I am a marketers dream. I am the target audience that marketers go after when they are trying to entice customers merely by the power of suggestion. It will be 4:00 in the afternoon and a commercial will come on the television for a restaurant. I watch, get hungry, and can’t get that restaurant out of my mind until I visit it. I hear a friend talk about a product, and if they are speaking favorably about it, I get to the nearest store and buy it to try it out for myself.
Yesterday I added a little widget to my blog from widgetbox.com. You can find the widget I added towards the bottom left hand corner of my blog. This particular widget is from epicurious and it shows a little slide-show of various recipes you can find on Epicurious.com. I installed the widget and then sat there watching the recipe slideshow flash tempting photos of enticing recipes. When the recipe for Lighter Than Air Chocolate Roll popped up, my mouth started watering. My stomach started growling. My craving for some chocolate goodness intensified. I had to try this recipe, and I had to try it ASAP. I slept on it, thinking that surely by the next day I wouldn’t feel the urge to create this chocolate roll. Didn’t happen… I woke up this morning and it was one of the first things I thought of. The Lighter Than Air Chocolate Roll and I were going to meet today… I couldn’t avoid it. 
I must start by saying that I bake often, but I have never made a log or roll of any kind. I’ve always been intimidated by the rolling process, certain that it could only end in a crumpled up, broken log of a disaster. I was oh so pleased when that didn’t happen. I made my first log/roll and it was a huge success! The flavor of this chocolate roll is incredible. The chocolate is light, yet cures the craving. The Grand Mariner and orange zest in the cream gives this recipe a subtle yet rich flavor. For a dessert that is impressive and delicious, you should definitely give this one a try. Take it from me, the marketers dream… this is one suggestion worth following.
Addition – I’ve decided to use this as my entry for Sugar High Friday, hosted this month by the talented David Lebovitz. The chocolate I used was Ghirardelli. It is one of the only chocolate brands I use to get perfect results with every time. It has a rich flavor, but it doesn’t over power the recipe.
Lighter Than Air Chocolate Roll
Ingredients
- For cake layer
- 6 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate not unsweetened, chopped
- 3 tablespoons water
- 6 large eggs separated, at room temperature
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder
- For filling
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons confectioners sugar sifted
- 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier
- 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh orange zest
- Garnish: unsweetened cocoa powder and confectioners sugar
Instructions
- Make cake layer: Preheat oven to 350°F. Oil a 15- by 10- by 1-inch shallow baking pan and line bottom lengthwise | with a large piece of wax or parchment paper, letting paper hang over ends by 2 inches.
- Melt chocolate with water in a small heavy saucepan over very low heat, stirring. Cool to lukewarm.
- Beat yolks, 1/3 cup sugar, and salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer until thick and pale, about 5 minutes in a standing mixer or about 8 minutes with a hand-held mixer. Fold in melted chocolate until blended. Beat whites with cleaned beaters until they just hold soft peaks. Gradually add remaining 1/3 cup sugar and beat until whites just hold stiff peaks. Fold one third of whites into melted-chocolate mixture to lighten, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly.
- Spread batter evenly in baking pan and bake in middle of oven until puffed and top is dry to the touch, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer pan to a rack. Cover top with 2 layers of damp paper towels and let stand 5 minutes, then remove towels and cool completely. Loosen edges with a sharp knife.
- Sift cocoa powder over top of cake layer and overlap 2 layers of wax paper lengthwise over cake. Place a baking sheet over paper and invert cake onto it, gently peeling off wax paper lining. (Don’t worry if cake layer breaks; it will hold together when rolled.)
- Make filling: Beat cream with confectioners sugar and Grand Marnier with cleaned beaters until it just holds stiff peaks. Fold in zest.
- Fill and roll cake: Spread filling evenly over cake. Put a long platter next to a long side of cake. Using wax paper as an aid, roll up cake jelly roll–style, beginning with a long side. Carefully transfer, seam side down, to platter, using wax paper to help slide cake. (Cake will crack but will still hold together.)
- Dust cake generously with cocoa powder and confectioners sugar.
I have the same fears about rolls! maybe now that I see how beautiful yours turned out I will attempt one of my own! Lovely pictures and great looking dessert!
Making a rolled cake is one of my "Kitchen resolutions" for this year. You’ve inspired me. I need to find a chance to make one of these!
I’m so impressed! And I know just how you feel — I’m always totally intimidated when I have to roll something. I’ve been trying to do pizza rolls, with a broccoli and cheese filling, and to get the dough not to break and the cheese not to ooze out. Just as scary as chocolate cake!
