If you’re looking for a Swiss roll cake recipe that is as light as a cloud, moist and literally melts in your mouth, then this recipe is it!
It’s probably one of my proudest recipes to date. A super soft sponge cake is filled with a homemade raspberry jam and whipped cream – a flavour combo that can’t go wrong!
How to Make a Swiss Roll
This Swiss roll recipe begins with making a very light and moist sponge. The full written recipe and ingredients list is provided on the recipe card at the end of the blog post.
Preparing The Sponge
Preheat oven to 170 °C (340°F) with the fan on/convection mode (see note 1 on recipe card below if you don’t have a fan function) and line an 18×13 inch (half-sheet) baking tray. Only line the tray longways, leaving two of the edges of the pan exposed (see video below for demonstration).
In a bowl combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt. Using a whisk or fork, mix until well combined (there’s no need to sift it just yet). Set aside for now.
In a small bowl combine the milk and oil. Give it a mix and then set aside for now as well.
Next separate the yolks and whites from your eggs. Ensure no egg yolks get into the egg whites. Set aside.
In a large bowl add in 1 tbsp of warm water, and a ⅓ cup (66g) of white sugar (the portion of sugar assigned for the egg yolks) and mix so that the sugar is coated in the water. Next add in the 6 egg yolks and vanilla, and using a hand or stand mixer on a medium speed, whip until the mixture is thick and pale. You should be able to create ribbons with it that settle on the top of the mixture for a few seconds before being absorbed back in. This should roughly take 5 minutes but will vary depending on your mixer. Once done set aside for now.
In another large bowl add in the 6 egg whites. Using a hand or stand mixer (with clean attachments – see note 2 on recipe card below), whip for 30 seconds until it’s frothy, and then gradually add in ½ cup (100g) of white sugar while continuously mixing. Once the sugar is mixed in, continue to whip until you reach soft peaks. This should take about 7 minutes, but will vary depending on your mixer. We don’t want stiff peaks so keep checking the egg whites to check they aren’t being overwhipped (see video demonstration).
Add half of the whipped egg whites into your egg yolk mixture and using a spatula, gently fold until it’s just combined. Fold gently as we want to try and retain as much air in the batter as possible. Next sift the dry ingredients into the bowl and fold until just combined. Once done, add in the remaining egg whites and fold until just combined.
To finish off, add in the milk/oil mixture and fold until just combined. Your mixture should be thick and flowy once done (see video demonstration).
Distribute the batter evenly into the lined baking tray and using an offset spatula (or anything that has a straight edge), even out the batter as much as possible. Once done, shake the tray to even out the batter further, and then drop the tray on the counter a few times to remove any large air bubbles. I also like to tap the bottom of the tray with my hands a few times.
Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the top is golden brown, and the sponge slowly springs back when you touch the top. Allow to cool in the tray for 15 minutes.
While it’s cooling, prepare some baking paper that we are going to be using to roll the Swiss roll. If your baking paper isn’t large enough, then overlap two sheets. Lightly grease the baking paper with unflavoured vegetable oil, by dabbing your fingers into some unflavoured vegetable oil and then spreading it onto the baking paper. We only want a very thin layer (see note 3 on recipe card below).
After 15 minutes, run a knife along the edges of the sponge that are stuck to the baking tray to help release the sponge, and then turn the sponge out onto the baking paper (golden side down).
Roll the sponge up using the baker paper while its still slightly warm. Set aside to cool (we will unroll it again later).
Preparing Fillings
While the sponge is baking, prepare your fillings. I used a homemade raspberry jam and whipped cream for my Swiss roll – I would highly recommend it!
For the raspberry jam, simply prepare 1 batch of my homemade raspberry jam filling recipe. I would recommend doing this while the sponge is baking so it has enough time to cool.
Once done, place the jam onto a wide saucer and spread it out to allow it to cool quicker. You can also place it into the fridge to speed up the process, but it needs to be at room temperature when spreading it onto the Swiss roll so just make sure it doesn’t get too cold.
Next prepare the cream (10 minutes before you’re ready to assemble the Swiss roll). In a large bowl add in the cream, icing sugar and vanilla. Whip on a medium speed until you reach stiff peaks. Be careful not to overwhip the cream, so keep a close eye on it once it starts to thicken up.
Assembling the Swiss Roll
Once the Swiss roll is cool, unroll it gently. Using a serrated knife, trim off the short edges at an angle (see video demonstration below).
