Pink Velvet Roulade

This pretty pink velvet roulade is perfect for any occasion and its color makes it a lovely edible centerpiece.

Pink Velvet Roulade
Pink Velvet Roulade

A little over two weeks ago, tornadoes wreaked havoc in Alabama and the surrounding states.  I feel very fortunate that the damage we suffered here in East Tennessee was mild comparatively.  We’ll be getting a new roof and vinyl siding, but many people in Alabama lost everything they owned, and worse

That evening, after the storm was over, we emerged from our designated safe-place to find our yard completely covered with soft-ball sized hail.  Wow.  I’ve never seen anything so strange and scary! 

Since then, I find myself gravitating toward creature comforts, or better said – things to soothe jangled nerves. I’ve spent more time with my recipe journal-slash-sketchbook and Bic Cristals in black (do other writing instruments exist?).  I keep inspiration close by in the form of a sparkly vintage brooch.  I indulge in too many cups of coffee as well as the nerdiest art books…

Pink Velvet Roulade

…and I bake, of course.  It’s strange how I can completely abandon my worries while whisking eggs and measuring sugar.  I know many of you feel the same way.

I’ll bet you didn’t know that cake rolls are my favorite thing to make, ever.   They are so simple and beautiful.  It’s been much too long since I last posted a roulade, so I’ve decided to put forth a little extra effort and post a video of my roulade making process.

I almost hesitate to call this roulade “pink velvet” even though it has everything that a velvet cake is supposed to have, specifically, buttermilk and vinegar.  Unlike most true velvet cakes, it has a very mild flavor and isn’t overly tangy.  Without the pink coloring, it would be a good all purpose, basic cake roll.  I used vanilla Swiss buttercream for a filling, and the overall balance and texture is as pretty as the cake looks.

Pink Velvet Roulade

Heather Baird
This pink velvet roll is riff on classic red velvet cake. It uses southern staples that give classic red velvet cake its flavor, namely buttermilk, cider vinegar, and baking soda as leaven.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 10

Equipment

  • Jelly roll pan 10 x 15

Ingredients
  

Cake

  • 4 eggs
  • 3/4 cup extra fine granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 2 tbsp buttermilk
  • 1 tsp cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 drop or small dab of Wilton rose gel food coloring Americolor pink would also work
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Swiss buttercream filling

  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg white use two whites if your eggs are small
  • 12 tbsp unsalted butter 1 1/2 US sticks
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions
 

Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 10×15 jelly-roll pan with white vegetable shortening and line with parchment; grease parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, beat eggs with a hand mixer for 5 full minutes – set a timer if you need to! Properly whipped eggs will lighten in color considerably and have the appearance of yellow cake batter.
  • With the mixer still running, slowly add sugar and oil to the whipped eggs. Next, add buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla extract and food coloring (add food coloring a little at a time until desired color is achieved).
  • Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly add to the liquid ingredients. Mix until well combined.
  • Sprinkle a cotton tea towel with powdered sugar and rub sugar into the towel with your hands. Terry-cloth towels and towels with texture (such as waffle pattern) are NOT ideal for making cake rolls.
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes. Check at 12 minutes. Cake is done when it springs back when pressed with fingers.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan and tilt pan to distribute batter evenly.
  • When cake is baked turn it out onto the tea towel – do this without delay! Peel off parchment and immediately roll cake into the tea towel, beginning at the narrow end. Roll tightly and as evenly as possible. Place rolled cake on a wire rack seam-side down and let cool completely.

Swiss meringue buttercream

  • Whisk egg white(s) and sugar together in a large heat-proof bowl over a pot of simmering water. Whisk constantly until the sugar melts into the egg white. Check consistency by rubbing a bit between two fingers. If sugar granules remain, keep heating/whisking.
  • When sugar and egg white are blended, transfer to a stand mixer. Whip until the mixtures doubles in size. Add vanilla extract, and then whip in softened butter a little at a time until mixture has thickened to buttercream icing consistency.

