Description
This Sweetheart Strawberry Roll Cake is a delightful and romantic dessert perfect for special occasions. Featuring a light and fluffy strawberry-flavored sponge cake rolled with creamy strawberry-infused whipped cream and fresh strawberries, it’s both visually appealing and delicious. Decorated with fresh fruit and edible heart sprinkles, it’s an ideal treat to impress your loved ones.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- ¾ cup (90 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp strawberry purée (or 1 tsp strawberry extract)
- Pink or red gel food coloring (optional)
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp milk
For the Filling:
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (60 g) strawberry jam or diced fresh strawberries
For Decoration:
- Fresh strawberries
- Edible heart or flower sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the sponge cake.
- Prepare Pan: Line a 10×15-inch (25×38 cm) jelly roll pan with parchment paper and lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt.
- Beat Eggs and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and granulated sugar on high speed for approximately 5 minutes until the mixture becomes thick, creamy, and pale in color, providing structure and lightness to the cake.
- Add Flavorings and Liquids: Mix in the vanilla extract, strawberry purée (or extract), vegetable oil, and milk until the batter becomes smooth and homogenous.
- Add Coloring: Incorporate a few drops of pink or red gel food coloring if a more vibrant strawberry hue is desired.
- Fold in Dry Ingredients: Gently fold the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined to maintain airiness; avoid overmixing to ensure a tender cake.
- Pour Batter and Bake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 10–12 minutes until the cake springs back lightly when touched.
- Remove and Cool: While still warm, turn the cake out onto a kitchen towel dusted with powdered sugar. Carefully peel off the parchment paper.
- Roll Cake with Towel: Starting from the short end, roll up the cake tightly with the towel inside and let it cool completely. This helps prevent cracks when later filled and rolled.
- Prepare Whipped Cream: Beat the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until soft peaks form, ensuring a light and fluffy texture.
- Add Strawberry Jam or Berries: Gently fold in the strawberry jam or diced fresh strawberries into the whipped cream for added flavor and texture.
- Unroll Cake: Carefully unroll the cooled cake from the towel without tearing it.
- Spread Filling: Evenly spread the strawberry whipped cream mixture over the cake surface, covering every part to ensure consistent taste in every bite.
- Re-roll Cake: Roll the cake back up tightly but without the towel to form the finished roll shape.
- Trim and Decorate: Trim the edges for a clean look. Dust with powdered sugar and decorate with additional piped whipped cream, fresh strawberries, and edible heart or flower sprinkles for a romantic presentation.
Notes
- Ensure eggs are at room temperature to achieve maximum volume when beaten.
- Be gentle when folding the dry ingredients to keep the cake light and fluffy.
- Using a clean kitchen towel dusted with powdered sugar prevents sticking during the initial roll.
- Allow the cake to cool completely rolled up to avoid cracks in the final roll when filled.
- Fresh strawberries can be substituted or complemented with strawberry jam inside the whipped cream for texture variation.
- Gel food coloring is optional and used for enhancing the pink hue of the cake but can be omitted if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: strawberry roll cake, strawberry dessert, rolled sponge cake, romantic dessert, whipped cream cake, jelly roll cake