Spread a thin layer of the cooled raspberry jam on the sponge.
Next spread a layer of the cream on the sponge, leaving a small gap at one of the short ends of the sponge, only covering it with a very thin layer of cream (see note 4 on recipe card below).
To roll, lift up the edge of the sponge (that is opposite to the end with the thin layer of the whipped cream) with the baking paper, and push the top edge of the sponge into the cream to create an initial tight roll, and then using the baking paper, continue to roll the sponge until you reach the end. You want to push gently while rolling so you have a tight roll, but don’t push too hard otherwise you may push too much of the cream out.
Once you get to the end, tighten the roll by holding the bottom sheet of baking paper, and then using the long edge of a knife or off set spatula to push the top sheet of baking paper into the bottom of the Swiss roll (see video demonstration below).
Allow to set in the fridge for 1 hour before slicing. Once ready, slice a small piece off of each edge to reveal a wonderful clean Swiss roll. Enjoy!
Light & Moist Swiss Roll
Print Pin VideoIMPORTANT: For accuracy, I would recommend using the gram measurements provided, as those are the exact quantities I use. Cup measurements are given as estimates (based on US cup measurements) to make it easier for those who do not have a scale.
Ingredients
Swiss Roll
- ⅔ cups (80 g) all purpose flour
- ¼ cup (30 g) cornstarch - also known as cornflour in some countries
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 tbsp (45 g) milk - full fat, room temperature
- 3 tbsp (45 g) unflavoured vegetable oil - I use canola oil
- 6 large eggs - whites and yolks separated, room temperature
- 1 tbsp warm water - not boiling
- ⅓ cup (66 g) white granulated sugar (for the egg yolk mixture)
- 2 tsp vanilla essence/extract
- ½ cup (100 g) white granulated sugar (for egg whites)
- 1 tsp unflavoured vegetable oil - for lightly greasing the baking paper after the sponge is cooked.
Raspberry Jam
Whipped Cream
- 1¾ cups (400 g) cold whipping cream - minimum fat percentage of 34%
- 2 tbsp icing sugar - also known as powdered or confectioners sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla essence/extract
Instructions
Swiss Roll
- Preheat oven to 170 °C (340°F) with the fan on/convection mode (see note 1 if you don't have a fan function) and line an 18x13 inch (half-sheet) baking tray. Only line the tray longways, leaving two of the edges of the pan exposed (see video for demonstration).
- In a bowl combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt. Using a whisk or fork, mix until well combined (there's no need to sift it just yet). Set aside for now.
- In a small bowl combine the milk and oil. Give it a mix and then set aside for now as well.
- Next separate the yolks and whites from your eggs. Ensure no egg yolks get into the egg whites. Set aside.
- In a large bowl add in 1 tbsp of warm water, and a ⅓ cup (66g) of white sugar (the portion of sugar assigned for the egg yolks) and mix so that the sugar is coated in the water. Next add in the 6 egg yolks and vanilla, and using a hand or stand mixer on a medium speed, whip until the mixture is thick and pale. You should be able to create ribbons with it that settle on the top of the mixture for a few seconds before being absorbed back in. This should roughly take 5 minutes but will vary depending on your mixer. Once done set aside for now.
- In another large bowl add in the 6 egg whites. Using a hand or stand mixer (with clean attachments - see note 2), whip for 30 seconds until it's frothy, and then gradually add in ½ cup (100g) of white sugar while continuously mixing. Once the sugar is mixed in, continue to whip until you reach soft peaks. This should take about 7 minutes, but will vary depending on your mixer. We don't want stiff peaks so keep checking the egg whites to check they aren't being overwhipped (see video demonstration).
- Add half of the whipped egg whites into your egg yolk mixture and using a spatula, gently fold until it's just combined. Fold gently as we want to try and retain as much air in the batter as possible. Next sift the dry ingredients into the bowl and fold until just combined. Once done, add in the remaining egg whites and fold until just combined.
- To finish off, add in the milk/oil mixture and fold until just combined. Your mixture should be thick and flowy once done (see video demonstration).
- Distribute the batter evenly into the lined baking tray and using an offset spatula (or anything that has a straight edge), even out the batter as much as possible. Once done, shake the tray to even out the batter further, and then drop the tray on the counter a few times to remove any large air bubbles. I also like to tap the bottom of the tray with my hands a few times.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the top is golden brown, and the sponge slowly springs back when you touch the top. Allow to cool in the tray for 15 minutes.
