Chocolate Swiss Roll

Our delicious chocolate swiss roll is a sweet, old-fashioned treat featuring a sponge chocolate cake stuffed with creamy filling and topped with rich ganache.

Jump to Recipe

Table of Contents

Swiss Roll Cake Ingredients
Swiss Roll Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Chocolate Roll Cake Recipe
Serving Chocolate Roll Cake
Swiss Roll Cake Storage
Swiss Roll Recipe FAQs
More Recipes You’ll Love
JUMP TO RECIPE

Our chocolate Swiss roll is a perfectly moist chocolatey sponge cake rolled around a sweetened whipped cream filling and drizzled with chocolate ganache glaze, making this treat anything but ordinary. The possibilities are endless as to what you can add to this simple fluffy cake.

Swiss Roll Cake Ingredients

Chocolate Swiss Roll raw ingredients that are labeled

The moist and fluffy sponge cake is infused with just the right amount of chocolate, while the creamy filling adds an extra layer of sweetness that’s simply decadent.

You’ll need:

For The Ermine Filling:

2½ tablespoons of all-purpose flour
½ cup of granulated sugar
½ cup of whole milk
½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
½ cup of unsalted butter, softened

For The Chocolate Cake:

½ cup of all-purpose flour
¼ cup of cocoa powder
1 teaspoon of baking powder
¼ teaspoon of salt
4 large eggs
½ cup of granulated sugar
3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
1½ teaspoons of vanilla extract
powdered sugar for dusting
A linen tea towel that is 2 inches longer at the top and bottom of the cake pan
A large cutting board for the cake transfer

For The Chocolate Ganache:

1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup of heavy cream

Swiss Roll Substitutions And Additions

FILLING: For this simple recipe, you could change up the filling and use vanilla buttercream, chocolate mousse, simple whipped cream, or marshmallow fluff.

EXTRAS: Take your filling to the next level with a touch of coffee, jam, peppermint extract, or your favorite liqueur mixed in.

TOPPING: Instead of or, in addition to, the chocolate ganache, top your decadent cake with cocoa powder, powdered sugar, fresh fruit, or crushed peppermint candies for the holidays.

How To Make This Chocolate Roll Cake Recipe

The first step in this recipe is to make the creamy filling so that it has time to cool by the time the cake is ready. Our steps below will walk you through baking and rolling this classic dessert.

For The Ermine Filling

STEP ONE: Using a small (2 to 3-quart) heavy-bottomed saucepan on medium heat, whisk together the flour, milk, sugar, and vanilla.

Bring to a low boil, whisking continuously to avoid the milk scorching until the mixture looks and feels like a thick pudding. This should take 3 to 4 minutes.

flour, milk, sugar, and vanilla whisked into a pot

STEP TWO: Remove the saucepan from the heat, and pour it into a small heat-safe bowl.

STEP THREE: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Be sure to allow the plastic wrap to drape onto the surface of the flour-milk mixture. This will keep a skin from forming.

STEP FOUR: Place in the refrigerator until the flour and milk mixture is completely cooled.

STEP FIVE: Once the mixture is completely cooled, remove it from the refrigerator and set it aside.

STEP SIX: Using either a stand mixer or a medium-sized mixing bowl and an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the softened butter for 1 minute.

STEP SEVEN: Reduce the mixer to medium speed. Begin adding the flour and milk mixture 1 tablespoon at a time.

whisked the flour-milk mixture into the butter in a bowl

STEP EIGHT: Once all of the flour and milk mixture has been added, increase the mixer speed to medium-high, and continue mixing for another 1½ to 2 minutes until the filling is light and fluffy. Set it aside.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

You can leave the filling at room temperature, as long as the room temperature is not too hot. It is a very stable filling and can be left out for up to 6 hours.

For The Chocolate Cake

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 15x10x1 jelly roll pan with a piece of parchment paper and spray with nonstick spray. Set it aside.