Assembly

  • Carefully unwrap/unroll velvet cake, allowing the most tightly rolled end to curl slightly (see video). Frost inside with Swiss buttercream and roll cake tightly. Cut into pieces with a serrated knife and serve.
  • Pretty when garnished with sweetened whipped cream and glace’ or maraschino cherries.
Keyword cider vinegar, extra fine granulated sugar, sponge roll
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

What a beautiful roll, it looks like it would cut so easily and the filling looks so deliciously smooth!

Jessica @ How Sweet
Jessica @ How Sweet
12 years ago

In my opinion, you can never have enough pink. So pretty!

Rosa's Yummy Yums
Rosa's Yummy Yums
12 years ago

So pretty! A lovely roulade. Great video too.

Cheers,

Rosa

Megan
Megan
12 years ago

Love this! And the video is the cutest thing I've ever seen. Your little pugs are the coolest.

Blog da Nô
Blog da Nô
12 years ago

Lindo!
:o)

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

Beautiful!! I loved the video. Sometimes seeing it in action is better than words. Thank you! What is the song that's playing? It's great too 🙂

Cookbook Queen
Cookbook Queen
12 years ago

Heather, this is GORGEOUS!! You make the most beautiful things…is it possible to LIVE in a blog? Because I'm thinking I'd like to live here for awhile. Everything's so pink and magical.

Melissa
Melissa
12 years ago

Looks so beautiful. It's my daughter's birthday son. Now I know what cake to make her!

Paula
Paula
12 years ago

Thank you so much for the video! I've never made Roulade and you make it look like it is something I could pull off. Your photographs are stunning.
Glad that you did not suffer too much damage from the tornadoes but Alabama is still suffering and will be for a long time to come. Horrific what happened to so many in such a brief few moments in time.

Urvashee@Dessarts
Urvashee@Dessarts
12 years ago

So pretty! And love the video too.

Jennifer
Jennifer
12 years ago

Looks absolutely gorgeous! I want to make one RIGHT NOW! 🙂

Kelly
Kelly
12 years ago

Mmmmm. I've never made a roll cake, which is seeming like a shame, especially since the color of that is so stunning.

Sue
Sue
12 years ago

Heather, I LOVE your video! Besides being helpful, the song is perfect and the assistants are cute:) Gorgeous roulade! I'm glad your damage wasn't more severe…that must have been so scary:(

Maris (In Good Taste)
Maris (In Good Taste)
12 years ago

This is gorgeous, beautiful stunning! I love it!

Heather @ Heather's Dish
Heather @ Heather's Dish
12 years ago

This is beautiful!!! You really make the cutest prettiest food ever! I know what my birthday cake is this year 😉

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

LOVE the video! You're a pastry rockstar, Heather. xoxo

Lauren at Keep It Sweet
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
12 years ago

This is the prettiest dessert I've ever seen! You are so talented.

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

Adore that third photo. I did think about you during the devastation of the tornado. I'm sorry about the damage to your home. New roof and siding is pretty major.

I couldn't help I notice at the bottom of your post, the cupcakes with the mustache. My husband grew a mustache with goatee this year. That would be so funny to make for him!!

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

Yep. Had to come back. The video!!! Adorable!! I giggled the whole way through. It is fantastic, entertaining, and informative. But…the entertaining part I love!

Lanell
Lanell
12 years ago

That is the most beautiful dessert I have ever seen. Just looking at the picture makes me happy. I would really like to post this and link right back to you if that is ok. Just beautiful.

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

GORGEOUS! I love making roulades too, but somehow I always forget I love making them, thanks for the reminder 🙂

Lora
Lora
12 years ago

Gorgeous as usual! I was just looking at a roulade recipe in a new German cookbook I bought today. Your great video may just give me the confidence to try and pull it off. I love your squishy faced co-stars and your pink mixer is beyond adorable.

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

This is a great creation, loving your composition in this set of pictures too! You get better and better, one of my MOST favorite blogs to read.

