I have made many cakes but this would be the first time that I have actually made a cake roll. My hesitation has always been that it would crack and the filling seep out. However, when I read through this particular recipe, it stated that the compression of the roll would take care of the cracks- if any exisited.
Also, the blend of cake, fruit and cream quickly got my attention. In looking at my photo, I realize that the omission of the raspberries would have given it a more distinctive white swirl. Since you cannot eat a perfect picture of food, I chose to include the raspberries and forgo the stunning picture.
There were a few methods/tips in the recipe that were new to me. One was beating the egg before adding it to the batter. The method of tenting the cake with foil while cooling is something I have never come across. It is a great way to keep the cake from drying out in the cooling process, so I will use this method on all layer cakes in the future.
Red Velvet Cake Roll
adapted from Baking for All Occassions
Ingredients/Cake
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp apple cider or white vinegar
1 tbs liquid red food coloring
1/2 cup or 1 stick of butter plus 1 tbs, room temp
3/4 cup of sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup of flour
2 tbs cocoa powder
1/8 tsp salt
Ingredients/ Filling
1/3 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 cup red raspberries
1/2 tsp almond extract
8 oz cream cheese, room temp
1/4 cup or 1/2 stick of butter
5 oz melted white chocolate (see tip below)
Optional for decorating
powdered sugar
red raspberries
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. The spray non stick spray in the center of a jelly roll pan (15 1/2 X 10 1/2). Line with foil creating a 2 inch overhang on the short sides. Then melt one tbs of butter and brush all of the inside with the melted butter. Dust with flour and tap out excess.
Take a small bowl and whisk together the vanilla extract, milk and vinegar (or cider-whichever you are using). Set aside. Then lay out a sheet of wax paper and sift cocoa, flour, salt and baking soda onto the wax paper.
Fill the bowl of a stand mixer with the remaining 1/2 cup butter. Beat for one minute until smooth and then increase the speed to medium. As the mixer is running, slowly pour in the sugar. Beat for about two minutes, scraping down the sides every 30 seconds. Continue to beat and add the egg slowly.
On low speed, beat in 1/3 of the sifted ingredients, then 1/2 of the milk mixture. Repeat the process and end with the last 1/3 of the flour mixture, occasionally scraping down sides of the bowl. Then continue to beat and add the food coloring. Once all is an even hue, spread batter into the prepared pan.
Bake until cake springs back when lightly touched, this should take about 10 minutes. Place pan on a rack and run a knife around the two long sides if needed. Then take out of the pan using the excess foil on the sides and place on rack. Let cool for 45 minutes before assembly.
While the cake is cooling, prepare the filling. Place the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until smooth and creamy. Then add 1/2 of the white chocolate and beat for 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides and then add the rest and beat for another 30 seconds. Add the butter, powdered sugar and almond extract and continue to beat until it has a smooth and creamy consistency.
The length of the cake should run from the left to the right.Using a small offset spatula or a knife, smooth 1 cup and 2 tbs (you will have a small amount remaining) of the filling over the cake. Leave a half inch border on the top edge of the length of the cake.
Then place raspberries randomly along the length of the cake. Take the edge of the cake closest to you and roll it over. Using the aid of the foil (the cake will stick to your hands) roll the cake into a log. Then place it on the bottom third of a 24 inch long piece of parchment paper. Fold the paper over the top of the roll and use a baking sheet at a 45 degree angle over the top. Pull on the parchment and push down with the baking sheet. This will help compress the cake and also get rid of any cracks that may have formed.
Then lift the aluminum covered cake log and place it, seam down, on a clean sheet of wax paper. Place on baking sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour before serving. Lift out of foil and if using, sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into 1/2 inch thick slices and serve with raspberries on the side.
Tips and notes:
1. Use good quality white chocolate and be careful when melting. The water in the double boiler should not exceed 110 degrees or the chocolate will seize and form lumps. The smaller you chop the chocolate the easier it should melt. Let the chocolate start to melt on its own without stirring. Then remove from bottom double boiler pan and stir, the residual heat will help finish the melting process. If your chocolate seizes, there is no recovery.
2. I have found that chilling the cake for 2 hours creates a more stable filling.
3. Using whole raspberries does give quite a juicy pop to the cake when you bite into it, however, halving them may help your rolling process go smoother.
**LAST YEAR: Banana Crunch Cookies***