Swiss roll | cake recipes (2024)

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Directions

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4.Grease the tin and cut a piece of baking paper about three centimetres larger than the tin all the way around. Push the paper into the tin, smoothing out at the corners.
• Place the eggs and the caster sugar in a large bowl. Air is the only raising agent in a Swiss Roll so get whisking. Don’t let the eggs and sugar sit in the bowl together for too long or else the sugar will draw moisture from the eggs and it will take much longer to whisk them up until thick and volumised.
• The eggs and sugar will start to go pale and thicken, but keep going: it can take up to 10 minutes to whisk in enough air. When the mixture is ready lift out the whisk, the mixture should trail away in a ribbon and stay visible on the top of the mixture. If it sinks straight back in and disappearsit still needs more whisking.
• When the egg and sugar mixture is thick and aerated enough gently sift over the flour.
• Fold the flour into the mixture using a spatula or metal spoon. Cut through the mixture and turn, lifting the mixture from the bottom of the bowl. Cut through any pockets of fl our as you find them. Gently is the way to do it to keep as much air in the mixture as possible.
• Once it’s fully combined gently transfer the mixture into the prepared tin. Ease the mixture into the corners of the tin by tilting gently, trying to avoid popping any of the bubbles.
• Bake the cake for 15 minutes. It should be a light golden brown on the top and you should still hear a little ‘pfft’ when you touch it lightly with a fingertip. We need this moisture for flexibility and rolling. Dry it out completely and it would have to be folded not rolled!
• The cake should still be warm and it’s time to get ready for rolling: take a piece of baking paper slightly larger than the size of the cake and set iton the work surface. Scatter it liberally with caster sugar.
• Remove the cake from the tray, still in its baking paper. Gently ease the lining paper away from each edge of the cake, then flip it over so that the top of the cake sits on top of the caster sugar covered sheet. Carefully peel away the paper from the base of the cake. It will still be warm so do be careful.
• Spread the cake with a good layer of jam. Using a sharp knife, cut a line going halfway through the depth of the cake about two centimetres from the short end of the cake, all the way along. Fold this small section directly over onto the jam.
• Take a firm hold of the baking paper along the short side and begin to roll up the cake. Use your free hand to encourage it to roll. Once it starts simply continue lifting the paper and the cake will roll itself up.
• Once you reach the end turn the cake so that the seam sits underneath, transfer to a serving plate and try to fend off the hungry masses or you will just be left with a plate of crumbs.