Chocolate Cake Roll Recipe (2024)

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    Soft and spongy Chocolate Cake Roll Recipe, filled with creamy peanut butter, and topped with a chocolate glaze and homemade peanut butter cups.

    Chocolate Cake Roll Recipe (1)

    Chocolate Cake Roll Recipe

    Have you ever made a Roulade? A roll cake? Are you too scared to attempt it?Well, you shouldn’t be. This chocolate cake is easy to bake and it was delicious, however, construction will take a little extra effort. Don’t be too overwhelmed with the recipe or the steps involved.Just be sure to have the proper tools, take your time, and don’t rush it.

    Chocolate Cake Roll Recipe (2)

    If it cracks, it cracks. Just roll it up and cover it in chocolate. (In fact, you can see a crack in my cake by the large crevice along the side there.)

    It was very helpful to have two KitchenAid stand mixers for this recipe, however, I know that most people don’t even have one. If you are using a hand beater, some of the beating times will be longer. Make sure that your bowls and blades are clean of any oil residue when whipping the egg whites. Trust me, you don’t want to toss out 9 egg whites that failed to fluff up.

    Chocolate Cake Roll Recipe (3)

    Here’s a few tips for making this chocolate cake roll recipe –

    1. Dust your pan with some cocoa powder along with the flour. It’ll help to keep the chocolate cake more chocolate looking.

    2. Have someone help you move the Roulade from the plate to the cooling rack and back to the serving dish. You don’t want any fingerprints in the beautiful chocolate glaze. I used two large metal spatulas to lift it.

    3. If the cake cracks, do your best to put it back together with the filling and then roll it without stretching it. Once it’s covered and sliced, nobody will see it or care.

    4. Take your time and be sure to have the best tools for the job. A proper jelly roll pan, parchment paper, clean bowls, two spatulas, and a cooling rack with a cookie sheet under it.

    5. For pretty cuts, clean your knife after each slice. It’s well worth the extra few seconds to serve up a perfect swirled dessert.

    Chocolate Cake Roll Recipe (4)

    The cake is a bit of a challenge. I won’t lie to you, but if you are comfortable with whipping egg whites and folding batter, you’ll do just fine.

    While this third day technically runs into a fourth day, it was well worth the effort when it came time to eat it! Everyone loved it! The cake balanced out the peanut butter filling. Nothing was too sweet or overpowering. It all came together very nicely.

    Enjoy!

    Chocolate Cake Roll Recipe (5)

    This recipe is part three of a three part series including Homemade Peanut Butter and Homemade Peanut Butter Cups.

    For more Roll Cake Recipes

    Mint Chip Ice Cream Roll Cake

    Marshmallow Roulade

    Chocolate Cake Roll Recipe (8)

    Yield: 16

    Chocolate Cake Roll Recipe with Peanut Butter

    Chocolate Cake Roll Recipe (9)

    Soft and spongy Chocolate Cake Roll Recipe, filled with creamy peanut butter, and topped with a chocolate glaze and homemade peanut butter cups.

    Prep Time25 minutes

    Cook Time25 minutes

    Additional Time10 minutes

    Total Time1 hour

    Ingredients

    For the Cake

    • 3 oz. Bittersweet Chocolate
    • 2 tablespoons warm water
    • 9 eggs, separated
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 6 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa powder
    • 1/8 teaspoon salt

    For the Peanut Butter Filling

    • 1 cup Homemade Peanut Butter
    • 3/4 cup heavy cream
    • 2/3 cup powdered sugar
    • 1 stick of butter (1/2 cup), room temperature
    • 3/4 cup powdered sugar

    For the Chocolate Glaze

    • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
    • 3/4 cup sugar
    • 1/2 cup + 1 1/2 tablespoon water
    • 1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin

    For the topping

    • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
    • Peanut Butter Cups

    Instructions

    For the cake

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    2. Melt chocolate with 2 tablespoons water in a double boiler. Let cool to room temperature.
    3. Grease the bottom of a 18 x 13 jelly roll pan with softened butter, line with parchment paper, and then butter and flour the paper.
    4. In a mixer, whip the 9 egg yolks at medium speed and the color turns light yellow. Add ½ cup sugar and whip until thick and pale; approximately 2 minutes.
    5. Reduce speed to low and add in the melted chocolate then the cocoa powder and salt until just combined.
    6. In another bowl, whip the 9 egg whites. As they become frothy, increase speed to of mixer and slowly add in ½ cup sugar and whip until soft peaks form.
    7. Slowly fold in half the egg whites into the chocolate mixture. Add the remaining egg whites and fold until no more streaks are present. Be careful not to overmix.
    8. Pour batter into prepared pan and spread it evenly. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes; the top of the cake should spring back when touched.
    9. Prepare a dish towel on the counter with a dusting of cocoa powder. The cocoa powder will prevent the cake from sticking to the towel.
    10. When the cake is done, immediately flip it over on to the dish towel and remove the parchment paper. Roll the towel and the cake together and leave it to cool.

    For the peanut butter filling

    1. Whip cream and ⅔ cup powdered sugar until stiff. In a separate bowl beat butter, peanut butter and sugar. Fold whipped cream into peanut butter mixture.

