This easy chocolate Swiss Roll cake has a light sponge, creamy filling, and coated with a silky ganache. It will be the star of the show while entertaining!
More decadent chocolate cakes we love include our chocolate mayonnaise cake, chocolate pound cake, and Texas sheet cake.
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Chocolate Swiss Roll Recipe
Only second to Twinkies, Little Debbie Swiss Rolls were an absolute childhood favorite. And the only thing better than a little Swiss Roll Cake is a giant Swiss Roll!
Scrumptious chocolate cake rolled around a cream filling, then covered in rich fudge, this dessert is always a crowd pleaser.
Recipe Notes
- Change up the filling. I went with a traditional cream cheese filling, but you could use vanilla buttercream, chocolate mousse, marshmallow fluff, or a simple whipped cream.
- Sprinkle in a touch of cinnamon or espresso to the cake batter for additional flavor.
- Add flavor to the filling with a touch of coffee, jam, peppermint extract, or your favorite liqueur.
- Vary the topping. Instead of the chocolate ganache, top the cake with cocoa powder, powdered sugar, or crushed peppermint candies for the holidays.
How to Make Swiss Roll
Making a chocolate swiss roll cake is not difficult at all, there are just a few critical steps that cannot be tampered with to ensure optimal results. Here’s a summary:
(Scroll down to the printable recipe card for measurements and details, and don’t miss the video below.)
First, you will need to make the chocolate cake batter (easy!); bake it, roll it in a clean tea towel, and set it aside to cool completely.
In the meantime, make your filling. Then unroll the cooled chocolate cake, spread the filling on top, re-roll, wrap in plastic wrap, and transfer to the refrigerator.
Make the ganache and pour it evenly over the top of the cake, let set, slice, and serve!
Tips for Success
- For optimal results, use a 15×10-inch Jelly Roll pan. Jelly Roll pans look similar to baking sheets, but have unique dimensions specific to making sponge and sheet cakes in order to stay together after filling and rolling. IF you don’t have one and don’t want to buy one, you might be able to get away with using a baking sheet, but don’t go bigger than a 15×12 or the batter will spread too thin.
- Line your jelly roll pan with parchment paper and leave an extra inch sticking up on all sides. This will allow you to grab the parchment and not the hot baked cake, making it easier to roll.
- Don’t over-bake the cake! This sponge is done at approximately 11 minutes, or until top of cake springs back when touched.
- Roll the cake immediately after it’s done baking (be careful, it’ll be hot!) The cake will be more pliable when it’s warm, and will lead to a crack-free cake.
- Let the rolled cake cool until it is completely room temperature (usually a few hours.) As it cools, it will be “trained” to hold its shape when you fill it and re-roll, and also ensures that your filling won’t melt and ooze out the sides.
- Wrap it and refrigerate. After you’ve filled it and re-rolled it, you can serve right away, but I recommend wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerating for at least an hour to allow the filling to firm up a bit so you get solid slices.
Video: Chocolate Swiss Roll Cake
Proper Storage
- To store. This assembled roll cake will last 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
- Freeze. You can make this roll cake recipe ahead and freeze it for up to 2 months. Prepare without the ganache, wrap in plastic wrap and again in tinfoil. When you’re ready, defrost in the refrigerator, then coat with the ganache before serving.
More Holiday Cake Recipes:
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Chocolate Swiss Roll Cake
This easy Chocolate Swiss Roll Cake has a light sponge, creamy filling, and coated with a silky ganache. It will be the star of the show while entertaining!
Servings: 8
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Filling
- 8 ounce brick cream cheese , room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter , softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Ganache
- 2/3 cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate morsels
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 4 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 3-4 tablespoons milk
For Dusting Tea Towel
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Instructions
- To Make The Chocolate Cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a 15x10x1-inch jelly roll pan with nonstick cooking spray. Then line it with parchment paper leaving an extra 1-inch overhang.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and granulated sugar until combined and thickened.
- Add in the melted butter and vanilla extract, and whisk until just combined.
- Fold in the flour mixture with a rubber spatula, and stir together until just combined.
- Spread the batter evenly into prepared pan. Bake for 11 minutes, or until top of cake springs back when touched.
- Lay a clean, unscented, lint-free tea towel on a flat surface. Sprinkle with the 2 tablespoons powdered sugar.
- Gently turn the cake out onto the towel and very carefully remove the parchment paper. While still hot, roll the cake up in the towel (yes, you want the towel to be rolled up inside), from short end to short end. Cool completely to room temperature on a wire rack, while rolled up, about 2 hours.
- While the cake is cooling, make the filling: With an electric mixer, beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla in a mixing bowl until smooth. (If the filling is too thin, add more powdered sugar. If it is too thick, add a half teaspoon or two of milk. You want a medium consistency so that the filling is easy to spread, but not too warm or thin that it will ooze out of the cake when you’re rolling it up.)
- Once the cake roll has reached room temperature, transfer it to a flat surface, and carefully unroll it until it is flat again (or mostly flat, it’s ok if the ends curl up a bit).
- Spread the filling mixture evenly over cake, leaving a 3/4-inch border on all sides. Then carefully re-roll the cake.
- Tightly wrap the chocolate roll in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour to help the filling firm up a bit.
