A Swiss roll (also called a jelly roll) is a light sponge cake rolled with cream, jam, or chocolate filling. It looks fancy, but it’s very doable at home once you get the rolling technique right.
🍰 Ingredients
For the sponge:
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
For the filling:
- ¾ cup whipped cream or jam (strawberry or apricot works great)
👩🍳 Instructions
- Prep
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F)
- Line a rectangular tray (about 9×13 inch) with baking paper
- Make the batter
- Beat eggs + sugar until pale, thick, and fluffy
- Add vanilla
- Gently fold in flour, baking powder, and salt (don’t deflate the mixture)
- Bake
- Pour into tray and spread evenly
- Bake for 10–12 minutes until lightly golden
- Roll while warm (key step!)
- Place cake onto a clean towel dusted with sugar
- Roll it up gently with the towel and let it cool in that shape
- Fill & roll again
- Unroll, spread whipped cream or jam
- Roll back up (without towel this time)
- Chill & serve
- Chill for 30 minutes, then slice
🍫 Variations
- Chocolate version: add 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- Coffee roll: brush with light coffee syrup before filling
- Fruit cream roll: add berries to whipped cream
⚠️ Tips (these matter!)
- Don’t overbake—it’ll crack
- Roll while warm to prevent breaking
- Use a serrated knife for clean slices
If you want, I can show you a chocolate Swiss roll recipe like a bakery-style one, or a super easy 3-ingredient version.