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close shot of french silk cake roll topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings

Aug 10, 2023

Jan 11, 2023

Last updated on August 10th, 2023 at 08:39 am

French Silk Cake Roll Recipe [Video]

French Silk Cake Roll is a delicious dessert with homemade chocolate sponge cake, yummy french silk dark chocolate filling, and whipped cream topping. This is not just another chocolate cake recipe. This is a french silk pie rolled into a cake and topped with whipped cream. The creamy french silk filling is perfect between the cake layers to give you a moist and delicious taste in every bite.

Looking for more cake recipes? This Carrot Cake Roll is easy to make with real carrots, walnuts, and cream cheese filling. For the holidays, our Christmas Cake Roll is perfect with just a handful of ingredients, a box cake mix, and food coloring.

Because these cakes are often referred to as swiss cake rolls, you may expect them to have been invented in Switzerland. However, it was actually first made in Austria. But the first printed recipe was in a New York publication called “Northern Farmer” in 1852 with a recipe called jelly cake. They were made by spreading jelly onto a hot thin cake and rolling it up to chill before serving.

This recipe for french silk cake roll with its chocolatey french silk frosting made from melted chocolate gives you all the flavor of a french silk pie with a bonus of chocolate cake to go with it. And even though it turns out beautiful as well as delicious, it is super easy and does not take long at all.

If you are looking for other dessert recipes, our funfetti cookies made from vanilla cake mix are delicious and pretty. Or you can try this strawberry crunch cheesecake cake with cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and golden oreo cookies.

overhead shot of flour cocoa powder sugar eggs chocolate butter vanilla in bowls on a table

Ingredients needed:

To make this french silk cake roll recipe, gather the ingredients below. Then, scroll down to our recipe card for step-by-step directions and precise measurements.

Chocolate cake:

Unsweetened cocoa powder
All-purpose flour
Coffee: Cool completely.
Vanilla extract
Large eggs: At room temperature.
White granulated sugar
Baking powder: Not baking soda.
Vegetable oil
Kosher salt

French silk filling:

Dark chocolate: Melted and cooled.
Large eggs: At room temperature.
Cocoa powder
Unsalted butter: Softened to room temperature.
Vanilla extract
White granulated sugar

Whipped topping:

Powdered sugar: Or confectioners’ sugar.
Heavy whipping cream

photo collage of steps how to make french silk cake roll

How to make french silk cake roll from scratch?

Chocolate cake:

Preheat oven: First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Then, line a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper, leaving extra hanging over the longer sides for easier removal.
Mix dry ingredients: In the meantime, whisk together cocoa powder, baking powder, flour, and salt in a medium bowl until combined and set it aside.
Mix wet ingredients: Then, in a separate bowl, mix together eggs and granulated sugar with an electric or hand mixer on low speed for about one minute, or until thick. Add in the oil, vanilla, and coffee until combined.
Combine together: Now, fold the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and mix until fully combined.
Pour it in: Next, pour the batter into your prepared jelly roll pan. Smooth out and tap the pan gently on the counter.
Bake the cake: After, bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the center is no longer wet and it passes the toothpick test.
Prepare your workspace: While you wait, lay a clean kitchen towel out on the counter and sprinkle it generously with powdered sugar or cocoa powder.
Roll and cool: After the cake is done, use oven mitts to carefully remove it and flip it over onto the clean towel. Fold the end of the towel over the edge about two inches and roll the cake and towel together tightly into a log shape. Let it cool completely on a wire rack for two to three hours.

Make the creamy french silk filling:

Melt the chocolate: About 1/2 hour before the cake is cool, chop your dark chocolate and microwave it in 30-second intervals until it is completely melted, stirring each time with a whisk. This usually takes about 1 1/2 minutes.
Beat butter and sugar: Then, in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on high for one minute or until it is light and fluffy.
Pour in the chocolate: Next, pour in the chocolate and let it continue to mix on low for 30 seconds.
Add powder and vanilla: Now, turn the mixer off and scrape down the sides before you add the cocoa powder and vanilla extract and mix for another 30 seconds.
Finish it up: After, add eggs and turn the mixer to high speed for 10 minutes. When it is done, the filling should be smooth and shiny.

Prepare the whipped topping:

Whip your cream: To make whipped topping, change the attachment on your stand mixer to a whisk attachment and pour in the heavy whipping cream. Whip for two minutes or until soft peaks occur.
Add the sugar: Then, add the powdered sugar and whip some more until the peaks are firm.

