Pan Sizes for Yule Log/Holiday Hot Cake

Asked by blackchilli. Answered on 19th December 2013

Full question

What size Swiss roll tin should I use for Nigella's Buche de Noel/Yule Log recipe?

Could you suggest a baking dish for the Holiday Hot Cake recipe, not really sure what to use. Many thanks.

Our answer

Nigella's Yule Log recipe (from Christmas and on the Nigella website) uses a Swiss roll tin. These are usually around 33cm x 24cm (9 x 13 inches) with low edges of about 1cm (1/2 inch) deep. If you are worried about the shallow depth of the tin then make sure that when you line the tin you leave a good overhang of baking parchment (parchment paper) on the sides of the tin. Push the parchment tightly into the corners of the tin and this should help the parchment to stand up a little so that it provides a slightly deeper edge around the tin.

For the Holiday Hot Cake (from Nigella Express and on the NIgella website) the recipe suggests a 23cm (9-inch) diameter baking dish that is 6cm (2 1/4 inches) deep. You could use a tart tatin dish for the recipe, or a deep 23cm ceramic pie dish (but check the depth as pie dish depths vary). You could also use a 20cm (8-inch) square dish with a similar depth for this recipe and there are several Pyrex and ceramic dishes of approximately these dimensions.