STEP TWO: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set dry ingredients aside.

flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt whisked in a bowl

STEP THREE: In the bowl of a stand mixer or a medium-sized mixing bowl and a hand mixer on high speed, beat together the eggs, sugar, vegetable oil, and vanilla for 4 to 5 minutes until the mixture is a frothy pale yellow.

eggs, sugar, vegetable oil and vanilla whisked in a bowl

STEP FOUR: Fold the flour mixture into the egg mixture. Mix until completely combined.

flour mixture combined with the egg mixture in a bowl

STEP FIVE: Evenly pour batter into the prepared pan. Use a silicone spatula or an offset spatula to spread the chocolate cake batter. Bake cake for 10 to 12 minutes.

STEP SIX: Remove the cake from the oven, and using a sharp knife, carefully run the tip along the edges of the pan that were not covered by the parchment paper.

STEP SEVEN: Heavily dust the top of the clean kitchen towel with powdered sugar.

PRO TIP:

Be sure not to use any fabric softener when you wash the tea towel. It will transfer to the warm cake and make the flavor “off”. Also, make sure not to use a terry cloth tea towel. The terry cloth will leave lint that will transfer to the surface of the cake.

STEP EIGHT: Immediately place the dusted tea towel, powdered side down, on top of the cake.

STEP NINE: Lay the cutting board on top of the tea towel. The cake pan will be hot, so you will need to be careful to protect your hands. Quickly flip the cake pan over so that the cake is lying on top of the dusted towel.

STEP TEN: Carefully and slowly peel the parchment away from the cake.

STEP ELEVEN: Heavily dust the top of the cake with the remaining powdered sugar.

STEP TWELVE: Flip one end of the tea towel over one of the short sides of the cake. Carefully begin to roll one end towards the other. Once rolled, set aside to cool completely.

PRO TIP:

Be very patient and slow when rolling the cake and unrolling. Rushing can cause cracks.

For The Cake Assembly

STEP ONE: Once the cake is completely cooled, carefully and slowly unroll the cake. If there are a few small cracks, it will be ok.

STEP TWO: Using a rubber spatula or an offset spatula, spread the filling over the top of the cake, avoiding the edges.

STEP THREE: Slowly, with gentle, even pressure, carefully roll the cake back in a “roll”. Tightly wrap the cake in plastic wrap to ensure it holds its shape. Allow the cake to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to overnight.

PRO TIP:

When the chocolate cake roll has been in the refrigerator for 2 hours, you can place the cake roll in the freezer for 30 minutes before you top the cake roll to serve.

For The Chocolate Ganache

STEP ONE: Using a small heat-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and the heavy cream.

STEP TWO: Heat the chips and cream in the microwave for 45-second intervals, stirring after each interval until the mixture is smooth.

chocolate chips and cream melted together in a bowl

STEP THREE: Remove the cake roll from the refrigerator, and unwrap the cake.

STEP FOUR: Place a cooling rack on top of a cookie sheet. Place the chilled cake roll on top of the cooling wrap. This will help keep the dripping chocolate contained.

STEP FIVE: Spoon the ganache over the top of the cake roll. Keep the cake roll refrigerated until serving. Slice the cake roll into ½ inch slices.

PRO TIP:

You’ll want to be sure to clean off your knife after each slice to keep those gorgeous layers intact.

ganache spooned over the top of the cake roll

Serving Chocolate Roll Cake

This amazing chocolate Swiss roll is a fun dessert for any night of the week.

Add whipped cream and a scoop of our no-churn vanilla ice cream on the side of this chocolate Swiss roll cake for an extra special and indulgent treat.

For even more chocolate decadence, don’t forget to try our chocolate pie and chocolate lasagna.

MORE CHOCOLATE RECIPES

Baked Desserts

Chocolate Trifle

Cookie Recipes

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Swiss Roll Cake Storage

Here are a few tips on storing this decadent Swiss roll cake to enjoy later.

