Cocoa Cake Roll Recipes

CHOCOLATE SWISS ROLL CAKE (REGULAR & MINI)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Spray a 12×17 inch baking pan with nonstick spray or grease with butter, so the parchment paper sticks. Then line it with parchment paper so the cake seamlessly releases. Spray or grease the parchment paper too. We want an extremely nonstick surface for this cake roll.
• Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat the egg whites and 1/3 cup (67g) granulated sugar together in a medium bowl on high speed for 5 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Set aside. In another bowl, beat the egg yolks, remaining sugar, and vanilla extract together until pale and creamy, about 2 minutes.
• Sift the flour, 3 Tablespoons cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt together into a large bowl bowl. Pour the melted butter, coffee, and egg yolk mixture over the dry ingredients. Beat everything together on medium speed until completely combined. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, gently fold in the egg whites until completely combined. Avoid over-mixing and deflating those whites. Batter will be very light.
• Spread batter evenly into prepared pan. It will be a very thin layer. Shimmy the pan on the counter to smooth out the top. Bake for 10 minutes or until the top of the cake gently springs back when touched with your finger. Do NOT over-bake.
• As the cake bakes, place a piece of parchment paper (larger than the cake) or a thin kitchen/tea towel flat on the counter. (Note: I find a kitchen towel is better to help prevent cracking.) Using a fine mesh sieve, dust parchment/towel with 2 Tablespoons of cocoa powder. Once the cake comes out of the oven, quickly run a knife around the edges to loosen it. Immediately invert it onto the parchment/towel. Peel off the parchment paper that was on the bottom of the cake as it baked. Starting with the narrow end, begin tightly rolling the hot cake up with the parchment/towel. Do this slowly and gently. The cake will be warm. Allow the cake to cool completely rolled up in the parchment/towel. Feel free to place it in the refrigerator to speed it up, about 3 hours and up to 1 day. (Note that you must bring it back to room temperature before unrolling, so make sure you set aside enough time.)
• Bring cake to room temperature if it was in the refrigerator. The cake is prone to cracking if unrolled while cold.
• Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract on medium-high speed until medium to stiff peaks form, about 2-3 minutes. Then beat in the marshmallow creme, if using.
• Slowly and gently unroll the cake. Spread whipped cream evenly on top, leaving about a 1/2 inch border around the cake. Gently roll the cake back up, without the parchment/towel this time. Place on a wire rack set on a baking sheet (to catch the extra ganache). Set aside on the counter or in the refrigerator as you prepare the ganache.
• Place chopped chocolate and corn syrup, if using, in a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small saucepan until it begins to gently simmer. (Do not let it come to a rapid boil- that's too hot.) Pour over chocolate, then let it sit for 2-3 minutes to gently soften the chocolate. Slowly stir until completely combined and chocolate has melted.
• Pour ganache all over cake roll. Feel free to spoon up any dripped ganache and spoon over the cake again. Refrigerate for at least 30-60 minutes before slicing and serving.
• Cover leftover cake and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

CHOCOLATE ROLL I

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line one 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper and grease and flour lightly.
• Separate the eggs. Beat the whites with the cream of tartar until stiff. Gradually beat in 1/2 cup of the sugar.
• Sift the remaining sugar, cocoa, and flour together. Beat the egg yolks until thick and fold the flour mixture into them. Stir in vanilla. (The egg yolk mixture will be very stiff). Carefully fold the egg yolk mixture into the beaten egg whites. Evenly spread the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 20 minutes. Let cake cool for 5 minutes. Turn cake onto a towel sprinkled with confectioner's sugar, peel off parchment paper and roll cake up with the towel. Let cake cool completely. Unroll cake and spread with the whipped cream. Roll again. Serve with Foamy Butter Sauce or Fudge Sauce. For variation, you can add 2 tablespoons of rum or your favorite liqueur to the whipped cream. Serves 8.

CHOCOLATE SWISS ROLL

Steps:

• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°F. Line bottom of a 17x12" rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper (do not grease pan or parchment). Separate yolks from 4 large eggs, room temperature, over a medium bowl to catch egg whites. Place yolks in a large bowl and set aside.
• Add 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, ½ tsp. cream of tartar, and ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar to egg whites and beat with an electric mixer until sugar is dissolved and egg whites are glossy and stiff peaks form, 8-10 minutes. (You can also beat on medium-high speed in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.)
• Add remaining ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar to reserved egg yolks and whisk to combine, about 1 minute. Add ½ cup (32 g) unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch-process, ⅓ cup vegetable oil, 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste or extract, and ⅓ cup room-temperature water and whisk until cocoa is fully dissolved. Sift ½ cup (58 g) bleached cake flour and ½ tsp. baking powder over, then whisk vigorously to combine.
• Add one fourth of meringue to cocoa mixture and mix thoroughly (you can use either a whisk or rubber spatula). Add remaining meringue in 3 batches, gently folding after each addition until only a few streaks of meringue remain (err on the side of mixing slightly less rather than more to keep the batter billowy).
• Scrape batter into prepared baking sheet and, using a small offset spatula, gently spread to edges of pan, smoothing surface. Bake cake until top springs back when lightly pressed, 18-20 minutes (cake may start to shrink from sides of pan). Let cake cool in pan, 30-40 minutes.
• Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat 2 cups heavy cream, 3 Tbsp. granulated sugar, 2 Tbsp. instant vanilla pudding mix, 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, and 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste or extract in a large bowl until medium-firm peaks form, about 4 minutes. (Or, use a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, about 1 minute.)
• Run a small offset spatula along edges of pan to release cake from sides. Place a wire rack (same size as cake and rimmed baking sheet) on top of cake and flip over to invert cake onto it; remove baking sheet. Carefully peel away parchment paper (start from a long edge where it might be embedded in the cake and pull gently to ensure you don't tear cake); discard. Place a clean sheet of parchment on top of cake and flip cake over so wire rack is now on top; remove wire rack.
• Dollop filling over surface of cake. Using spatula, smooth cream evenly over cake, working all the way to the edges. Starting from a short end and using parchment as a guide, roll up cake. Transfer cake, seam side down, to a platter and chill until filling is set, at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
• Using a serrated knife, trim ¼"-½" off both ends of cake to create clean edges; discard (or consider them a snack!). Using a small fine-mesh sieve, dust top of Swiss roll with powdered sugar. Slice with serrated knife to serve. Do ahead: Cake (without powdered sugar) can be assembled 2 days ahead. Tightly wrap and keep chilled. Dust with powdered sugar just before serving.

FAST N' EASY CHOCOLATE CAKE ROLL

Steps:

• In a medium bow, combine flour, cocoa powder, cornstarch, baking soad, baking powder and salt.
• Mix well; set aside.
• In a separate bowl, using and electric mixer set on MEDIUM beat egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar until fluffy.
• In a smaller bowl, using clean beaters, beat whites on high until foamy.
• Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar; beat til stiff but not dry.
• Fold 1/3 egg whites into egg yolk mixture.
• Alternately fold in remaining whites and flour mixture.
• Prepare a 15" x 10" jelly roll pan lined with wax paper and greased and floured beforehand.
• Poor batter in pan, smooth top.
• Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 15 minutes.
• Dust a clean tea cloth with remaining sugar.
• Turn cake out onto prepared cloth, remove wax paper and trim cake edges.
• Starting with a long side, tightly roll up cake with cloth.
• Transfer seamside down, to a wire rack to cool.
• Unroll cake; remove cloth.
• Spread cool whip and re-roll cake.
• Place seamside down on a plate and dust with confectionery sugar before serving.
• I add some chopped chocolate bits to the cool whip sometimes for a change.

COCOA CAKE ROLL

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 F. Line 15-1/2x10-1/2x1-inch jelly-roll pan with foil; generously grease foil.
• Beat egg yolks in large bowl on high speed of mixer 3 minutes. Gradually add 1/2 cup granulated sugar; continue beating 2 minutes. Stir together flour, cocoa, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, baking soda and salt; add alternately with water and vanilla to egg yolk mixture, beating on low speed just until smooth.
• Beat egg whites in small bowl until foamy. Add 1 tablespoon granulated sugar and beat until stiff peaks form; carefully fold into chocolate mixture. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan.
• Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until top springs back when touched lightly. Invert on towel sprinkled with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar; carefully remove foil. Immediately roll cake and towel together from narrow end; place on wire rack to cool. Prepare Peanut Butter Whipped Cream Filling. Unroll cake; spread with filling; reroll cake. Drizzle with Chocolate Glaze. Refrigerate 1 hour or longer before serving. Garnish with whipped cream. Refrigerate leftover cake. 8 to 10 servings.
• Peanut Butter Whipped Cream Filling: Place peanut butter chips, marshmallows and milk in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 1 minute; stir. Microwave at High 30 seconds or until mixture is smooth when stirred. Cool to room temperature. Beat whipping cream in another medium bowl until stiff; fold in peanut butter mixture and vanilla. About 2 cups filling.
• Chocolate Glaze: Melt butter in small saucepan over low heat; add cocoa and water, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Do Not Boil. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating with whisk until smooth and slightly thickened. About 2/3 cup glaze.