Chocolate Cake Roll is the perfect dessert when you want your friends to think you made some complicated dessert.  It’s really not complicated at all and it’s totally delicious!  Make this scrumptious dessert for the chocolate lovers in your life!

Chocolate Cake Roll.

I’ve never met anyone who didn’t like a delicious cake roll.  They are so complicated looking, yet so easy to make, and they can be made in so many flavors. 

Back in November, I posted my Pumpkin Roll recipe, a big hit for Thanksgiving, and a few weeks ago I posted my Lemon Cake Roll, a huge hit and one of my favorites.  There are just SO many options with both the cake and the filling. 

Most of my friends are huge chocoholics, so I decided it was time to post a Chocolate Cake Roll, and I’m going all the way with it.  No powdered sugar dusting on top…just pure rich chocolate ganache!

Chocolate Cake Roll.

Some people might call this delicious dessert Chocolate Swiss Roll but it’s not.  The filling is different but can be adapted to be a CSR.  The filling in this incredibly scrumptious cake roll is made with pure whipping cream and cream cheese.  Chocolate Swiss Roll has a marshmallow filling.  Now that we’ve cleared up the difference, let’s move on to making this delicious cake roll.

BAKING THE CAKE ROLL

  • Make sure to use the right size pan.  If your pan is too small, the cake will be too thick to roll.  If your pan is too big, the cake will be too thin.  You should use a 10 x 15 x 1-inch jelly roll pan to bake the cake.
  • Line the pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang of at least 1-inch on each long side of the pan.
  • Don’t overbake the cake.  If you overbake the cake, it will be more prone to crack as you roll it.  This cake takes between 10 to 12 minutes to bake.  As soon as you can touch the cake, and see it spring back, or a toothpick check comes out clean, the cake is done.

ROLLING THE CAKE

  • Allow the cake to cool for just 1 minute.  Run a sharp knife along the edges of the short ends of the pan.  While the cake is still hot, grab the overhand of paper and carefully lift the cake from the pan and transfer it to a heatproof surface.  Starting with a short end, roll the cake up into a jelly roll, paper and all rolling it as tight as you can.  It’s important to roll the cake while it is hot, to form it.  If you try to roll a cold cake roll it will crack and break apart.
  • Allow the rolled cake to cool completely to room temperature.  I refrigerate it for about 15 minutes.  Once the cake roll is cooled, slowly unroll it.  The ends will curl up but that’s okay.  Spread the filling over the cake, stopping 1/2-inch from the edges and slowly roll the cake back up, leaving the parchment paper behind as you go.  Wrap the roll in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour before pouring the ganache over the top.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

  • Don’t make the chocolate ganache until the cake roll is filled and allowed to chill for at least 1/2 hour.
  • Break the chocolate into small pieces for easier melting.
  • Heat the cream in the microwave until small bubbles form around the edges, but not on top.  It shouldn’t come to a boil…just a simmer.
  • Add the chocolate to the hot cream and allow it to sit for 1 minute before stirring it.  Then slowly mix the chocolate into the cream with a spatula until it totally melts.
  • The corn syrup is used to give the chocolate a shiny glossy appearance.  You can omit it if you don’t want to use it.

The filling is SO simple that I didn’t take pictures.  It’s a simple combination of cream cheese and whipping cream, and It’s delicious!!

Chocolate Cake Roll.

Want more chocolate? Check out these other chocolate recipes…

Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

Dark Chocolate Cookie Dough Cupcakes with Whipped Chocolate Ganache Frosting

If you make this recipe please rate it, and leave a comment below on how you liked it. I love hearing from you!

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Chocolate Cake Roll

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  • Author: Cindy Gibbs
  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 8 slices 1x
  • Category: Cake
  • Method: bake
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Chocolate Cake Roll is the perfect dessert when you want your friends to think you made some complicated dessert.  It’s really not complicated at all and it’s totally delicious!  Make this scrumptious dessert for the chocolate lovers in your life!


