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    Home » All Recipes » Baked Goods

    Chocolate Roll Cake - Swiss Roll

    Published: Dec 16, 2019 · Modified: May 24, 2021 by Jamie · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links · 16 Comments

    931 shares
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    chocolate roll cake with cream filling and ganache

    A chocolate Swiss roll cake that's filled with either whipped cream or cream cheese filling & covered in dark chocolate ganache. A light & fluffy chocolate roll cake made with cocoa powder!

    chocolate roll cake, swiss roll cake filled with cream and covered in a chocolate ganache glaze

    This chocolate Swiss roll cake is one of my favorite cakes to have when I'm craving chocolate cake. It's made with a light and fluffy chocolate sponge cake flavored with dark cocoa powder and covered in a dark chocolate ganache.

    I adapted this recipe from my family's Asian roll cake recipe that’s used to make Korean and Japanese roll cakes. It has more volume than the typical roll cake as you can see from the height of the cake. Beating the egg yolks and egg whites separately allows the cake to have more volume in the final product.

    You can choose between two fillings: a rich and creamy cream cheese filling or a light and airy whipped cream filling. Both fillings are wonderful in this chocolate cake roll.

    chocolate roll cake on a wire rack with a chocolate ganache glaze pouring on top

    Whenever I glaze this chocolate roll cake, it reminds me of my childhood when I would snack on Swiss rolls from Hostess or Little Debbie. They were a favorite of mine growing up and this chocolate roll cake looks exactly like a giant Swiss roll cake from Hostess.

    A Note on Cocoa Powder

    This chocolate roll cake is made using cocoa powder. I used a dark cocoa powder to get a rich, dark chocolate color to the cake. Some brands label this as black cocoa powder. You can use regular cocoa powder if you'd like but the color will be a much lighter brown.

    giant swiss roll cake with a chocolate ganache glaze on a cooking rack

    How to Make Chocolate Roll Cake

    Start by lining your pan with parchment paper. It's important the parchment paper properly fits the pan because it helps the chocolate cake roll bake in an even layer which helps rolling it up later.

    • parchment paper fitted inside rectangular baking pan
    • parchment paper folded

    Next, beat the egg yolks and sugar into a pale yellow batter. Then beat the egg whites into a stiff peaks. The yolks and whites are beaten separately so the chocolate roll cake achieves more volume.

    • red KitchenAid stand mixer whisk
    • egg yolk with whisk in metal bowl
    • cake batter on whisk

    After combining the egg yolks with half of the egg white meringue, sift in the dry ingredients. Afterwards, add this batter to the remaining half of the egg whites.

    • batter for chocolate swiss roll cake
    • pouring chocolate cake batter into egg whites

    Gently fold the batter until it's combined and pour it into your baking pan and bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until the center of the sponge springs back.

    • batter for chocolate swiss roll cake being mixed in a bowl
    • batter for chocolate roll cake being poured into a jelly roll pan

    Rolling the Chocolate Swiss Roll Cake

    Once the chocolate cake is out of the oven, let it cool slightly until it can be handled. You still want the cake to be warm to the touch because it helps it roll up.

    How do you roll a Swiss roll cake?

    To roll a Swiss roll cake, first invert the warm cake onto a damp kitchen cloth and lift up the edge of the short side using the cloth. Carefully roll it up and don't press down too hard otherwise you'll end up with big cracks. You can use a rolling pin to roll back the cloth and hold the roll cake in place to keep it from unraveling. Meanwhile, prepare the filling while the chocolate roll cake cools completely.

    • baked chocolate sponge cake in a baking pan
    • rolling up chocolate swiss roll cake in a kitchen towel

    Filling the Chocolate Swiss Roll Cake:

    If you prefer a light and fluffy filling, use whipped cream to fill your cake. If you'd like something more rich and decadent, fill it with the cream cheese filling. Both filling recipes are provided below.

    It's important to allow the cake to cool completely before adding any filling. Don't rush this part as it can cause your filling to melt.

    chocolate roll cake filled with cream on a cooling wire rack

    The whipped cream filling will be easier to spread but you'll want to be more gentle rolling the cake back up as the whipped cream can get pushed out if you press too hard.

    The cream cheese filling will be harder to spread compared to the whipped cream but will hold its shape better. You can always thin out the cream cheese filling by adding a little bit of milk at a time.

    How to Glaze the Chocolate Roll Cake with Ganache

    The chocolate ganache glaze is what makes this look like a giant Swiss roll cake from Hostess or Little Debbie. It's an easy, two ingredient glaze that takes less than a minute to make.

