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The final winner of the Swiss Roll that I wrote about in my blog post The “Beating” Goes On…once the first cut was made in test cake #1 in the photo, we knew it had to be changed up to chocolate cake for sure!
Makes Approximately 10 Servings
For the Cake:
6 large eggs, at room temperature
¾ cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa, sifted
1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract
Pinch of salt (approx. 1/16 tsp.)
Icing sugar for dusting
Cut a piece of wax paper to fit the bottom of a 15 x 10 x 1” rimmed baking sheet; spray the bottom of the pan lightly with non-stick cooking spray; place the pre-cut piece of wax paper on the bottom of the pan & spray again with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 375 F.
Make the Cake:
Begin by separating the eggs, placing the egg whites into the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl; beat the egg whites at high speed, until soft peaks form when beaters are slowly lifted. Add ¼ cup of the sugar, 2 Tbsp. at a time, beating until the whites form stiff peaks when beaters are slowly lifted.
Place the egg yolks into a clean bowl & using the same beaters, beat the yolks at high speed, adding remaining ½ cup sugar, 2 Tbsp. at a time; beat the mixture until it is very thick, approximately 4 minutes. At low speed, beat in the cocoa, vanilla & salt just until combined.
Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the cocoa mixture into the egg whites until blended & no streaks of egg white remain. Spread evenly in the prepared pan; an offset spatula works well for this task. Bake the cake for 15 minutes, or just until the surface springs back when gently touched with your fingertip.
Meanwhile, sift icing sugar in a rectangle approximately the same size as the cake, onto a clean linen or other non-fluffy cloth towel. Immediately turn the cake upside down onto the sugared towel, lift off the pan & peel the wax paper off the cake.
Starting at the short end, roll up the cake & towel together like a jelly roll and allow to cool completely.
At this point you may now fill the cake with your desired filling, reroll the cake quite tightly, chill until ready to serve. You may dust with additional icing sugar if you like.
While the cake is cooling, prepare the filling:
1 cup mascarpone cheese, room temperature
¼ cup berry sugar/castor sugar
¾ cup whipping cream
4-5 Tbsp. finely chopped crystallized ginger
4-5 Tbsp. finely chopped dried tart cherries
2 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
¼ tsp. vanilla extract
Make the Filling:
Whip the cream until very soft/floppy peaks form, gradually adding the sugar as you are whipping. Gently mix in the mascarpone & vanilla on low speed of the mixer, until just combined. Fold in the ginger, cherries & chocolate.
Once the cake is completely cooled, unroll and spread the filling over the entire cake; then gently, using the towel to help roll the cake at the beginning, roll the cake up as firmly as you can. Chill the cake until ready to serve. Cut into approximately ¾” slices and serve.
