Description
This Galaxy Cake Roll is a visually stunning dessert that combines colorful swirls of vibrant cake tinted with gel food coloring and a light, fluffy whipped cream filling. Perfect for cosmic-themed parties or anyone who loves a playful and elegant treat, the cake is baked in a jelly roll pan, rolled while warm, filled with sweetened whipped cream, and chilled to perfection. Optional edible glitter and star-shaped decorations add an extra touch of galactic magic.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs (room temperature)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Gel food coloring (blue, purple, black, pink)
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
For the Filling:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Decorations:
- Edible glitter
- Galaxy sprinkles
- Star-shaped sugar decorations
Instructions
- Prepare the Pan and Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper and lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning throughout the batter.
- Beat Eggs and Sugar: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the eggs on high speed for 5–6 minutes until thick, pale, and tripled in volume. Gradually add sugar and vanilla extract and continue beating until fully incorporated and fluffy.
- Fold in Dry Ingredients: Gently fold the flour mixture into the beaten eggs using a spatula until just combined to maintain the airy texture of the batter.
- Color the Batter: Divide the batter evenly into 3–4 small bowls. Tint each portion with different gel food coloring colors such as blue, purple, black, and pink for the galaxy effect.
- Swirl Batter on Pan: Spoon dollops of differently colored batter randomly over the prepared pan. Use a toothpick or skewer to swirl the colors gently for a marbled, galaxy appearance.
- Bake the Cake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes or until the cake springs back lightly when touched and is set.
- Roll the Cake: While still warm, dust a clean kitchen towel liberally with powdered sugar. Turn the cake out onto the towel, peel off parchment paper, and roll the cake up in the towel starting from the short end. Allow it to cool completely rolled.
- Prepare Whipped Cream Filling: Whip together heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form for a stable, fluffy filling.
- Fill and Roll: Carefully unroll the cooled cake. Spread the whipped cream evenly over the surface. Re-roll the cake tightly without towel and place seam-side down on a serving plate.
- Chill and Decorate: Refrigerate the cake roll for at least 30 minutes to set. Decorate the outside with edible glitter, galaxy sprinkles, or star-shaped sugar decorations as desired before serving.
Notes
- For extra visual drama, you can coat the outside of the rolled cake with a thin layer of whipped cream or buttercream and recreate the galaxy swirl design using colored icings or edible paints.
- Store the finished cake roll in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to keep it fresh and the whipped cream stable.
- Room temperature eggs help achieve maximum volume when beating the batter.
- Be gentle when folding the flour into the eggs to retain fluffiness.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant, non-runny colors that won’t affect batter consistency.
