Bûche de Noël with Ganache

Ingredients

• 8 oz baker's chocolate chopped
• 1.7 cups whipping cream 
• 5  eggs separated
• 1 cup granulated sugar 
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• 0.5 cup flour all-purpose
• 0.3 cup cocoa powder unsweetened
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 
• 2 tablespoons rum / brandy / coffee liqueur 
• 1 serving powdered sugar 
• 1 sprigs candied pineapple 

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• sauce pan
• oven
• wire rack
• hand mixer

Directions

1. In medium bowl, place chopped chocolate. In 1-quart saucepan, heat 2/3 cup of the whipping cream to simmering over medium heat.
2. Remove from heat; cool 1 minute.
3. Pour hot cream over chocolate; stir until smooth.
4. Let stand 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until ganache is thickened.
5. Heat oven to 375°F. Grease 15x10x1-inch pan with shortening. Line with waxed paper; grease paper with shortening. In large bowl, beat egg yolks and 1/2 cup of the sugar with electric mixer on high speed until thick and lemon colored. On low speed, beat in oil and vanilla.
6. In medium bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, beating on high speed until stiff peaks form. Gently fold egg whites into egg yolk mixture. Sift flour, 1/4 cup cocoa and the salt over batter; fold gently until blended.
7. Pour into pan, spreading batter to corners.
8. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center. Meanwhile, generously sprinkle clean towel with cocoa. Immediately loosen cake from edges of pan; turn upside down onto towel. Carefully remove waxed paper; trim off edges of cake if necessary. While hot, starting with long side, carefully roll up cake; place on cooling rack. Cool at least 30 minutes.
9. In chilled medium bowl, beat remaining 1 cup whipping cream, 2 tablespoons sugar and liqueur on high speed with electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Unroll cake; remove towel.
10. Spread whipped cream over cake.
11. Roll up cake.
12. Cut 2-inch diagonal slice from 1 end of cake roll.
13. Place cake on serving platter; position cut piece against side of cake roll to look like a knot, using about 1 tablespoon ganache to attach to cake. Frost cake with remaining ganache. With tines of fork, make strokes in ganache to look like tree bark.
14. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
15. Garnish with sugared cranberries and rosemary sprigs.