    • chocolate pieces in heavy cream to make ganache
    • chocolate ganache glaze mixing in a bowl with a spatula
    • chocolate ganache glaze dripping off a spatula

    Simple add the dark chocolate and heavy cream to a microwave safe bowl and heat for 20 second intervals until you get a silky, smooth ganache glaze.

    chocolate swiss roll cake on a wire rack with a chocolate ganache glaze pouring on top

    Slowly drizzle the ganache glaze over the center of the chocolate roll cake. It should spread evenly and drip over the sides of the cake. Using an offset spatula, cover any areas that are missing and allow the ganache to set.

    chocolate roll cake with a ganache glaze poured on top

    How to Serve and Store the Cake

    To serve, I prefer to allow the ganache and filling to set in the fridge for about 1 hour so that it's easier to slice through. After slicing, allow the cake to come to room temperature before serving.

    You can store the cake in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.

    Can you freeze a Swiss roll cake?

    Yes you can freeze a Swiss roll cake for up to a month in the freezer. I recommend wrapping it in plastic wrap and storing it in an airtight container to prevent it from absorbing any odors and protecting it against freezer burn.

    chocolate swiss roll cake with a ganache glaze on a wire rack

    I hope you enjoy this chocolate Swiss roll cake recipe! Please share, rate, and comment below. I’d love to hear from you!

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    *This post may contain affiliate links which means any purchases made through my link pay out a small commission without any extra cost to you. All opinions are my own and I only recommend products that I know, personally use, and trust. For more information, please see my Privacy Policy.

    chocolate roll cake, swiss roll cake filled with cream and covered in a chocolate ganache glaze

    Chocolate Roll Cake - Swiss Roll Cake

    A chocolate swiss roll cake that's filled with either whipped cream or cream cheese filling & covered in dark chocolate ganache. A light & fluffy chocolate roll cake made with cocoa powder!
    5 from 111 votes
    Pin Share Print
    Prep Time 40 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 1 hr
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American, Japanese, Korean
    Servings 10

    Equipment

    • Rectangular Cake Pan

    ☑ Ingredients
     

    Dry Ingredients:

    • ¾ cup cake flour
    • ¼ cup dark cocoa powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ cup white sugar - for egg yolk mixture
    • ⅓ cup white sugar - for egg white meringue

    Wet Ingredients:

    • 2 teaspoons corn syrup
    • 6 large eggs - whites and yolks separated
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste - or vanilla extract
    • 2 Tablespoons water
    • ⅓ cup avocado oil

    Filling (Choose one of these fillings):

      Cream Cheese Filling:

      • 8 oz cream cheese - softened
      • 1½ cups powdered sugar
      • ½ cup butter
      • 1 Tablespoon milk
      • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

      Whipped Cream Filling:

      • 1¼ cup heavy whipping cream
      • ¼ cup granulated sugar
      • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

      Chocolate Ganache:

      • 4 oz bittersweet chocolate bar - I used 60% cacao
      • ½ cup plus 1.5 Tablespoons of heavy cream
      Prevent your screen from going dark

      Instructions
       

      • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

      Egg Yolk Mixture:

      • In a medium bowl, add together egg yolks, ½ cup of sugar, salt, corn syrup, vanilla, and water. Set this bowl inside a larger bowl filled with warm water and beat on high until pale yellow with ribbons form. Remove from the warm water bath and set aside.

      Egg White Meringue:

      • In a large bowl, add the egg whites and beat on high until soft peaks form. Start adding the ⅓ cup of sugar in three equal parts, beating each time to incorporate. Beat the egg whites on high until stiff peaks form.

      Roll Cake Batter:

      • Add ½ of the egg white meringue to the egg yolk mixture and gently fold it in until it's mostly mixed in. The batter should be light and airy. Next, sift the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder together and add this into the batter in three equal parts, gently folding after each time.
      • In a small bowl, microwave the oil until it's warm to the touch. Take out ¼ cup of the combined batter from the previous step and completely mix this into the warm oil. Fold this back into the combined batter. Next, add the entire batter to the remaining egg white meringue and fold it in gently.

      Baking & Filling the Roll Cake:

      • Pour the batter into a parchment lined pan. Bang the pan twice to remove large air bubbles and bake for 15 - 18 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean when it's done. If it's over baked, the cake will be difficult to roll and may crack.
      • Take out the cake, invert the pan onto a clean, slightly damp kitchen cloth, and remove the parchment paper from the bottom. Roll up the cake and hold it in place. You can also roll up the cake with the parchment paper used to bake the cake.
      • Once the cake is completely cooled, unroll it and fill it with whipped cream or the cream cheese filling and roll it back up. Next glaze the roll cake with the ganache and serve.

