galette des Rois (also to be ordered 48 hours in advance), via their website or by telephone.
Address: 60 West 55th St.
Midtown
Lysée
Several offerings from Korean chef Eunji Lee’s patisserie, Lysée, promise culinary orgasms for the lucky few who can afford them. But the revisited Holiday bûches are undoubtedly this year’s centerpiece. Composition: vanilla mousse, chocolate ganache, and shortbread base. Serves 6 to 8 for $128. Also available are a Christmas chestnut brioche ($30) and various Christmas cakes. All are available to order online or directly in store.
Address: 44 E 21st.
Soho/Nolita
Dominique Ansel
Pastry chef Dominique Ansel has also concocted three Christmas bûches: the decadent Triple Chocolate (Valrhona Caraïbe 66% chocolate mousse, milk chocolate crêmeux, covered with chocolate mushrooms and vanilla chantilly for a gluten-free option). Then there is La Châtaigne, a French classic with a creamy chestnut mousse, an almond sponge dipped in a splash of whiskey, and glazed chestnuts from Aubenas. The third, La Tiramisu, an elegant new creation, features a coffee-infused chiffon cake, chocolate mousse, and a praliné crunch with a touch of orange zest. They cost $65 for 6-8 people, and will be available in individual sizes at the Soho bakery until December 24.
Addresses: 189 Spring St; 17 East 27th Str.
Lafayette Bakery
Chef Scott at Lafayette Bakery will be delighting his customers this year with a Praline Christmas bûche, with a hazelnut dacquoise, praline mousse, feuilletine, and dark chocolate cream. Each costs $60 and serves 8 to 10 people. They can be ordered now for in-store collection on December 24 and 25.
Address: 380 Lafayette St.
West Village/Greenwich
Aux Merveilleux de Fred
The bûches at Merveilleux de Fred follow the recipe of the company’s eponymous dessert, with a meringue base, topped with chocolate-scented whipped cream, and coated with chocolate shavings. They are available in 4-, 6- and 8-person formats, priced at $31.20, $46.80, and $62.40. There are two flavors to choose from: the Merveilleux with dark chocolate, and the Incroyable with speculoos and white chocolate. To order, call one of the 3 boutiques directly.
Address: West Village – 37 8th Ave; Lexington UES – 1291 Lexington Ave; Midtown – 1001 6th Ave.
East Village/Lower East Side
Le Fournil
There are two bûche options at this aptly named French bakery, Le Fournil: a chocolate buttercream, and a vanilla-red berry ($48, serves 6).
Address: 115 2nd Ave.
Lower Manhattan
Epicerie Boulud
At its five Manhattan locations, Épicerie Boulud has chosen three bûches to delight your taste buds: one coffee-pecan, one chocolate, and one coconut-passionfruit. They are priced at $65 each, and can be picked up in any of the three boutiques on December 23 and 24. They are also available for delivery. Galettes des Rois will be available in January.
Addresses: Lincoln Center – 1900 Broadway at 64th St; One Vanderbilt – One Vanderbilt Avenue at 42 St; Westfield World Trade Center – 185 Greenwich St.; The Lipstick Building – 885 Third Ave at 54th St; 919 Café by DB – 919 Third Ave.
Brooklyn
Pistache
At Pistache this year, you will find three Japanese-style sponge, creamy mousseline, and macaron cakes, in flavors of Chocolate, Lemon, Coffee, or Pistachio. They cost $74, and come in one size, which serves 8 to 10 people. You can order from Yvan before December 19 at (917) 597-8387 or by sending an email. Pick-up is on December 23, and delivery is possible in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Address: 630 Flushing Ave.
French Tart Deli
At its three Brooklyn locations, French Tart Deli offers its signature bûches: the Bonaparte (chocolate mousse and crème brûlée), the Josephine (chocolate mousse and raspberry jam), and the Death by Chocolate (all-chocolate mousse). Each cost $45. They also have a Christmas tart for $28 (apple-raisin-pecan). Order by phone until December 23, for pick-up until December 24. Stores will be closed on December 25. Galettes des Rois go on sale from December 24.
Addresses: Park Slope – 579 5e Ave; Cobble Hill – 306. Court St; Brooklyn Heights – 44 Henry St.
Charlotte Pâtisserie
In Greenpoint and Cobble Hill, we’re keeping with tradition, with Charlotte Pâtisserie offering three different bûches: the Noisette (hazelnut mousse, hazelnut glaze), the Chocolat Framboise, and the Charlotte (mango and almonds, peach, and white chocolate mousse on pistachio crunch). One size fits all, and prices range from $50 to $60. You can order by phone for pick-up.
Addresses: Greenpoint – 596 Manhattan Ave; Charlotte Cobble Hill – 201 Court St.
La Bicyclette Bakery
Florent Andreytchenko’s three boutiques are offering three bûches this year, each priced at $50 (serves 6): Chocolate (milk chocolate whipped ganache, hazelnut praline, milk chocolate Chantilly cream), Raspberry Lemon (hazelnut dacquoise, Bavarian cream, lemon cream, and raspberry ganache) and Vanilla Caramel (hazelnut dacquoise, vanilla Bavaroise cream, and caramel cremeux). Order here, and pick up only on Tuesday December 24, between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. – freshness guaranteed! Stores will be closed between Wednesday, December 25, and Thursday, January 2, reopening to launch their Galettes des Rois on Friday, January 3.
Addresses: 667 Driggs Ave., Williamsburg; 136 Dekalb Ave., Fort Greene; 305 Court St., Carroll Gardens.
New Jersey
Choc-O-Pain
The bakery-pastry chain founded in 2011 by Clémence Danko, Choc-O-Pain, offers two bûches across its New Jersey boutiques: a Fruits Rouges rolled bûche, and a Trois-Chocolats. Available for 6 to 8 people for $55. Orders must be placed before December 23 at 7pm, online or in-store.
Addresses: 530 Jersey Ave; 244 St Pauls Ave; 330-332 Palisade Ave; 157 First St; 1500 Hudson Str.
Ladurée (view above)
Ladurée Short Hills, The Mall at Short Hills 1200 Morris Tpke, Short Hills.
Queens
La Boulangerie de François
At La Boulangerie de François in Forest Hills, there are three bûches available: the Fruits Rouges and Mousse au Cheesecake & Citron Vert; The Chocolate Raspberry (chocolate buttercream, homemade raspberry compote, roasted walnuts, in a cookie roulade); and the Praline Hazelnut (hazelnut praline buttercream and crunchy hazelnut praline in a roulade). The bakery offers 3 sizes: the individual at $8.85, the 7-inch (serves 6-8) at $53.60, and the 11-inch (serves 10-12) at $75.25.
Address: 109-01 72nd Rd.
This article was originally published in French on French Morning.