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

This is so freaking beautiful! Great cake!

Misty
Misty
12 years ago

So much beauty in one post, really! And the video was perfect. I'm adding this to my list of to-makes.

Katherine
Katherine
12 years ago

Just gorgeous. The video is super cute and helpful as well. So glad to hear you and your home are ok.

Diva
Diva
12 years ago

Very pretty & tasty I sure!

Allison
Allison
12 years ago

oh my goodness this is one of the cutest and most beautiful little cakes I have ever seen! Love love love this!

Suny Senabre
Suny Senabre
12 years ago

Es una delicia de postre. Con un color tan bonito!! Te feliciot por esta receta tan fantástica.

Besitos,

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

so sorry to hear you got caught up with the earth quakes but glad to hear the damage was only minor. Love the roulade how yummy and lovely, dee x

Lilianna Grace
Lilianna Grace
12 years ago

This looks like something my hubby would love, but I must admit I'm more of a chocolate lover myself. It sure did turn out pretty!

margaret
margaret
12 years ago

Good to hear you made it through the tornadoes. We can only imagine how frightening it must have been, and still is, for many. I agree, "creature comforts" are best at a time like this, and how nice of you to include us by giving us this recipe. It's so bright and cheery… simply stunning, as is your website! I can't wait to make it (it will be my first roulade!). All the best to you and yours, and all the others who have been affected by those tornadoes.

Jen C.
Jen C.
12 years ago

The video is completely adorable!!! I'm in MA so I'm pretty far away from any tornado damage, but I'm sure those who are going through tough times because of it will be cheered up by your video.

emily
emily
12 years ago

those are absolutely stunning! such a happy confection to bring joy to the world.

Shumaila
Shumaila
12 years ago

This looks so pretty!

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

Ok. This was the cutest thing I've ever seen…….I thought the dessert itself was adorable until I watched the video….Oh. My. Gosh.

*squee*

I loved your little helpers, too!

Ann

Angie - Big Bears Wife
Angie - Big Bears Wife
12 years ago

Those are just beautiful!

Lauren @ Crave. Indulge. Satisfy.
Lauren @ Crave. Indulge. Satisfy.
12 years ago

What a beautiful cake, great video too!

Alicia
Alicia
12 years ago

This is fabulous! I am so glad you included the video for those of us that need to visually see something to understand…such as myself 😉

Gloria
Gloria
12 years ago

Oh, Heavenly Heather! This is just so pretty and gorgeous AND heavenly! You take the best photographs of your creations also. I am saving this recipe and hope to try it one day. You are the master!
Best,
Gloria

Elizabeth Ann @ Elizabeth Ann's Recipe Box
Elizabeth Ann @ Elizabeth Ann's Recipe Box
12 years ago

ok. . . I am OBSESSED with your video! 🙂 WOW! 😉 makes it look SO easy!

Amy @ What Jew Wanna Eat
Amy @ What Jew Wanna Eat
12 years ago

SO pretty!

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

Did you hear the loud gasp that just came from my side of the computer screen? Seriously, this is the prettiest cake roll I've ever seen. Gorgoise!

Anh
Anh
12 years ago

so pretty! I am loving this!

The Cooking Photographer
The Cooking Photographer
12 years ago

Adorable! Almost too pretty to eat. Almost. 🙂

Laura

Kelsey
Kelsey
12 years ago

This is so pretty! And I loved the video too!

Jodie
Jodie
12 years ago

Love the video! Looks like fun to make. 🙂

Meagan @ Scarletta Bakes
Meagan @ Scarletta Bakes
12 years ago

I don't know what I like better: your roulade or the fact that you enjoy Bic Cristals just as much as I do.

Thank you for another lovely post and recipe!

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

Hi, I loved your blog, it´s beatiful, I´m Spanish, I don´t speak English but CONGRATULTIONS FOR YOU BLOG!!!!

Lea
Lea
12 years ago

It looks wonderful