Chocolate Swiss Roll

Table of Contents

1. Chocolate Swiss Roll Ingredients
2. Substitutions and Additions
3. How to Make Chocolate Swiss Roll
4. How to Serve Chocolate Swiss Roll
5. Storage
6. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
7. MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
8. JUMP TO RECIPE

Chocolate Swiss Roll cake is an impressive dessert recipe that features a sponge chocolate cake stuffed with a creamy filling and topped with a rich ganache. Reminiscent of the classic childhood favorite, just one bite will bring back plenty of warm memories. 

There are so many roll cake possibilities! Try making Rainbow Roll Cake, Strawberry Cake Roll, and Hot Chocolate Roll Cake. 

Chocolate Swiss Roll Ingredients

You will need:

Ermine Filling

• 2½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup whole milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup unsalted butter softened

Chocolate Cake

• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 4 large eggs
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• powdered sugar for dusting

Chocolate Ganache

• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup heavy cream

Substitutions and Additions

FILLING: For this simple recipe, you could change up the filling and use vanilla buttercream, chocolate mousse, simple whipped cream, or marshmallow fluff. 

EXTRAS: Take your filling to the next level with a touch of coffee, jam, peppermint extract, or your favorite liqueur mixed in.

TOPPING: Instead of or, in addition to, the chocolate ganache, top your decadent cake with cocoa powder, powdered sugar, fresh fruit, or crushed peppermint candies for the holidays.

How to Make Chocolate Swiss Roll

Ermine Filling

STEP ONE: Using a small (2 to 3 quart) heavy-bottomed saucepan on medium heat, whisk together the flour, milk, sugar, and vanilla. Bring to a low boil, whisking continuously to avoid the milk scorching, until the mixture looks and feels like a thick pudding. This should take 3 to 4 minutes.

STEP TWO: Remove the saucepan from the heat, and pour it into a small heat-safe bowl.

STEP THREE: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Be sure to allow the plastic wrap to drape onto the surface of the flour-milk mixture. This will keep a skin from forming.

STEP FOUR: Place in the refrigerator until the mixture is completely cooled.

STEP FIVE: Once the mixture is completely cooled, remove it from the refrigerator and set it aside.

STEP SIX: Using either a stand mixer, or a medium-sized mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on medium-high, beat the softened butter for 1 minute.

STEP SEVEN: Reduce the mixer speed to medium. Begin adding the flour-milk mixture 1 tablespoon at a time.

STEP EIGHT: Once all of the mixture has been added, increase the mixer speed to medium-high, and continue mixing for another 1½ to 2 minutes until the filling is light and fluffy. Set it aside. 

PRO TIP: You can leave the filling at room temperature, as long as the room temperature is not too hot. It is a very stable filling and can be left out for up to 6 hours.

Chocolate Cake

STEP NINE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 15x10x1 jelly roll pan with parchment paper and spray with nonstick spray. Set it aside.

STEP TEN: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set it aside.

STEP ELEVEN: Using either a stand mixer or a medium-sized mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on high, beat together the eggs, sugar, vegetable oil, and vanilla for 4 to 5 minutes until the mixture is a frothy pale yellow.

STEP TWELVE: Fold in the flour mixture.

STEP THIRTEEN: Evenly pour the cake batter into the prepared pan. Use a silicone spatula or an offset spatula to spread the cake batter. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

STEP FOURTEEN: Remove the cake from the oven, and using a sharp knife, carefully run the tip along the edges of the pan that were not covered by the parchment paper.

STEP FIFTEEN: Heavily dust the top of the tea towel with the powdered sugar.

STEP SIXTEEN: Immediately place the dusted tea towel powdered side down on top of the cake.

STEP SEVENTEEN: Lay the cutting board on top of the tea towel. The cake pan will be hot, so you will need to be careful to protect your hands. Quickly flip the cake pan over so that the cake is lying on top of the dusted towel.

STEP EIGHTEEN: Carefully and slowly peel the parchment away from the cake.

STEP NINETEEN: Heavily dust the top of the cake with the remaining powdered sugar.

PRO TIP: Be sure not to use any fabric softener when you wash the tea towel. It will transfer to the warm cake and make the flavor “off”. Also, make sure not to use a terry cloth tea towel. The terry cloth will leave lint that will transfer to the surface of the cake.

STEP TWENTY: Flip one end of the tea towel over one of the short ends of the cake. Carefully begin to roll one end towards the other. Once rolled, set aside to completely cool.

PRO TIP: Be very patient and slow when rolling the cake and unrolling. Rushing can cause cracks.

