collage of jellyroll cakes

Jellyroll Cake-Lots of Possibilities

collage of jellyroll cakes

Jellyroll cakes are something I love to make, as there are may varieties that you can create with this fun dessert. Cake is something I love, love, love! This dessert is a perfect small slice, rolled around something yummy inside. Jellyroll cakes often are a bit lighter in taste than your average cake, side by side with a filling that compliments so well.

Jellyroll-Light Dessert

Need an easy dessert? Jellyroll is one of those versatile desserts that you can fill with endless possibilities. Starts with a cake, usually sponge cake and one that is super airy and elastic that enables you to roll easily. Traditional cake will not work here as it will be too thick and not roll easily. Cake flavors range from vanilla, yellow, chocolate, and strawberry, to hit the basics.

Intimated by sponge cakes? No problem, I have a super and quick idea that you can use from a box cake mix.

Easy Jellyroll cake

  • 1/2 package of standard cake mix ( I weight the whole mix on a scale, then take half of that weight)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup water

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 15x10x1 jelly roll sheet pan, then line it with parchment paper and spray lightly with cooking spray. In a stand mixer of hand mixer, beat eggs on high till thick. Turn the mixer on low and add cake mix and water and mix till combined. Turn the mixer up to medium high 1 minute till everything is combined and creamy batter is seen. Pour off into the sheet pan and bake 10 min. Immediately invert onto a towel, remove parchment paper and roll up in a towel and cool.

Allow the cake to cool in the rolled up towel so it retains its elasticity and doesn’t break when you try to unroll it.

Fill with your favorite filling being careful not to add too much filling. This can gush out when you try to re-roll it, especially at the end of the roll.

Fillings

Once you have your cake baked and cooled, fillings ideas come with many different options. To include:

  • Jam
  • Buttercream
  • Ice cream (soften before filling)
  • Mousse
  • Ganache
  • Whipped cream

Once filled, refrigerate for a few hours then slice and serve. A simple dusting of powdered sugar is all you need to make this a quick and easy dessert.

Favorite Jellyroll Cakes

Here are a few jellyroll cakes that I have made that are all fun and different, using different colors and flavors. Three, are holiday themed and use different techniques; I think you will enjoy those.

Blueberry Meyer Lemon

Blueberry Lemon Jellyroll cake presented on a platter

This delicious jellyroll highlights Meyer lemons. Deliciously sweet and can be used in sweet or savory preparations. Personally, I adore this lemon and absolutely love it. So much so, I created this recipe to highlight its incredible flavor.

Lemon gets highlighted in the cake and the blueberry jam pairs so well in the filling. Check out how I made it here.

FYI, did you know there are 16 types of Lemons? Click and ready this great post from Happy Home DIY.

Strawberries And Cream Jellyroll

Strawberries two ways, in the filling as jam and sliced, as well as, garnished on top. The cake is a light sponge cake rolled around vanilla buttercream and strawberry jam. A bit of a take on a strawberry shortcake. Perfect for spring and summer.

strawberry jellyroll cake on a plate

Holiday Jellyroll Themed Cakes

Valentine Charlotte-Jellyroll cake

Valentine charlotte dessert on a plate

Jellyroll cake in a different dimension, called a Charlotte. Domed desserts that are formed with jellyroll cakes and filled with mousses or Bavarian creams. This Valentine version is formed with a jellyroll cake rolled with a pink buttercream that sets the foundation of this dessert. Super fun and yummy. More on how to assemble it here

Christmas Jellyrolls-Yule Logs

Candy Cane Yule Log

candy cane yule log 2

Yule logs are traditional around the holiday season, they are also classified as a jellyroll cake too. A standard yule log is a chocolate cake rolled around a vanilla filling and decorated festively. Not only are they pretty, but they are delicious to eat! YUM!

One year I decided to take the fun candy cane colors and design this festive red and white version to celebrate a fun dessert for the holidays with my family. Also, making it a bit unique from a traditional yule log, thinking outside the box :). You can view it here. The highlight of this is the cake, I piped rows of vanilla and red to get the visual look of the cake when it is rolled and sliced.

Chocolate Snowflake Yule Log

Holiday and winter definitely need a jellyroll cake, don’t they? This one is my favorite to make. Chocolate cake with white snowflakes imprinted on the cake sure screams holiday/winter doesn’t it? You can see how it is made here.

chocolate snowflake cake roll on a plate with srpinkles

Fall Pumpkin Roll

pumpkin roll presentation with cookies

Love, love pumpkin rolls, they also get classified as a jellyroll cake. Traditional in so many ways. Remembering the first time I had this for dessert, I immediately loved it. Typically a pumpkin spice cake filled with a cream cheese icing. Delish!

This version, I use a different technique by piping different colors of icing to make a fall design. Next, the cake gets baked and the design is imprinted on the cake. Super cool. Check out my post on the “how-to.”

Hope you are inspired to give jellyroll cakes a try in your kitchen. Be sure to share with me your designs and flavors!! I would love to see them all!

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