- Make the chocolate ganache: Place the chocolate morsels and whipping cream in a medium-sized microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals until melted; whisk until combined. Then whisk in the powdered sugar until combined. Add milk one tablespoon at a time until pouring consistency is reached.
- Trim the ends of the cake for a clean look. Transfer to a cooling rack with a cookie sheet underneath (for a cleaner finish), and pour ganache evenly over the top. Let set.
- Transfer to a serving plate, slice, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
For tips on getting the perfect roll cake or recipe variations, please refer to the full article. And make sure to watch the video!
Nutrition
Calories: 478kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 165mg | Sodium: 324mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 860IU | Calcium: 125mg | Iron: 2mg
Easy and turned out great!
Im wondering if a 17x11x1 inch pan would work?
People loved it
Wanted to do something outside my comfort zone this year for Christmas and chose this swiss roll. It was easier than I expected (thanks to your detailed instructions, pics, and video – thank you!) and it tasted wonderful. I felt like a rockstar.
The recipe was easier than I thought it would be! Cake wasn’t overly sweet and the filling was so good. Beautiful holiday dessert.
It came out great ! What’s the best way to transport the cake without ruining the ganache?
Hi Amy can I freeze for make ahead recipe?
Hi Emelia! Yes, that information is included in the article. Enjoy!
Moist and delicious and just lovely!
This was a huge hit! Tasted wonderful and beautiful presentation. My roll was a little more narrow than the pictures but that’s okay, still had the perfect swirl when you sliced into it. I’m thinking of playing with the frosting flavors a bit – maybe peppermint? But it’s perfect as is. Thank you!
First time making a Swiss Roll….and it turned out perfectly.!! Delicious! I will be making this one again for sure!!
What’s the ganache recipe used in the video? It looks like that ones has butter, but the recipe didn’t mention that. I’m struggling with the ganache in the typed recipe.
Could I add a little red food coloring to make a pink filling for Valentine’s Day? Would it make a difference to the consistency?
Can’t see why not! Fun.
Turned out great! I used chocolate buttercream with little expresso instead of ganache. Plan to try some Kahlua in the cream cheese filling :)
Made for Thanksgiving and it was everyone’s favorite dessert – going to make it again for Christmas!
I made this yesterday and it turned out fantastic. I did change the amounts for the cake batter. I made the original recipe and thought it seemed to thin so I made a 1/2 batch of the batter and added it . Cake came out perfect .
i made it and loved it!!!!!thank you for the recipe
This was incredible tasting and beautiful – going to make it again for Christmas! Thank you so much for sharing.
This cake tasted delicious, but it was a little thin.
My family is all spread out and for various reasons needed to celebrate Christmas early. For an extra special dessert I made this swiss roll. It was AMAZING. Perfect amount for 6 people. Thank you!
Hello! Can I use cake flour instead of all purpose flour for this recipe?
Not ideal. Cake flour is a much finer milled flour and cocoa powder is also very fine, so the two together will probably result in a flimsy cake.
Hi! I made this a few months ago and was amazing! I want to make it again for Chistmas but by mistake I bought milk chocolate instead of Dark, do you think it will make a lot of difference?
Hi Andrea – it will make a difference in taste (obviously), but not in overall results, so still delicious!
Thank you! If it still tastes good, then no problem!!
OMG! You have to try this!
does this only take a 1/2 flour is that right
Yes, that is the correct amount. You can read my reply to Pat in the previous comments.
This was sooooo yummy and such a beautiful presentation! Putting it in my binder for a Christmas dessert!
This recipe looks really good, but why, for the ganache, are you using powdered sugar and milk in your recipe, but the video shows you using just butter?
Hi Krista! I see that! I make ganache two different ways, so I didn’t match them up. Whoops. The ganache as written will work great, or you can do what’s in the video which is 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1 cup chocolate chips, and 1 tablespoon softened butter.
This was OUTSTANDING. Followed recipe to a T and no issues. Everyone raved about it – will make again!
Only 1/2 cup of flour? That doesn’t seem like it would fill jelly roll pan.
That is the correct amount. Mixed with all the other ingredients, the volume will increase, of course. If it helps, you can watch the video. Thanks!
This was excellent! Thank you for the detailed instructions. If you follow them, you won’t have any problems. I’m making this again for Easter.
I work at a cafe where we only have large sheet pans – I believe they are approximately 18×26 inch sheet pans, so a full sheet pan. I’m wondering if I could make double the chocolate cake and filling recipe and have it work ok. This is something my customers would love!
Hi Christina! Hm. Without further recipe testing, I can’t say for sure. I think the baking time would need to be adjusted, but not sure how much… you’re doubling the ingredients, but the sheet pan is larger, so maybe not? And rolling it will be trickier because it will be longer. BUT I think you could make it work. You should try it and report back…I’m sure this would be a hit!
Hi
How would I change the recipe to be gluten free?
Thanks
Hi Susan – you might be able to replace the all-purpose flour with a very high quality gluten-free flour (like Bob’s Red Mill all-purpose gluten-free flour) and adding 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum. BUT I am not a gluten-free baker and cannot vouch for the results without further recipe testing.
Did anyone adapt this to be gluten free.? If so, what were the results.