      Filling (Choose One):

      • Whipped Cream filling: Add the cream, sugar, and vanilla to a medium size bowl and beat on medium high speed until you get stiff peaks, about 2 minutes.
      • Cream Cheese filling: Beat the cream cheese and butter together in a medium bowl until it's well combined. Add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to the bowl and continue beating until it's smooth and creamy. Add more milk if it's too thick to spread.

      Glaze with Ganache:

      • Break up the chocolate bar into small pieces and add it into a microwave safe bowl along with the heavy cream. Microwave this in 20 second intervals until the chocolate starts to melt and the cream has warmed up. Stir this together until you get a smooth ganache.
      • Place a wire rack on top of a baking sheet and lay the roll cake on top of the wire rack. Slowly drizzle the ganache on top of the cake so that it's entirely covered. Allow the ganache to set and serve.

      Nutrition

      Calories: 474kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 180mg | Sodium: 216mg | Potassium: 156mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 1069IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 1mg
      Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was and give it a 5 star rating! Tag @drivemehungry to show off your creations! I love seeing your photos!

      *Nutritional information is an estimate, calculated using online tools.

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      931 shares

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. NK

        March 16, 2021 at 8:08 am

        5 stars
        Hi Jamie,

        Thank you for the lovely recipe. It looks delicious.☺️ I want to try this recipe, Swiss roll is my Husband's Favorite. But please could you mention the measurements in grams and ml also.

        Reply
      2. Jen

        October 27, 2020 at 3:50 pm

        5 stars
        My Mom requested this for her birthday. I must confess, I was a little worried it wouldn't turn out as beautiful as the photo, but you know what - it looked amazing! Thanks to all of your useful tips - I really felt like you set me up for success. We made the cream cheese filling which was incredible! I think I will be making this for many years to come. - Jen

        Reply
      3. Katrina Ledesma

        September 12, 2020 at 10:09 am

        Hello is avocado oil imperative in this recipe or may I substitute it ?

        Reply
        • Jamie

          November 20, 2020 at 3:52 am

          Hi Katrina, you can use any neutral vegetable oil. Hope you enjoy this!

          Reply
      4. Katie

        August 04, 2020 at 7:57 pm

        5 stars
        Huge chocolate fan, and this cake didn't disappoint. We did the whipped cream filling, but I can't wait to try the cream cheese one next time! My daughter has insisted I make that tomorrow!

        Reply
        • Jamie

          September 11, 2020 at 2:30 am

          Thanks Katie! So glad you and your daughter love this! 🙂

          Reply
      5. Khristi

        February 20, 2020 at 4:09 am

        Thank you so much for this recipe!! It looks absolutely decedent and delicious. I cannot wait to try it ‼️💖😁

        Reply
      6. Dali A

        December 22, 2019 at 9:14 am

        I cannot wait to make this cake roll! My absolute favorites are the ones sold in the Asian stores. What size cake pan do you use for your roll cakes? Thank you!

        Reply
        • Jamie

          January 01, 2020 at 9:23 pm

          Hi Dali! I use a 9 x 13 inch cake pan. I added a link to where I bought it under equipment. Hope you enjoy it! 🙂

          Reply
          • Dali A

            January 24, 2020 at 1:35 pm

            Thank you so much!!! I will let you know how it turns out when I make it 😀

            Reply
      7. Neha

        December 16, 2019 at 11:45 am

        5 stars
        Looks super decadent and tempting!!! I think I am gonna go with cream cheese frosting.

        Reply
      8. Erika

        December 16, 2019 at 9:40 am

        5 stars
        This is the most delicious cake roll! I love chocolate.

        Reply
      9. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

        December 16, 2019 at 9:25 am

        5 stars
        Oh this cake is so good! So chocolatey and delicious - I'm tempted to eat all of it!

        Reply
      10. Lisa Huff

        December 16, 2019 at 8:32 am

        5 stars
        OMG this Swiss Roll looks way better than anything store bought. That chocolate on top has me drooling. Pinning it now!

        Reply
      11. michele h peterson

        December 16, 2019 at 8:27 am

        5 stars
        I'm a big fan of swiss rolls however I've always been a bit daunted by the idea of rolling a cake -- but you make it sound and look so easy! I too am a chocolate lover so this recipe is a winner for me!

        Reply
      12. Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes

        December 16, 2019 at 8:15 am

        5 stars
        Sign me up for this delicious chocolate dessert! It looks so superb!

        Reply

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