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This is a Red Velvet Cake Roll recipe that is easy and turns out stunning. You will obsess over how satisfying these cake rolls are. They look so professional and are delicious – especially the filled cream cheese filling.
Classic Red Velvet Cake Roll
These red velvet cake rolls are always a major hit at all parties. It’s a stunning dessert that looks hard – but it’s not! Classic red velvet flavor with cream cheese frosting – a new take on cake!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- They are stunning and are perfect for all occasions – not just in February or at Christmas!
- It’s filled stuffed with cream cheese frosting
- Make a cake roll with success with my tips.
Ingredients needed
- Eggs: The large eggs get beaten for a long time, or until they’re thick and dark yellow. This is a key step in making a fluffy cake roll.
- Oil: I add just a bit of oil for moisture.
- Cocoa: a must for making red velvet. Use unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Food coloring: you need red food coloring for red velvet cake, I prefer regular food coloring (not gel) when making this.
- Powdered sugar: to aid in rolling up your cake – you roll it hot so it won’t crack.
- Cream cheese: at room temperature so you can avoid lumps when making frosting.
How to make a Red Velvet Cake Roll
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper and spray with floured nonstick cooking spray.
- Place eggs in a large bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat at medium speed with a mixer for 3-5 minutes until foamy and yellow. Add sugar and mix for 2 more minutes, until the mixture thickens slightly. Mix in oil, baking powder, salt, vanilla, and cocoa, then add flour and mix slowly until just combined. Pour into the prepared pan, spreading as needed with a spatula. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the top is browned and the cake springs back when touched lightly. (Mine took 12 minutes, but all ovens differ.)
- While the cake is baking, lay out a clean kitchen towel onto the counter. Spread with powdered sugar.
- Remove the hot cake from the oven and carefully, using oven mitts so you don’t burn yourself, flip the cake onto the towel. This might make a mess, but that’s okay. Carefully remove the pan and foil (they’re hot!) and then, using the towel, roll up the cake from the short side. The towel will be rolled into the cake. Let this cool completely before continuing.
- Note: you can wrap the cooled cake in plastic wrap and let it sit overnight before finishing.
- Make the filling: beat cream cheese and butter until creamy, then mix in powdered sugar slowly. Add vanilla and beat until smooth.
- To fill the cake: Carefully unroll the cake. Spread with the frosting. Carefully roll the cake back up as tight as possible, unsticking it from the towel as you go.
- Chill for one hour before slicing. Before serving, dust the top with powdered sugar.
- If the cake cracks, double the frosting recipe and frost the outside as well – no one will know!
Expert tips
- Make sure and beat the eggs at LEAST 3 minutes as it says in the directions. This creates the fluffy cake you see in the photos.
- Use a cake roll pan (also called a jelly roll pan) for best results.
- Roll it while it’s hot.
- You can make the cake portion up to one day ahead, just wrap it (in the towel) in plastic wrap so it doesn’t get stale.
- If the cake cracks, double the filling and frost the outside – no one will know.
- Check out my cake roll photo tutorial and my cake roll video for success.
FAQs
Why did my cake roll crack?
It wasn’t hot enough but if it cracks, double the frosting recipe and frost the outside as well – no one will know!
Why is my cake dry?
You probably left it in the oven too long. Remove from the heat a bit before 15 minutes.
Can you freeze cake rolls?
Yes! Freeze in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
Red Velvet Cake Roll
Red Velvet Cake Roll – this easy red velvet cake recipe is rolled up in a roulade – it’s the perfect cake for any occasion! It’s a red velvet sponge cake baked in a jelly roll pan and filled with cream cheese frosting. A dusting of powdered sugar on top makes this an easy and elegant dessert.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Cooling time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 50 minutes
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon (5g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¾ cup (93g) all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) red food coloring
- Powdered sugar to aid in rolling
For the Filling:
- 4 ounces (113g) cream cheese room temperature
- ¼ cup (57g) unsalted butter room temperature
- 2 cups (226g) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 10×15” or 10.5×15” cake/jelly roll pan with foil and spray with floured nonstick cooking spray.
- Place eggs in a large bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat at medium speed with mixer for 3-5 minutes until foamy and yellow. Add sugar and mix for 2 more minutes, until the mixture is thickened slightly. Mix in oil, baking powder, salt, vanilla, and cocoa, then add flour and mix slowly until just combined. Pour into prepared pan, spreading as needed with a spatula. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the top is browned and the cake springs back when touched lightly. (Mine took 12 minutes, but all ovens differ.)
- While the cake is baking, lay out a clean kitchen towel onto the counter. Spread with about 1/4 cup powdered sugar.
- Remove the hot cake from the oven and carefully, using oven mitts so you don’t burn yourself, flip the cake onto the towel. This might make a mess, but that’s okay. Carefully remove the pan and foil (they’re hot!) and then, using the towel, roll up the cake from the short side. The towel will be rolled into the cake. Let this cool completely before continuing.
- Note: you can wrap the cooled cake in plastic wrap and let it sit overnight before finishing.
- Make the filling: beat cream cheese and butter ntil creamy, then mix in powdered sugar slowly. Add vanilla and beat until smooth.
- To fill cake: Carefully unroll the cake. Spread with the frosting. Carefully roll the cake back up as tight as possible, unsticking it from the towel as you go.
- Chill for one hour before slicing. Before serving, dust the top with powdered sugar.
- If the cake cracks, double the frosting recipe and frost the outside as well – no one will know!
Recipe Notes
- Make sure and beat the eggs at LEAST 3 minutes as it says in the directions. This creates the fluffy cake you see in the photos.
- Roll it while it’s hot.
- You can make the cake portion up to one day ahead, just wrap it (in the towel) in plastic wrap so it doesn’t get stale.
- If the cake cracks, double the filling and frost the outside – no one will know.
Recipe Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 375kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 143mg | Potassium: 118mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 49g | Vitamin A: 457IU | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Other Cake Roll Recipes
This is NOT A red velvet roll. It’s just a bland red chocolate roll. The unique flavor of red velvet comes from vinegar and buttermilk. Just because you add red food coloring and cream cheese doesn’t mean it’s magically red velvet.