I definitely am suckered in by the power of suggestion. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat for waaay too long watching an infomercial…
Kristen! All of this time I have been mistaking you for another gal – who just today I realized is Kirsten. Doh! Anyhoo – I’m SO GLAD I happened to move my cursor over your name in my comments section to discover your blog – I LOVE IT! I’ve already added you to my favorites and will be back often to see what you are up to =) You’ve got a gorgeous family, btw! =)
As for this roll.. dear, sweet, jebus I wish I had it in front of me right now. I made a similar dessert many years ago (although not as tasty as yours with the orange zest and Grand Marnier) and I was scared of the rolling process too.. so you weren’t alone there. So now that you’ve conquered your fear – you should try pumpkin rolls. *swoon*
Yum! I love the look of a rolled cake.
Kristen, I have to say you tempted me pretty bad with this – I posted this recipe to my del.icio.us yesterday and have been thinking about it ever since!! 😀
What a beautiful cake! I’ve never tried a rolled cake either, but this is true inspiration.
This is one of the things that I should add to This Year I Dare list, I’m in awe when I see people making them as beautiful as this! Brava!
Mmmm, this looks fantastic.
Can I just say, I am feeling what you feel. I am sitting here, knowing that I must make that rolled lovely cake…What a delightful place to visit.. I think I will stay a while….
*sigh* why do I tourture myself with such yummy blogs when I’m hungy?
great SHF post! and very pretty, making those rolls can be a challenge sometimes
Thank you all for your comments!
Elizabeth – you should give it a try. It was a lot easier than I anticipated!
Claire – add it to your list… you won’t be sorry 🙂
Lydia – A pizza roll? Do you have a recipe for that? Sounds delicious!
Brilynn – I totally know what you are talking about! I try not to watch infomercials because I know what a sucker I am!
Lisa – So glad to have you here 🙂 I have some Kate/Katies that I get mixed up too. As for the pumpkin rolls, I can’t wait to try one of those! Do you have a favorite recipe for one?
Rachel – It was soooo good!
Patricia – Let me know if you try it. We just finished it off today!
Elle – Thank you very much!
Ilva – If I can do it, anyone can. Hope you give it a try!
Peabody – Thank you 🙂
Vanessa – Thank you for visiting! Hope you come back again.
Jeff – I always try to eat prior to reading food blogs for the same reason. They are all just way to tempting.
Connie – Thank you! It’s my first SHF post… perfect that the theme this month was for chocolate!
My mother has been making a cake like this my whole life but since I was too young to know such words, I called it the "sh*t cake" because she cursed so much rolling it. It always cracks at least once. When I saw this recipe (I, too, am hopeless among the powers of suggestion) as a daily pick and all the raving reviews, and now yours too, I knew I’ll have to try this instead this year. I wonder if anyone will be able to tell the difference.
That is a lovely rolled cake! I love the addition of the grand marnier to the filling. this must taste absolutely heavenly!
My mom used to make rolled cakes all the time and I used to marvel at them. I’ve never tried one myself but now you’ve inspired me! I have to give it a go!
Gosh, I love (love love love) rolled cakes, but I’m such a wimp when it comes to making them. They terrify me. But since you promise that they truly are easy to make, maybe I’ll take a crack at it one day. In the meanwhile, I’ll salivate in front of you photo! 🙂
You must be very patient. I know I would shred that cake as I was attempting to roll it. Or end up covered in flour as I usually am after my baking attempts.
Cake, cream and chocolate. Three essentials in my book!
What a lovely recipe! My dad would go crazy for this perfectly rolled cake…he loves them! I think I will make one soon just to tease him. Great entry!
Veron – My husband deemed it "Cruise Ship Worthy". The flavors were amazing!
Deb – Too funny! Mine didn’t crack while rolling it but I went really, really slow. I’m sure I won’t be so lucky next time.
Ash – I hope you give it a try. It’s really not as hard as it looks and it had great taste!
VC – This recipe was great for the detailed directions. Try it out.
Rachel – I’m not normally patient, but I’m learning that it’s something you sometimes have to be when you are baking.
Karen – I agree completely!
Helen – Go for it 🙂 He’ll love it!
That’s so funny… I have also always said I’m a marketers dream… I’m such an easy sell!!!
That looks so delicious, I’d just die to eat it right now!
Wow! Kristen, that is SO impressive for your first roll cake. I don’t know that I would even attempt that.
Delicious!
i’ve always wanted to learn how to make one of those cakes. i absolutely LOVW them, this is so very beautiful!
i’ve made this exact recipe before, last year when visiting my folks in Las Vegas. i used coffee liqueur instead of orange (mom isn’t fond of that flavor) and it was amazing. mine looked a little more like a triangle roll but yes, the texture is lighter than air like described yet very rich at the same time. it melts in your mouth! now that i have a proper half-sheet tray, i must make it again.
That looks delicious. I’ve also been too scared to try rolling any foodstuffs, but you’ve given me courage. Love all your foodie posts, by the way. I’m subscribing!
thanks for the comment! your chocolate roll looks insanely delicious — i know what you mean about mouthwatering. when i have some extra food budget (recipes that involve alcohol are always hard to work in!), i will definitely be giving it a try.
I had a similar roll made by a friend not long ago and was hankering after a recipe. After seeing your results, I am going to try this one! Thank you!