    To assemble the cake

    1. Once is cake cooled, open it up and spread the peanut butter mixture inside. Don't go all the way to the edges. Carefully re-roll, without the towel, and place in the fridge covered overnight.
    2. In a saucepan, combine the cream, sugar, ½ cup water, and cocoa. Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer and whisk constantly. Simmer for 10 minutes, the sauce should be thick and similar to hot fudge sauce. Do not let it boil over. Remove from heat.
    3. In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over 1½ tablespoons of water and wait 5 minutes. Then melt in for 8 seconds in the microwave. All the gelatin should be dissolved and no lumps remain.
    4. Whisk the gelatin into the chocolate and strain through a medium sieve. Let the chocolate glaze cool for 10 minutes.
    5. Remove the Roulade from the fridge and place it on a cooling rack with a cookie sheet underneath it. Pour the glaze over the cake, coating it completely. Pour slowly and evenly to reduce the amount of glaze loss. Return to the fridge for at least 30 minutes, but no longer than 4 hours.
    6. Trim one inch from each end and carefully remove the roulade with two spatulas and place it on a serving dish.
    7. Whip cream and add to the top of the roulade withpeanut butter cupsas decoration.

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    Chocolate Cake Roll Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    Why does my chocolate cake roll crack? ›

    Overbaking will make your cake dry and prone to cracking. However, under-baking your cake will also cause it to collapse as the cake will be wet and won't hold its shape properly.

    How to make roll cake without cracking? ›

    Starting with a short side of the cake, roll up the towel and the warm cake together into a spiral. Yes, the towel will be inside your baked cake roll. This step helps to form the cake roll shape later without any cracking. Roll to the end of the towel.

    Why is my Swiss roll rubbery? ›

    If the eggs are not whipped to full volume the sponge may not rise sufficiently. This can cause a slightly rubbery texture. Under cooking can also contribute to a rubbery sponge. To check if the sponge is baked, press lightly into the top of the sponge.

    What filling is best with chocolate cake? ›

    But of course, you can combine one item with the other to create amazing flavor and texture combinations.
    1. Mascarpone cream. Mascarpones make a really great addition to your chocolate cake. ...
    2. Raspberry. ...
    3. Lemon. ...
    4. Vanilla buttercream. ...
    5. Chocolate ganache.
    Sep 19, 2022

    Why did my cake roll fall apart? ›

    The main culprits of cakes that crack are: problems with the recipe, overhandling or incorrect rolling techniques.

    How do I stop my cake from cracking and doming? ›

    The oven temperature is too high. If the top crust forms and sets before the cake has finished rising, the middle will try to push through the crust as it continues to bake, causing it to crack and possibly dome. Check your oven with an oven thermometer and reduce the temperature accordingly if it is running hot.

    How do you keep a cake roll from breaking? ›

    Roll While Warm: After baking, roll the cake while it's still warm. Gently lift the parchment paper with the cake and roll it into a log shape. Rolling while warm helps the cake remember its shape and prevents cracks. Let It Cool: Allow the cake to cool in its rolled-up shape.

    Why is my roll cake sticky? ›

    Sticky cake and cupcake tops are from a reaction with sugar and water. Sugars are hygroscopic, meaning they attract water. Within baked goods, sugars help maintain a moist and tender crumb. Sugar on the exposed tops, however, will grab water from humid air, creating a wet or sticky top.

    Do you roll a Swiss roll straight from the oven? ›

    ROLLING A SWISS ROLL

    Always roll it up straight from the oven while it's still pliable.

    Should I roll my Swiss roll hot or cold? ›

    Starting at the shorter edge of the cake, roll the cake and greaseproof paper up together, making sure that it is especially tight at the beginning. It's important that the cake is warm so it can set in the right shape. If it's too cold, it won't roll properly. Once rolled, leave it to cool completely.

    What to do with failed Swiss roll? ›

    Cracks upon rolling:

    Simply slice your cake into small squares and pipe buttercream or whatever filling you had planned on top of one square then sit another piece of cake on top and pipe some more buttercream – lots of buttercream. Happy days.

    How to enhance chocolate flavor in cake? ›

    There's a simple trick to making chocolate desserts taste even better. Sure, cocoa powder and chopped chocolate give anything a rich, chocolate flavor. But if you want that flavor to be more complex and intense, add a little coffee to the recipe.

    What is full chocolate cake called? ›

    Chocolate cake or chocolate gâteau (from French: gâteau au chocolat) is a cake flavored with melted chocolate, cocoa powder, or both. It can also have other ingredients such as fudge, vanilla creme, and other sweeteners. Chocolate cake. Four-layer fudge cake with chocolate icing.

    What drink pairs with chocolate cake? ›

    Chocolate cake

    If you're wondering what kind of drink to pair with this indulgent dessert, then wine is a great option. Any dessert wine, such as Madeira, Port, Muscat or Riesling, will bring a good balance of sweetness and acidity.

    Why does my chocolate cake crack? ›

    Q: Why do cakes crack when baking? A: Oven too hot or cake placed too high in oven; the crust is formed too soon, the cake continues to rise, therefore the crust cracks.

    Why does my chocolate roulade crack? ›

    If your roulade cracks when you roll it, there are a few possible culprits: it's overbaked, it's underbaked, or it's not warm enough.

    How do you keep cake balls from cracking? ›

    You can use a thermometer to monitor the temperatures, but an easier trick is to let the cake pops come to room temperature before covering them in candy or chocolate. After the cake is rolled into a ball, it needs time to harden in either the fridge or freezer.

    Why is the chocolate on my cake pops cracking? ›

    Generally, it's a temperature issue - the cake balls are too cold and the melted candy is too hot.

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