Ingredients

Units Scale

CAKE ROLL

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup Dutch-process cocoa such as Hershey’s dark or Ghirardelli
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (1/2 stick)
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

FILLING

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 package cream cheese, 8 ounces, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon light corn syrup (optional for shine)
  • 1 bar good quality chocolate, 4 ounce, such as Ghirardelli


Instructions

CAKE ROLL

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly butter a 10 x 15-inch jelly roll pan.  Line the pan with parchment paper, allowing the parchment paper to hang at least 1 to 2 inches over the long sides of the pan.  This is to allow you to lift the cake out of the pan once it’s baked.  Lightly butter the parchment paper and inside the edges of the pan.  Set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk or sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder.  Set aside.
  3. Add the sugar and butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Mix on medium speed for 30 seconds, then on high for an additional 30 seconds until well combined.  Add the eggs and vanilla and mix for about 30 seconds until well combined.  Add the dry ingredients and mix on medium-low speed until the dry ingredients are somewhat incorporated.  Turn to medium speed and mix until the dry ingredients are thoroughly incorporated, about 30 more seconds, but do not over-mix.
  4. Using an offset spatula, spread the batter in the prepared jelly roll pan, making sure you spread it into the corners.  Gently shake the pan back and forth on a flat surface to level out the batter.  Bake until the cake springs back when touched, 10 to 12 minutes.  Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for 1 minute.  Run a sharp knife along the edges of the short ends of the pan.  Grabbing the over hang of the parchment paper, gently lift the cake out of the pan and place on a flat heatproof surface.  It’s easier to have a second person help you do this.  Starting at a short end, roll the cake up, with the paper, rolling it as tightly as you can.  It’s important to roll the cake while it’s still very warm, so that it doesn’t crack later when you re-roll it with the filling.  Place the cake roll seam side down in the refrigerator to completely cool.

FILLING

Make the filling while the cake is cooling.

  1. Add the whipping cream to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or use a hand mixer.  Whisk the cream on low speed for a few seconds until it thickens enough to not splatter.  Turn mixer to high and whisk until the cream forms stiff peaks, about 1 minute.  Transfer the whipping cream to a medium bowl and refrigerate while whisking the cream cheese.
  2. To the same mixing bowl, (no need to wash bowl), add the cream cheese and whisk on high speed until the cream cheese is smooth, creamy and free of any lumps.  Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and mix to combine.  Remove the bowl from the stand mixer.  Using a spatula, fold in the whipped cream, just until it’s incorporated.
  3. Gently unroll the cooled cake roll.  The ends will not lay totally flat but that’s okay.  Using an offset spatula, spread the filling over the cake, stopping 1/2 inch from the edges.  Slowly roll the cake and filling up into a roll, leaving the parchment paper behind as you go.  Some of the filling will ooze out of the ends.  Just remove it.  Wrap the roll tightly in plastic wrap, keeping it as rounded as possible.  Refrigerate the roll for at least 1 hour before covering with chocolate ganache.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

  1. Chop the chocolate into pieces and set aside.
  2. Add the cream and corn syrup (if using) to a microwave safe bowl or measuring cup and microwave for approximately 90 seconds or until you see bubbles forming around the edges.  It should not be bubbling on top.  Don’t overheat.
  3. Add the chocolate to the hot whipping cream, using a spoon to cover all of the chocolate with the hot cream.  Allow the mixture to sit for 1 minute.  Using a spatula, slowly mix the chocolate into the hot cream until it has completely melted.
  4. Remove the plastic wrap from the cooled cake and place the cake on a wire rack over a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Pour the chocolate ganache evenly over the cake, spreading it to the edges as needed to ensure that it runs down the sides of the cake.  Refrigerate the cake roll for at least 1/2 hour to allow the ganache to set up.
  5. Using a large sharp knife, slice the cake into 1-inch slices, wiping the knife clean between each slice.  Cut straight down each time with the knife.  Do not use a sawing motion.
  6. Cover and refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.

Notes

  • The filling is more than enough for the cake roll.  You can use about 2/3 of the filling if you don’t want it oozing out the ends.  I promise you won’t have a problem eating the extra.