IN THE FRIDGE: Keep any leftovers of this cake roll covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

IN THE FREEZER: You can freeze the chocolate roll cake before topping it with the ganache for 3 months. Wrap the cake roll in plastic, then wrap it tightly in aluminum foil. Allow the cake to thaw, then drizzle with the ganache.

close up shot of a slice of Chocolate Swiss Roll on a plate

This cake tastes just like grandma’s chocolate Swiss roll recipe. Fluffy chocolate sponge cake and a creamy filling will bring back plenty of warm memories once you take a bite of this decadent dessert.

Swiss Roll Recipe FAQs

What is the best pan to use for a roll cake?

It’s important to use a 15 × 10-inch jelly roll pan for this cake as you want it to be nice and thin.

Why did my chocolate Swiss roll crack?

Your cake needs to be rolled into the towel as soon as it comes out of the oven. When the cake is rolled while warm, the heat and moisture will help give you a crack-free cake. The cake is much more likely to crack if it is rolled when cooled.

What is the difference between a Swiss roll and a cake roll?

There really isn’t a difference between Swiss rolls and cake rolls, although the term Swiss roll is more frequently used in the UK, while cake roll is used in the US.

Is the Swiss roll the same as Yule log?

Swiss rolls and Yule logs are very similar, with the main difference being how the cakes are decorated. The Yule log cake, or Buche de Noel, is made to look like the logs burned on Christmas Eve, whereas the exterior of a Swiss roll is decorated much more simply, such as with whipped cream and fresh fruit.

What is an English Swiss roll?

An English Swiss roll is a cylindrical cake made from a thin flat sponge cake, covered with jam or cream on one side, then rolled up.

Do you roll Swiss rolls hot or cold?

It is important to roll the cake while it is still warm; otherwise, it won’t hold its shape.

Why does my Swiss roll taste rubbery?

The cake can become rubbery if the batter has been over-mixed. Over-mixing the batter increases the development of gluten which in turn increases the cake’s gumminess. Over-mixing will also result in deflating the air bubbles in the batter, producing a dense cake.

Can I use my normal baking tray for the Swiss roll?

In the US, if you can’t find a jelly roll pan, then a 9 13-inch quarter sheet pan makes a good alternative. The key is to ensure the dimensions are as close to a jelly roll pan as possible and that there are sides on the pan to contain the cake batter.

What is ermine filling?

Ermine filling is made by cooking flour and sugar with milk to make a sweet paste. This paste is then whipped into softened butter until light and fluffy. The vanilla is added for flavoring.

What is ganache?

Chocolate ganache is a 1-to-1 mixture of chocolate and warm cream. It is stirred until smooth, silky, and shiny and used to top desserts.

More Recipes You’ll Love

Swiss Roll Recipe

5 from 5 votes

Our delicious chocolate swiss roll is a sweet, old-fashioned treat featuring a sponge chocolate cake stuffed with creamy filling and topped with rich ganache.

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 10

Total Time 1 35

Servings

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe

Equipment

linen tea towel that is 2 inches longer at the top and bottom of the cake pan
A large cutting board for the cake transfer

Ingredients

Ermine Filling

2½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup whole milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup unsalted butter, softened

Chocolate Cake

½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
½ cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
powdered sugar, for dusting

Chocolate Ganache

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup heavy cream

Instructions

Ermine Filling

Using a small (2 to 3-quart) heavy-bottomed saucepan on medium heat, whisk together the flour, milk, sugar, and vanilla. Bring to a low boil, whisking continuously to avoid the milk scorching until the mixture looks and feels like a thick pudding. This should take 3 to 4 minutes.
Remove the saucepan from the heat, and pour it into a small heat-safe bowl.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Be sure to allow the plastic wrap to drape onto the surface of the flour-milk mixture. This will keep a skin from forming.
Place in the refrigerator until the mixture is completely cooled.
Once the mixture is completely cooled, remove it from the refrigerator and set it aside.
Using either a stand mixer or a medium-sized mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on medium-high, beat the softened butter for 1 minute.
Reduce the mixer speed to medium. Begin adding the flour-milk mixture 1 tablespoon at a time.
Once all of the mixture has been added, increase the mixer speed to medium-high, and continue mixing for another 1½ to 2 minutes until the filling is light and fluffy. Set it aside. You can leave the filling at room temperature, as long as the room temp is not too hot. It is a very stable filling and can be left out for up 6 hours.

