Mary Berry’s Chocolate Swiss Roll features a thin, airy chocolate sponge rolled around a creamy filling. This light and fluffy cake is typically filled with whipped cream or buttercream, creating a delightful balance of chocolate richness and creaminess. It’s perfect as a tea-time treat, dessert, or festive table centerpiece.
Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan) or 400°F. Grease a Swiss roll tin and line it with parchment paper, making sure the paper hangs slightly over the edges for easy removal.
In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and caster sugar together with an electric mixer until the mixture is pale, thick, and fluffy. This will take about 5 minutes and is essential for creating a light sponge.
Sift the self-raising flour and cocoa powder into the egg mixture. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the egg mixture using a spatula, being careful not to deflate the air you have incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and fold until just combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared Swiss roll tin, spreading it evenly to reach the edges. Smooth the top with a spatula to ensure it bakes evenly.
Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the sponge is set and springs back when lightly touched. The cake should be soft and light, so avoid overbaking.
While the sponge is baking, place a sheet of parchment paper on a clean surface and dust it lightly with icing sugar. Once the sponge is baked, carefully turn it out onto the sugared parchment paper. Peel off the lining paper from the sponge, then roll the cake up tightly with the parchment paper from one short end. Allow it to cool completely in this rolled shape, which helps prevent cracking later.
In a bowl, whip the double cream, icing sugar, and vanilla extract until it reaches soft peaks. Be careful not to overwhip, as it should be light and spreadable.
Once the sponge has cooled, carefully unroll it. Spread the whipped cream evenly over the sponge, leaving a small border around the edges to prevent it from spilling out when rolled.
Gently roll the sponge back up, without the parchment paper, keeping it tight. Place the roll seam-side down to help it hold its shape.
Dust the top of the Chocolate Swiss Roll with icing sugar. Slice and serve it on a platter, or refrigerate it until ready to serve.