Chef Maria Rodriguez - Holiday Baking Specialist
👨‍🍳 Holiday Baking Expert

Recipe by Mitchell

🎓 Pastry Arts Degree ⏰ 20+ Years Experience 🍽️ European Baking Specialist

❤️ My Recipe Story

"This elegant Christmas roll became my signature holiday dessert after years of perfecting the delicate balance between the light sponge cake and the vibrant raspberry swirl. The key breakthrough came when I discovered the perfect technique for creating beautiful swirls without breaking the delicate cake structure."

Maria specializes in European-style holiday baking with a focus on elegant presentation and traditional techniques. She's passionate about creating desserts that are both visually stunning and deliciously memorable for special celebrations.

View All Mitchell's Recipes →
Elegant Christmas roll cake with pristine white cream cheese frosting, beautiful raspberry swirls visible in cross-section, garnished with fresh raspberries and mint leaves, dusted with powdered sugar

Mastering the Perfect Swiss Roll Technique

The secret to a perfect Christmas roll lies in achieving the ideal sponge texture and mastering the rolling technique. The cake must be light and flexible enough to roll without cracking, which requires careful attention to egg preparation and folding techniques. Separating the eggs and whipping them properly creates the airy structure essential for success.

Timing is crucial when rolling the cake. It must be done while still warm and pliable, but the filling can only be added once completely cool. Rolling with a towel initially helps maintain the shape and prevents cracking when the final assembly is completed.

💡 Professional Tip

Roll the cake while it's still warm using a powdered sugar-dusted towel. This sets the shape and prevents cracking later. Always let it cool completely before unrolling and adding the filling.

Frequently Asked Questions

The cake may have been overbaked, cooled too much before rolling, or the batter was overmixed. Roll while warm and ensure the cake springs back when lightly touched but isn't dry.

Yes! The unfrosted roll can be made 1 day ahead and wrapped tightly. Add the outer frosting and garnishes just before serving for the best appearance.

Dollop the raspberry filling in lines across the frosting, then use a knife to create gentle figure-8 motions. Don't overmix - you want distinct swirls, not a uniform pink color.

Yes, but thaw and drain them first. You may need to cook the filling slightly longer to achieve the right consistency since frozen berries release more liquid.

Chill the frosting for 15-20 minutes to firm up. If it's still too soft, gradually beat in more powdered sugar until you reach the desired consistency for spreading and piping.

Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Let it come to room temperature for 15 minutes before serving for the best texture and flavor.

Absolutely! Use a quarter-sheet pan, reduce baking time to 8-10 minutes, and adjust filling quantities proportionally. Perfect for individual servings or gift-giving.

Strawberries, blackberries, or mixed berries work beautifully. You can also try cranberry sauce for a more traditional Christmas flavor, or even chocolate ganache for variety.

Recipe Troubleshooting Guide

✅

Cake Cracks When Rolling

Problem: Sponge cake cracks or breaks during rolling process

Solution: Ensure cake is still warm when first rolled, don't overbake, and dust towel generously with powdered sugar. Score lightly along the starting edge with a knife.

✅

Uneven Baking

Problem: Cake bakes unevenly or has brown spots

Solution: Spread batter evenly to all corners, rotate pan halfway through baking, and ensure oven is properly preheated. Use an oven thermometer to verify temperature.

✅

Filling Leaks Out

Problem: Raspberry filling or frosting leaks from the ends

Prevention: Don't overfill, leave proper borders when spreading, and ensure filling isn't too thin. Chill assembled roll before final frosting to set the shape.

✅

Dense or Heavy Texture

Problem: Cake turns out dense instead of light and airy

Recovery: Don't overmix when folding ingredients, ensure egg whites are whipped to proper peaks, and fold gently to maintain air bubbles in the batter.

✅

Frosting Won't Hold Shape

Problem: Cream cheese frosting is too soft for piping or spreading

Prevention: Ensure cream cheese and butter are at proper room temperature, not too warm. Chill frosting briefly and add more powdered sugar if needed for stability.

✅

Flavor Balance Issues

Too Sweet: Add a pinch of salt to the frosting or increase lemon juice in the raspberry filling

Too Salty: Balance with additional powdered sugar in frosting or a touch of honey

Bland: Enhance with vanilla extract, almond extract, or lemon zest. Ensure raspberry filling is well-seasoned with lemon juice

Elegant baking ingredients including fresh raspberries, eggs, cream cheese, and flour arranged on marble surface with festive holiday decorations

Selecting Quality Ingredients for Holiday Excellence

The quality of ingredients directly impacts the final result of this elegant dessert. Fresh, plump raspberries provide the best flavor and color for the swirl filling. When fresh berries aren't available, high-quality frozen raspberries work well but require proper thawing and draining to prevent excess moisture.

