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Moist rolled sponge cake arranged neatly for presentation

Red Velvet Cake Roll

Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
A soft, cocoa-infused red velvet sponge cake rolled with a rich cream cheese filling. This elegant dessert is perfect for Valentine’s Day or any festive occasion.
Servings

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ¾ cup cake flour sifted
  • 4 large eggs
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons red food coloring

For the Cream Cheese Filling:

  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter or margarine softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Additional powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions
 

Prepare the baking pan and towel:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan, then line it with wax paper. Grease and lightly flour the wax paper. On a clean cotton kitchen towel, sprinkle an even layer of powdered sugar and set aside.

Sift the dry ingredients:

  1. In a large bowl, sift together the salt, baking powder, cocoa powder, and cake flour. Set aside.

Beat the eggs and mix the wet ingredients:

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs for 5 minutes on medium speed, or until light and frothy. Gradually add the sugar and vegetable oil, beating until fully combined. Add the buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla extract, and red food coloring. Mix briefly until incorporated.

Combine the batter:

  1. Gradually add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until smooth and no dry streaks remain. Do not overmix.

Bake the cake:

  1. Pour the batter into the prepared jelly-roll pan and spread it evenly using an offset spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 13–15 minutes, or until the cake springs back when gently touched in the center.

Roll the cake while warm:

  1. Immediately loosen the edges of the cake and turn it out onto the prepared towel, powdered sugar side down. Carefully peel off the wax paper. Starting from one of the narrow ends, roll the cake and towel together into a spiral. Place the rolled cake seam side down on a wire rack and allow it to cool completely.

Prepare the cream cheese filling:

  1. In a clean mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract on medium speed until smooth, light, and creamy.

Fill and reroll the cake:

  1. Once the cake is fully cooled, gently unroll it. Spread the cream cheese filling evenly over the surface, leaving a small border around the edges. Carefully roll the cake up again—this time without the towel—into a tight log.

Chill and serve:

  1. Wrap the cake roll in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Just before serving, dust the top lightly with powdered sugar. Slice into even portions and serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

To make this Red Velvet Cake Roll gluten-free, substitute the cake flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend that contains xanthan gum. If the blend does not include xanthan gum, add ¾ teaspoon per cup of flour to support structure. Be extra gentle when rolling and unrolling the sponge, as gluten-free cakes may be slightly more delicate and prone to cracking. The result remains soft, flavorful, and visually striking.
Bitty