CHOCOLATE ROULADE CAKE RECIPES

Steps:

• Place rack in center of oven, and heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter an 11-by-17-inch jelly-roll pan or a 12-by-17 1/2-inch sheet pan, and line with parchment paper.
• In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup cream to a simmer.
• Add chocolate, reduce heat, and whisk until chocolate is melted.
• As soon as mixture is a uniform dark color, remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes.
• Whip egg whites and 2 tablespoons sugar to stiff, glossy peaks, about 1 1/2 minutes.
• Whisk one-quarter of the egg-white mixture into the chocolate mixture.
• Gently fold chocolate mixture back into the original egg-white mixture, and mix until smooth and well combined.
• Pour batter into the prepared pan, and spread it in an even layer with a rubber spatula.
• Bake until cake is set and puffy, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Transfer to a wire rack, and cool to room temperature.
• Lift parchment paper to remove cake from pan, and set it on work surface with long side facing edge of table.
• Using a fine-mesh sieve, lightly dust cake with cocoa powder.
• For the crème chantilly, whip the remaining 1 cup cream with the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar, the vanilla, and cognac.
• Spread evenly over entire surface of cake.
• Roll the cake lengthwise, starting at a point 2 to 3 inches over the crème chantilly.
• Roll cake another few inches, pressing against parchment paper to make a tight spiral.
• Gently peel parchment paper off as cake layer rolls away.
• Complete the roll, stopping at the far edge of the parchment paper.
• Tuck the loose parchment paper around and underneath the cylinder so it is well wrapped and can be moved easily.
• Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, transfer roulade to serving platter.
• Remove parchment paper, gently rolling cake into center of platter, with seam on bottom.
• (If roll has slumped or twisted, lay a piece of plastic over top and sides, and reshape with hands.) With a sharp knife, trim both ends of roll crosswise or on a diagonal.
• Dust top with confectioners’ sugar and cocoa powder, and garnish with seasonal fruit.
• To serve, cut the roll into 1-inch-thick slices, and lay flat on dessert plates; top with additional crème chantilly if desired.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Line a lightly greased 15- x 10-inch jelly-roll pan with parchment paper; lightly grease parchment paper.
• Microwave chocolate and 1/4 cup water in a large microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 minute or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals. (Do not overheat mixture.)
• Beat egg yolks and 3/4 cup sugar at high speed with an electric mixer 3 minutes or until mixture is thick and pale yellow. Whisk into chocolate mixture.
• Beat egg whites at high speed with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form; fold into chocolate mixture.
• Bake at 325° for 15 to 18 minutes or until puffed. Remove from oven; place a damp kitchen towel over cake in pan, and cool completely on a wire rack (about 30 minutes).
• Remove damp towel. Place a 20- x 15-inch piece of parchment paper on work surface. Dust cake with cocoa, and invert onto parchment paper. Carefully peel parchment paper from top of cake.
• Beat cream, orange liqueur, and remaining 1/4 cup sugar at high speed with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Spread cream mixture over top of cake, leaving a 1-inch border on all sides. Lift and tilt parchment paper at 1 short side, and carefully roll up cake, jelly-roll fashion, using parchment paper to lift and roll cake. Wrap rolled cake in parchment paper, and place on baking sheet. Chill 2 to 8 hours. Transfer cake to a serving platter; remove and discard parchment paper. Garnish cake, if desired.