Room temperature eggs whip to maximum volume, creating the light texture essential for a proper Swiss roll. Full-fat cream cheese at the perfect temperature ensures smooth, stable frosting that pipes beautifully and holds its shape throughout serving.

Essential Ingredient Notes

  • Raspberry Selection: Choose firm, bright red raspberries without soft spots. If using frozen, thaw completely and drain excess liquid to prevent the filling from becoming too thin.
  • Egg Temperature: Use room temperature eggs for maximum volume when whipping. If eggs are cold, place them in warm water for 5 minutes before separating and using.
  • Cream Cheese Quality: Use full-fat, brick-style cream cheese at room temperature. Avoid whipped or low-fat versions as they won't provide the proper structure for frosting.
Step-by-step process showing the elegant rolling technique, raspberry swirl creation, and final decoration of the Christmas roll cake

Advanced Assembly and Decoration Techniques

The artistry of this dessert lies in the assembly and decoration. Creating beautiful raspberry swirls requires a gentle touch and understanding of how the filling behaves with the frosting. The key is dolloping the raspberry mixture strategically and using smooth, confident motions to create the swirl pattern.

The final presentation elevates this from a simple cake to a stunning centerpiece. Piping techniques, garnish placement, and the final dusting of powdered sugar all contribute to the professional appearance that makes this dessert worthy of special celebrations.

Creating Perfect Swirls

Dollop raspberry filling in parallel lines, then use a knife tip to draw perpendicular lines through them, alternating directions. This creates elegant feathered swirls without overmixing.

Raspberry Swirl Christmas Roll

Prep 30 min
Cook 15 min
Serves 10 servings
Level Intermediate

📋 Ingredients

For the Sponge Cake

  • 300g fresh raspberries
    Choose firm, bright berries for best flavor
  • 60g granulated sugar
    Balances tartness of raspberries
  • 15ml lemon juice
    Enhances raspberry flavor and color
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
    Thickens filling to perfect consistency
  • 225g cream cheese, softened
    Full-fat for best texture and stability
  • 200g powdered sugar
    Creates smooth, sweet frosting
  • Fresh raspberries and mint for garnish
    For beautiful final presentation

For the Raspberry Filling & Frosting

  • 4 large eggs, separated
    Room temperature for maximum volume
  • 100g granulated sugar, divided
    Split between yolks and whites
  • 80g all-purpose flour
    Sifted for light, smooth texture
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    Pure vanilla for best flavor
  • ¼ tsp salt
    Enhances overall flavor balance
  • 60g butter, softened
    For rich, smooth frosting
  • 30ml heavy cream
    Adds richness and smooth texture

Instructions

  1. Prepare Cake Base

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 15x10-inch jelly roll pan with parchment. Beat egg yolks with ¼ cup sugar until pale. In separate bowl, whip egg whites with remaining sugar until stiff peaks form. Gently fold flour, vanilla, and salt into yolks, then fold in whites.

  2. Bake and Roll

    Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake 12-15 minutes until golden and springs back when touched. Immediately turn onto powdered sugar-dusted towel, remove parchment, and roll up with towel. Cool completely.

  3. Make Raspberry Filling

    Cook raspberries, sugar, and lemon juice in saucepan over medium heat for 5 minutes. Mix cornstarch with 2 tbsp water, add to berries, and cook until thickened. Cool completely and strain if desired for smoother texture.

  4. Prepare Cream Cheese Frosting

    Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and cream. Beat until smooth and spreadable. Reserve ⅓ for decoration.

  5. Assemble and Decorate

    Carefully unroll cake. Spread ⅔ of frosting evenly, leaving 1-inch border. Dollop raspberry filling and create swirls with knife. Roll up without towel. Frost outside with remaining frosting, garnish with fresh raspberries, mint, and dust with powdered sugar.

Recipe Notes & Tips

Make-Ahead Tips

The cake roll can be assembled (without outer frosting) up to 1 day ahead. Wrap tightly and refrigerate. Add final frosting and garnishes just before serving for best appearance.

Serving Presentation

Slice with a sharp knife, wiping clean between cuts. Arrange slices to show off the beautiful spiral pattern. Dust with powdered sugar just before serving for pristine appearance.

Flavor Variations

Try substituting strawberries or mixed berries for the raspberry filling. For a richer version, add a thin layer of chocolate ganache before the cream cheese frosting. Lemon zest in the cake adds lovely citrus notes.