- While it's cooling, prepare some baking paper that we are going to be using to roll the Swiss roll. If your baking paper isn't large enough, then overlap two sheets. Lightly grease the baking paper with unflavoured vegetable oil, by dabbing your fingers into some unflavoured vegetable oil and then spreading it onto the baking paper. We only want a very thin layer (see note 3).
- After 15 minutes, run a knife along the edges of the sponge that are stuck to the baking tray to help release the sponge, and then turn the sponge out onto the baking paper (golden side down).
- Roll the sponge up using the baker paper while its still slightly warm. Set aside to cool (we will unroll it again later).
Raspberry Jam Filling
- While the sponge is baking, prepare the raspberry jam. Once done, place the jam onto a wide saucer and spread it out to allow it to cool quicker. You can also place it into the fridge to speed up the process, but it needs to be at room temperature when spreading it onto the Swiss roll so just make sure it doesn't get too cold.
Whipped Cream
- 10 minutes before assembling the Swiss roll, whip the cream.
- In a large bowl add in the cream, icing sugar and vanilla. Whip on a medium speed until you reach stiff peaks. Be careful not to overwhip the cream, so keep a close eye on it once it starts to thicken up.
Assembly
- Once the Swiss roll is cool, unroll it gently. Using a serrated knife, trim off the short edges at an angle (see video demonstration).
- Spread a thin layer of the cooled raspberry jam on the sponge.
- Next spread a layer of the cream on the sponge, leaving a small gap at one of the short ends of the sponge, only covering it with a very thin layer of cream (see note 4).
- To roll, lift up the edge of the sponge (that is opposite to the end with the thin layer of the whipped cream) with the baking paper, and push the top edge of the sponge into the cream to create an initial tight roll, and then using the baking paper, continue to roll the sponge until you reach the end. You want to push gently while rolling so you have a tight roll, but don't push too hard otherwise you may push too much of the cream out.
- Once you get to the end, tighten the roll by holding the bottom sheet of baking paper, and then using the long edge of a knife or off set spatula to push the top sheet of baking paper into the bottom of the Swiss roll (see video demonstration).
- Allow to set in the fridge for 1 hour before slicing. Once ready, slice a small piece off of each edge to reveal a wonderful clean Swiss roll. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information are estimates only as they are automatically calculated by a third party application. Actual values may differ based on brands and types of products used.
50 Comments
This cake is delicious. The cake is soft and moist. Mine was not as pretty as yours, but I have a feeling I will be making this over and over so I will have lots of time to perfect my technique!
Thank you for sharing.
Hi, Texture of roll is soft. Just wondering why the brown layer of the roll gets stuck to the baking paper when I roll it. Thank you.
I heard you can sprinkle powered sugar on the baking paper and that helps it not stick. I haven’t tried this recipe yet, but I’ve watched several other channels making the same roll. Good luck to you!
Hi Flo! So glad you loved the texture of the roll 🙂
The brown skin can come off if the sponge is underbaked, the parchment paper isn’t greased adequately (also make sure not to overgrease it otherwise it can make the skin soggy and more likely to come off too) or the sponge is a bit too warm while rolling. Hope these tips help for next time 🙂
How long will this keep in the fridge do you think? Was hoping to make in advance. Thanks heaps, your recipes are always my go to. Just incredible!
Hi Mary! 🙂
I think if wrapped/stored well (making sure the sides are completely covered as well), it should be okay to make the cake roll the day before. To be extra safe, I would recommend using my stabilized whipped cream frosting instead of just regular whipped cream just to ensure the whipped cream doesn’t weep or make the cake roll soggy over time.
So glad to hear you’re loving the recipes Mary! Hope you enjoy this one just as much as the others 🙂
Just came across your recipe and I am very eager to try. Can this be made ahead? As I generally like to relax on days of celebration, I was hoping this is something that could potentially last in a refrigerator for a day or two. Thanks so much.
Hi Traci! So happy to hear you’re wanting to give this recipe a go 🙂
This recipe can be made the day before, but I would recommend using my stabilized whipped cream frosting instead just to ensure the whipped cream doesn’t weep or make the cake roll soggy over time. I would also recommend storing the completed cake roll in an airtight container before placing it into the fridge to prevent it from drying out 🙂
Hope that helps and hope you enjoy the recipe!