Assemble the cake:

Unroll the cake: Once your cake is cool, gently unroll it, being careful not to crack or tear it and place it on a clean sheet pan.
Spread on the filling: Next, spread the french silk filling on top in a thin layer, leaving 1/4 inch on all sides.
Roll the cake back up: Then, roll the cake back up without a towel and wrap it with plastic wrap. Chill for at least two hours.
Spread on the whipped topping: After it is chilled, spread the topping on all of the exposed areas and top with chocolate shavings.
Serve chilled: Finally, serve chilled on a cake board or serving platter.

overhead shot of a slice of french silk cake roll

Recipe variations:

Another oil: Feel free to use other oils such as canola or coconut oil.
Two cakes: Instead of one large roll, you can make two small cakes in two prepared pans.
Ice cream cake: Instead of using the french silk filling on the inside, use softened vanilla ice cream instead and save the french silk filling for the top.
Extracts: To give your cake roll extra flavor, add a teaspoon of your favorite extracts like amaretto, peppermint, or orange.
More chocolate: If you really love chocolate, add cocoa powder to the whipped cream topping as well.
Peanut butter: The peanut butter lovers in your family will love it if you add peanut butter to your filling.
Different nuts: Or you can use a different nut butter like almond or cashew.
Nutella: You could also stir in a 1/2 cup of Nutella or another hazelnut spread.

How to serve:

This fancy cake is easier than it looks and worth every minute when you taste it. The whole cake is full of chocolaty goodness, layered with creamy chocolate filling, and topped with homemade whipped cream. Try one of these serving ideas or one of your own:

Add chocolate sprinkles on top for a more festive look.
Instead of whipped cream, you could also top this cake with our homemade cream cheese frosting.
Serve with a small bowl of chopped nuts for guests to add if they wish. You could also offer bowls of other toppings like cherries, whipped cream, and chocolate chips.
Another great topping for this delicious cake is strawberry or plum jam.
You can serve this fresh from the freezer for a frozen dessert.
This also goes great with ice cream such as our strawberry ice cream with chocolate chunks.
Sprinkle some coconut on top to give your cake even more texture and flavor.
Our thick and gooey caramel sauce would also make a delicious topping.

side shot of a slice of french silk cake roll on a plate and a blue towel in background

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between pasteurized eggs and raw eggs?

Pasteurized eggs are heated to a point that kills bacteria and kept at that temperature for 3.5 minutes. To pasteurize them at home, put cold eggs in a medium saucepan and cover them with cold water.

Cook them on the stove until the water reads 140 degrees F on a digital thermometer. Keep it at that temperature for 3.5 minutes. Do not let it get above 141 degrees F. If it does, add an ice cube or cold water immediately.

How can I make heavy cream?

There are many ways to make heavy cream if you do not have any. The easiest is to whisk together 1/4 cup of unsalted melted butter with 3/4 cup of half and half.

Or you could use 1/3 cup butter with 2/3 cup whole milk. Alternatively, use 1/3 cup of oil instead of butter. Another way to do this is to chill a can of coconut milk overnight and then scoop out the solid fat on top.

Why is my cake roll rubbery?

Any cake can become rubbery or hard if you overmix it. Overmixing your batter increases gluten development, which makes the cake gummy. Mixing it too much can also pop the air bubbles in the batter that is needed to make the cake fluffy and light. It can also be caused by using cold ingredients. Make sure your eggs, cream, and butter are at room temperature.

What are the nutrition facts in this recipe?

Each slice of this cake has 475 calories, 163 mg of cholesterol, and 29 grams of fat with 17 grams of saturated fat. It also has 55 grams of carbs, 322 mg of sodium, and 44 grams of sugar. But you also get 8 grams of protein, 2 grams of fiber, 2 mg of iron, 122 mg of calcium, 880 units of vitamin A, and 289 mg of potassium.

a slice of chocolate french silk cake roll on a plate revealing its filling

How to store leftovers:

Store: You can store your leftover french silk cake roll in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
Freeze: Leftover cake can also be frozen for up to 90 days. Simply wrap the cake in plastic wrap and place it in an airtight freezer-safe container.
Thaw: For best results, thaw for one to three hours before serving to make it easier to cut.

More chocolate recipes:

Baking tips:

You can use hot water if you do not have or do not like coffee.
Similarly, if you do not have heavy cream, you can use Greek yogurt.
To pass the toothpick test, a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake should come back dry or with a few crumbs.
Shorten prep time by using a boxed chocolate cake instead of making your own.
Another way to speed things up is to use store-bought whipped cream instead of making your own.
To make sure the peaks are firm, lift out the whisk attachment and the whipped topping should hold its shape.
Instead of a stand mixer, you can use a hand or electric mixer and a large bowl.
Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature. Especially the eggs and butter.
A kitchen towel should be a lint-free flat-weave cotton cloth. It is also known as a hand towel and is used primarily for wiping your hands when baking.