Description
Galaxy Cake Roll is a visually stunning and delicious chocolate Swiss roll inspired by the cosmic colors of a galaxy. This rolled dessert features a soft cocoa sponge cake swirled with vibrant purple, blue, and black hues using gel food coloring. Filled with a creamy mixture of whipped cream and cream cheese, it’s perfect for parties or special occasions. The cake is baked to perfection, rolled warm to prevent cracks, then chilled before slicing for clean, impressive layers.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons milk
Coloring
- Gel food coloring in purple, blue, and black
Filling
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Decoration
- Edible shimmer dust
Instructions
- Prep the Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper, ensuring it’s well covered for easy cake roll removal.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until combined.
- Beat Eggs and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the 4 large eggs and 3/4 cup granulated sugar using a mixer on high speed until the mixture is thick, pale, and fluffy. This usually takes about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add Flavor and Liquids: Incorporate the vanilla extract, vegetable oil, and milk into the egg mixture, folding gently to blend.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gently fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet egg batter until just combined, being careful not to deflate the batter.
- Create Galaxy Colors: Divide small portions of batter into separate bowls and tint them with gel food coloring in purple, blue, and black shades. Use gel colors to maintain batter consistency and vibrant hues.
- Design the Cake Pattern: Randomly dollop and spread the colored batters onto the parchment paper in a swirling galaxy pattern. Lightly swirl with a toothpick for a marbled effect, ensuring the colors blend beautifully but don’t overmix.
- Add Remaining Batter: Carefully spread the remaining plain chocolate batter evenly over the colored batter base, covering the entire pan surface.
- Bake the Cake: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cake springs back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Roll the Cake While Warm: Immediately invert the hot cake onto a clean kitchen towel dusted with cocoa powder. Peel off the parchment paper and roll the cake up in the towel from the short end to shape it, which helps prevent cracks. Allow it to cool completely in this rolled form.
- Prepare the Filling: In a mixing bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla extract together until stiff peaks form, creating a smooth and fluffy filling.
- Fill and Re-Roll: Carefully unroll the cooled cake, spread the prepared filling evenly over the surface, then gently roll it back up without the towel.
- Chill: Wrap the rolled cake in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to set and allow for easier slicing.
- Serve: Before serving, dust lightly with edible shimmer dust if desired, enhancing the galaxy appearance.
Notes
- Use gel food coloring instead of liquid to keep the batter consistency thick and maintain vibrant galaxy tones.
- Roll the cake while it is still warm to prevent cracking and ensure easier shaping.
- Chill the roll thoroughly before slicing to achieve clean, neat slices without tearing.
- Store the cake refrigerated in an airtight container to keep it fresh.
