Name: Easter Colorful Cake Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 3 h 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 large egg whites, room temperature; 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice; ¼ tsp kosher salt; ¼ cup sugar; ½ cup cake flour + 1 tbsp; Pastel gel food coloring (various colors); 1 – 8 oz cream cheese, softened; ½ cup unsalted butter, softened; 1 cup powdered sugar; 1 tsp pure vanilla extract; Powdered sugar for dusting

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Introduction

This Easter Cake Roll is a colorful and light dessert perfect for spring celebrations. Featuring a vibrant sponge cake layered with creamy, tangy cream cheese frosting, it’s both festive and delicious. The roll is fun to make and sure to impress your guests with its beautiful pastel shades.

A rolled cake with three visible layers of pastel colors on the outside: pink, green, and blue, dusted with white powdered sugar, sits on a white rectangular plate. The cake is sliced into three pieces showing the spiral pattern inside with layers of white cream and swirling pastel colors matching the outside. The plate rests on a white marbled surface with a colorful pastel plaid cloth beside it. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

Cake Ingredients:

6 large egg whites, room temperature
1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
¼ tsp kosher salt
¼ cup sugar
½ cup cake flour + 1 tbsp
Pastel gel food coloring

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:

1 – 8 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 13×18-inch baking sheet with baking spray and line it with parchment paper.
Step 2: Using a standing mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites, lemon juice, and salt until foamy. Gradually add the sugar while continuing to beat until soft peaks form.
Step 3: Gently fold the cake flour into the egg white mixture until combined and smooth.
Step 4: Divide the batter evenly into 4 bowls. Add a few drops of different pastel gel food coloring to each bowl and mix until you reach your desired vibrant shades.
Step 5: Alternate spooning dollops of the colored batters onto the prepared parchment paper. Use a flat spatula to spread the batters evenly across the pan.
Step 6: Bake for 12 minutes, or until the cake springs back when lightly pressed. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
Step 7: Flip the cake onto another sheet of parchment paper. Carefully peel off the top layer of parchment. Roll the cake tightly into a spiral while still warm, then refrigerate for a few hours until completely chilled.
Step 8: For the frosting, beat the softened cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together until smooth and creamy.
Step 9: Once the cake is chilled, gently unroll it. Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the surface, then carefully re-roll the cake.
Step 10: Before serving, dust the top of the rolled cake with powdered sugar. Slice and enjoy!

Tips & Variations

Use a flexible rubber spatula to gently fold in the flour to avoid deflating the egg whites.
Feel free to customize the colors with your favorite gel food coloring shades to match any occasion.
For a lemony twist, add a teaspoon of lemon zest to the frosting.
If you don’t have a standing mixer, a hand mixer works fine but be careful not to overbeat the egg whites.

Storage

Store the cake roll covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, let it come to room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving for the best texture and flavor.

How to Serve

This image shows two slices of a colorful rolled dessert on a white rectangular plate placed on a white marbled surface. The dessert has three visible layers: the outer layer is a soft, spongy cake with swirls of pink, green, and light blue colors, lightly dusted with powdered sugar giving it a textured look. Inside, there is a thick, smooth, white cream filling that contrasts with the bright outer layer. Behind the slices, part of the uncut roll with the same colorful and creamy layers is visible, and a few more stacked slices can be seen blurred in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the cake roll ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the cake and frosting a day in advance. Keep the frosted roll tightly wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated until ready to serve.

What if I don’t have pastel gel food coloring?

You can use any gel or liquid food coloring, but gel colors tend to be more vibrant and require fewer drops, helping maintain the batter’s consistency.