Sink Your Teeth into a Spooky and Delicious Halloween Jelly Roll

The Spookily Delicious Halloween Jelly Roll

As the leaves start changing color and the air turns crisp, there's no denying that fall and Halloween are just around the corner. It's time to break out the pumpkin spice, candy corn, and spooky decorations! But one of the best parts of Halloween is the food. Carving pumpkins, making candy apples, and whipping up festive treats gets everyone into the spirit of the season.

If you're looking for a super fun and delicious dessert to make this Halloween, look no further than the Halloween Jelly Roll. This spiraled cake rolled up with a sweet cream cheese filling is sure to be a hit at any Halloween party or get-together. The stunning black and orange swirled cake is creepy yet delicious!

The History of the Jelly Roll

Before we get into this specific festive jelly roll recipe, let's take a quick look at the history of the jelly roll itself. Sometimes called a Swiss roll or roulade cake, the jelly roll originated in Europe in the early 19th century. It involves baking a thin, flat sponge cake and then spreading it with a sweet filling like jam, whipped cream, or cream cheese. The cake is then tightly rolled up into a log shape.

The jelly roll cake rose to popularity in America in the early 20th century. Due to its stunning spiral shape when sliced, it became a staple dessert for many households. The treat was even featured in the first Joy of Cooking cookbook in 1931. While traditional jelly rolls use a plain sponge cake, there are now many creative flavors and designs, like this Halloween version!

How to Make a Halloween Jelly Roll

Making this Halloween-themed jelly roll is easier than you might think. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you'll have a professional-looking and tasting dessert the whole family will love. Here is a step-by-step guide to making this spooky sweet treat:

For the cake:

• Preheat oven to 375°F and line a rimmed 15 x 10 inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper. Spray parchment with nonstick baking spray.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar on high speed for about 5 minutes until very thick and pale yellow.
• Gently fold the flour mixture into the egg mixture in three additions just until combined.
• Divide batter evenly between two bowls. Tint one bowl orange and the other black using gel food coloring.
• Spread the batters evenly into the prepared pan. Use a knife to swirl them together.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes until cake springs back when touched.
• Dust a kitchen towel with powdered sugar. Run a knife around the cake edges and invert cake onto the towel.
• Roll up the cake in the towel and allow to cool completely.

For the filling:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
• Fold in whipped topping until fully combined.

To assemble:

• Unroll the cooled cake and spread evenly with the filling mixture.
• Starting from one short end, re-roll up the cake tightly.
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour.
• When ready to serve, dust the top with powdered sugar or orange Halloween sprinkles.
• Slice into spirals to reveal the fun design!

Decorating Your Halloween Jelly Roll

The swirled black and orange cake already makes a statement, but you can take the decoration up a notch with some spooky embellishments. Get creative with your jelly roll decor! Here are some fun ideas:

• Dust with orange, black, or purple powdered sugar or sprinkles
• Draw spider web designs on top with melted chocolate
• Decorate with gummy worms, spiders, or bugs
• Add a chocolate bat or ghost cutout
• Stick in candy pumpkins or ghosts
• Write Happy Halloween in icing
• Arrange candy corn along the edges

Let your imagination run wild to make this jelly roll as creepy or cute as you'd like. Get the whole family involved in decorating for some added fun.

Jelly Roll Tips and Tricks

To help ensure jelly roll success, here are some handy tips to remember:

• Be sure not to overbake the cake or it won't roll properly. Watch closely as it bakes.
• Work quickly and gently when rolling to prevent cracking.
• If cake cracks, patch with a little icing before rolling.
• Chill rolled cake before slicing for the cleanest cuts.
• Use a serrated knife to cut into perfect spirals.
• Store leftovers covered in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Creative Flavor Combinations

While the orange and black cocoa sponge cake is perfect for Halloween, you can get creative with the fillings and designs for other occasions. Here are some fun jelly roll flavor combinations to try:

• Pumpkin Spice: Pumpkin cake with cinnamon cream cheese filling
• Strawberry Shortcake: Vanilla cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream
• Tie Dye: Funfetti cake with vanilla buttercream swirled with food coloring
• Neapolitan: Chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry strips filled with chocolate fudge
• Fiesta: Spice cake with dulce de leche filling and fruit salsa

The options are endless for creative flavors and decorations! With a basic sponge cake recipe, you can come up with all kinds of jelly rolls for any occasion.

Bring Some Halloween Spirit with a Jelly Roll

This Halloween jelly roll is sure to be a mouthwatering hit whether you take it to a party or serve it at home. The fun spiral design with spooky colors looks impressive but is deceptively easy to whip up. So break out the baking sheets this fall and try your hand at this Halloween twist on a classic dessert. Just be sure to save me a slice of this creepy and delicious treat!

FAQs

How far in advance can I make the jelly roll?

You can bake the jelly roll cake itself 1-2 days in advance. Just cool completely, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and store at room temperature. Don't fill or roll it until ready to serve. The filled cake should chill at least 1 hour before slicing.

Can I freeze the Halloween jelly roll?

Yes, you can freeze the unfilled jelly roll cake by wrapping it tightly in a few layers of plastic wrap. Allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge before unrolling and filling. The filled jelly roll should not be frozen.

What can I use instead of whipped topping?

Whipped cream or mascarpone cheese make excellent substitutes for the whipped topping in the filling. You can also use plain Greek yogurt or cream cheese frosting.