Peppermint Mocha Cake Roll is a moist chocolate-espresso cake filled with whipped cream and topped with chocolate espresso ganache and crushed peppermint. It's your favorite peppermint mocha drink in cake form!
1.5ounces(3 tablespoons) unsalted buttermelted and cooled slightly, plus 1 tablespoon more for preparing the cake pan
1teaspoonpure vanilla extract
1.6ounces(1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon) sifted all purpose flour
1.2ounces(3/8 cup) unsifted cocoa powder
1teaspooninstant espresso powder
4largeeggsroom temperature*
4.3ounces(2/3 cup) granulated sugar
1/8teaspoonsea salt
For the whipped cream:
1 1/4cupheavy whipping cream
2tablespoonsgranulated sugar
1teaspoonvanilla extract
For the ganache:
3ouncesbittersweet chocolate chipsI used Guittard
3ouncessemi-sweet chocolate chipsI used Guittard
1/2teaspooninstant espresso powder
3/4cupheavy cream
crushed candy canes or peppermint crunchfor garnish
Instructions
Prepare the cake:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush a large rimmed baking sheet with half of the 1 tablespoon of melted butter. Line the pan with parchment paper, cutting a diagonal line from each corner into the corners of the pan so the paper nestles in easily. Brush the parchment and sides with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of melted butter. Set aside.
Melt the butter in a medium sized microwave safe bowl until melted, about 45 seconds to 1 minute. Add the vanilla extract and stir to combine. Set aside.
Add the room temperature eggs, sugar, and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk just to combine with the whisk attachment. Beat the mixture at high speed until it triples in volume, about 5 minutes, or until you can draw a figure 8 by dipping the whisk attachment into the batter and it holds.
While the eggs and sugar are being whipped, combine the flour, cocoa, and espresso powder with a whisk until combined. Sift the mixture together three times. Sift 1/3 of the flour mixture into the egg-sugar mixture, and gently fold it in using a rubber scraper. Repeat with the remaining 2/3 of the dry ingredients, being careful not to over-fold. Add about 1 cup of the batter to the butter-vanilla mixture and fold gently until combined. Add this to the remaining batter and fold in gently just until incorporated. Pour large dollops of the batter over the entire surface area of the prepared pan so it's easier to spread without over-working. Spread as evenly as possible with an offset spatula, and bake on the center rack of the oven for 15 minutes, or until the top of the cake springs back when gently pressed and the cake pulls away from the sides of the pan. Cool 5 minutes on a wire rack.
While the cake cools, lay a large lint-free towel on the counter. Holding the cake pan with the cake facing away from you, hold onto the sides with oven mitts or towels and invert the cake gently onto the towel. Gently roll the cake up in the towel while it's still warm, and cool on the wire rack for 30 minutes to 1 hour until completely cool.
Prepare the whipped cream:
Place the whipped cream, granulated sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium high speed until medium peaks form, being careful not to over beat.
Prepare the ganache:
Place the chocolate chips, espresso powder, and heavy cream in a heat proof bowl. Set aside.
Fill a large sauté pan halfway full of water and heat over medium heat until the water simmers. Turn the heat down to low, then place the bowl of chocolate chips and cream, stirring constantly with a rubber scraper until the chocolate melts and emulsifies with the cream. When the mixture is smooth, remove from heat and set aside to cool.
Assemble the cake:
Once the cake has cooled, unroll the cake and trim the edges, if necessary, with a sharp knife. Spread the whipped cream evenly over the unrolled cake, leaving a border of 1" around the cake. Carefully roll the cake as tightly as possible, tucking it gently as you roll. Place on a serving plate with two pieces of waxed paper on either side, which will be removed after frosting with the ganache.
If the ganache has cooled too much, heat it in the microwave for about 20 seconds or until just pourable. Pour some of the ganache over the cake carefully -- you won't need it all -- and spread along the sides if necessary. Remove the waxed paper. Garnish the cake with crushed candy canes or peppermint crunch. Chill 2-4 hours or until set. Enjoy!
Notes
Total time above includes 4 hours of chilling time.
To bring your eggs to room temperature faster, submerge them in a bowl of warm water for about 15 minutes.
While this cake was still delicious the next day, I thought it was best the day it was made. If you have leftovers, store it in an airtight container in the fridge or cover with plastic wrap.
The peppermint candies will liquify slightly when left in the refrigerator.
Cake recipe adapted from Alice Medrich .
Whipped cream filling and chocolate ganache recipes by Flavor the Moments.