Chocolate Cake

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 15x10x1 jelly roll pan with parchment paper and spray with nonstick spray. Set it aside.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set it aside.
Using either a stand mixer or a medium-sized mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on high, beat together the eggs, sugar, vegetable oil, and vanilla for 4 to 5 minutes until the mixture is a frothy pale yellow.
Fold in the flour mixture.
Evenly pour the cake batter into the prepared pan. Use a silicone spatula or an offset spatula to spread the cake batter. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
Remove the cake from the oven, and using a sharp knife, carefully run the tip along the edges of the pan that were not covered by the parchment paper.
Heavily dust the top of the tea towel with the powdered sugar.
Immediately place the dusted tea towel, powdered side down, on top of the cake.
Lay the cutting board on top of the tea towel. The cake pan will be hot, so you will need to be careful to protect your hands. Quickly flip the cake pan over so that the cake is lying on top of the dusted towel.
Carefully and slowly peel the parchment away from the cake.
Heavily dust the top of the cake with the remaining powdered sugar.
Flip one end of the tea towel over one of the short ends of the cake. Carefully begin to roll one end towards the other. Once rolled, set aside to completely cool.

Cake Assembly

Once the cake is completely cooled, carefully and slowly unroll the cake. If there are a few small cracks, it will be ok.
Using a silicone spatula, or an offset spatula, spread the filling over the top of the cake, avoiding the edges.
Slowly, with gentle, even pressure, carefully roll the cake back in a “roll”. Tightly wrap the cake in plastic wrap to ensure it holds its shape. Allow the cake to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to overnight.

Chocolate Ganache

Using a small heat-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and the heavy cream.
Heat the chips in the microwave for 45-second intervals, stirring after each interval until the mixture is smooth.
Remove the cake roll from the refrigerator, and unwrap the cake.
Place a cooling rack on top of a cookie sheet. Place the chilled cake roll on top of the cooling wrap. This step helps keep the dripping chocolate contained.
Spoon the ganache over the top of the cake roll. Keep the cake roll refrigerated until serving. Slice the cake roll into ½ inch slices.

Notes

You can leave the filling at room temperature, as long as the room temperature is not too hot. It is a very stable filling and can be left out for up to 6 hours.
Be sure not to use any fabric softener when you wash the tea towel. It will transfer to the warm cake and make the flavor “off”. Also, make sure not to use a terry cloth tea towel. The terry cloth will leave lint that will transfer to the surface of the cake.
Be very patient and slow when rolling the cake and unrolling it. Rushing can cause cracks.
When the chocolate cake roll has been in the refrigerator for 2 hours, you can place the cake roll in the freezer for 30 minutes before you top the cake roll to serve.
You’ll want to be sure to clean off your knife after each slice to keep those gorgeous layers intact.

Nutrition

Have You Tried This Recipe?Follow me on Pinterest @spaceshipslb

Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

Stephanie Keeping Publisher
Layne Kangas Marketing
Rhadonda Sedgwick Creative Director
Sian Cox Photographer
Lexus Monroe Editorial Assistant
Andra Willits Writer + Editor
Teresia Shrum Recipe Developer

Chocolate Swiss Roll Cake

Swiss Roll Cake Ingredients

Swiss Roll Substitutions And Additions

How To Make This Chocolate Roll Cake Recipe

Serving Chocolate Roll Cake

Chocolate Trifle

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Swiss Roll Cake Storage

Swiss Roll Recipe FAQs

More Recipes You’ll Love