Cake Assembly

STEP TWENTY-ONE: Once the cake is completely cooled, carefully and slowly unroll the cake. If there are a few small cracks, it will be ok.

STEP TWENTY-TWO: Using a silicone spatula, or an offset spatula, spread the filling over the top of the cake, avoiding the edges.

STEP TWENTY-THREE: Slowly, with gentle even pressure, carefully roll the cake bake in a “roll”. Tightly wrap the cake in plastic wrap to ensure it holds its shape. Allow the cake to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to overnight.

PRO TIP: When the chocolate cake roll has been in the refrigerator for 2 hours, you can place the cake roll in the freezer for 30 minutes before you top the cake roll to serve.

Chocolate Ganache

STEP TWENTY-FOUR: Using a small heat-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and the heavy cream.

STEP TWENTY-FIVE: Heat the chips in the microwave for 45-second intervals, stirring after each interval until the mixture is smooth.

STEP TWENTY-SIX: Remove the cake roll from the refrigerator, and unwrap the cake.

STEP TWENTY-SEVEN: Place a cooling rack on top of a cookie sheet. Place the chilled cake roll on top of the cooling wrap. This step helps keep the dripping chocolate contained.

STEP TWENTY-EIGHT: Spoon the ganache over the top of the cake roll. Keep the cake roll refrigerated until serving. Slice the cake roll into ½ inch slices.

PRO TIP: You’ll want to be sure to clean off your knife after each slice to keep those gorgeous layers intact.

How to Serve Chocolate Swiss Roll

Enjoy this amazing chocolate swiss roll for a special dessert or as a fun dessert for any night of the week. This yummy Swiss roll cake would be a fun alternative to a traditional birthday cake or for a fabulous way to celebrate any occasion. Add whipped cream and a scoop of our no-churn vanilla ice cream on the side for an extra special and indulgent treat. Serve it along with a warm drink such as our delicious homemade hot chocolate or a pumpkin spice latte.

Storage

IN THE FRIDGE: Keep any leftovers of this cake roll covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. 

IN THE FREEZER: You can freeze the chocolate roll cake before topping it with the ganache for 3 months. Wrap the cake roll in plastic, then wrap it tightly in aluminum foil. Allow the cake to thaw, then drizzle with the ganache.

Chocolate Swiss roll is a perfectly moist chocolatey sponge cake rolled around a sweetened whipped cream filling and drizzled with a chocolate ganache glaze. This sweet, old-fashioned treat tastes just like grandma’s chocolate Swiss roll recipe.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the best pan to use for a roll cake? 

It’s important to use a 15 × 10-inch jelly roll pan for this cake as you want it to be nice and thin.

Why did my chocolate swiss roll crack? 

Your cake needs to be rolled into the towel as soon as it comes out of the oven. When the cake is rolled while warm, the heat and moisture will help give you a crack-free cake. The cake is much more likely to crack if it is rolled when cooled.

What is the difference between a Swiss roll and a cake roll? 

There really isn’t a difference between Swiss rolls and cake rolls, although the term Swiss roll is more frequently used in the UK, while cake roll is used in the US.

Is the Swiss roll the same as Yule log? 

Swiss rolls and Yule logs are very similar, with the main difference being how the cakes are decorated. The Yule log cake, or Buche de Noel, is made to look like the logs burned on Christmas eve, whereas the exterior of a swiss roll is decorated much more simply, such as with whipped cream and fresh fruit.

What is an English Swiss Roll? 

An English Swiss roll is a cylindrical cake made from a thin flat sponge cake, covered with jam or cream on one side, then rolled up.

Do you roll Swiss rolls hot or cold? 

It is important to roll the cake while it is still warm, otherwise, it won’t hold its shape.

Why does my Swiss roll taste rubbery? 

The cake can become rubbery if the batter has been over-mixed. Over-mixing the batter increases the development of gluten which in turn increases the cake’s gumminess. Over-mixing will also result in deflating the air bubbles in the batter, producing a dense cake.

Can I use my normal baking tray for the Swiss roll? 

In the US, if you can’t find a jelly roll pan, then a 9 x13 inch quarter sheet pan makes a good alternative. The key is to ensure the dimensions are as close to a jelly roll pan as possible and that there are sides on the pan to contain the cake batter.

What is Ermine Filling? 

Ermine filling is made by cooking flour and sugar with milk to make a sweet paste. This paste is then whipped into softened butter until light and fluffy. The vanilla is added for flavoring.

What is ganache? 

Chocolate ganache is a 1-to-1 mixture of chocolate and warm cream. It is stirred until smooth, silky, and shiny and used to top desserts.

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