How to Make Cake Roll with Box Cake Mix

Want to know how to make cake roll the easy way? That's what we're talking about today! We'll be talking about how to make a vanilla cake roll using boxed cake mix. It's the easiest way to make a tasty vanilla swiss roll you'll ever try. Get ready to make one of the most delicious desserts you've ever made. It's so easy, but it looks so fancy! 

Cake roll. Swiss roll. Whatever you want to call it, this is one delicious dessert! I've always loved the look fo these cakes. I've also always loved the flavor! These cake rolls are always so pretty, and they offer up so much delicious filling! Every bit is a piece of Heaven!

Over the years, I've made all kinds of desserts, but something like a vanilla swiss roll recipe always felt so daunting to me. I used to be so intimidated at the thought of making a cake like this. Let me tell you it's so much easier than you may think and I urge you to give it a try.

I know you'll be glad you did. Just like I was.

Gotta love my friend Julie, she comes up with some cool things to do and this is one of them. I am not as adventurous as she is or ambitious that is for sure.

Boy am I glad she got me over my fear of creating something like this. I even made my own. All by myself. A stunning red, white and blue cake perfect for any July 4th celebration!

Looked amazing and tasted great. That's what is super cool about this recipe. You can use whatever colors you want. As many or as little that you want or need.

This is the perfect cake recipe. Think about it. For Christmas, make it green, white and red. Valentine's Day maybe red, pink and white. Halloween, orange, black and white.

You get the idea. Anything goes.

History of Cake Roll

Swiss roll. Jelly roll. Cake roll. Roll cake. Roulade. Swiss log. Whatever you want to call this type of cake, there's one thing you need to know about it. It's delicious. Before we get into how to make this dessert, let's take a brief look at the history of the cake. I always love to learn a little bit about what I'm cooking, and I love sharing it with all of you!

These types of rolled cakes are made with sponge cake and filled with whipped cream, jam, or icing. Although it's commonly called a Swiss Roll, the cake is actually believed to have originated somewhere in central Europe. Most food historians believe it was first made in Austria. Food historians aren't even sure exactly when it was invented, although it's generally accepted that it was sometime in the 19th century. 

The earliest published mention of a rolled cake was in the Northern Farmer, a journal published in Utica, New York in 1852. It was a recipe for a rolled cake spread with jelly. The recipe was called ToMake Jelly Cake and described what we all think of as the modern jelly roll. 

The earliest published mention of a swiss roll appeared in the Birmingham Journal for Saturday in 1856. It wasn't even a recipe. It can be found in an advertisement as simply one of the offerings from Thomas Richards of 71 New Street. 

While no one knows exactly when or by whom the cake roll was invented, we all know that it and all of its variations are delicious. Today, every type of cake roll variation is readily available in the bakery of any grocery store or in their pre-packaged baked goods section. There are also a multitude of recipes out there, as well. 

How to Make Cake Roll

There are tons of recipes out there for all kinds of cake rolls, but today, I'm giving you a lesson on how to make cake roll from boxed cake mix. It makes things so much easier and so much faster. BUT you don't sacrifice any of the flavor, texture, or deliciousness. This vanilla swiss roll recipe is so much fun because it has a great rainb0w-colored theme, as well. 

The colors and flavors make it perfect for birthday parties or spring and summer get-t0gethers. It would also be the perfect addition to any Easter table, too! And the best part is that it's so easy! 

I love to make this cake for fun weekday desserts during the summer. I also make it on the weekends as a special treat and serve it at my summer parties. It really doesn't matter where you go, if you bring this tasty vanilla cake roll along with you, you'll be greeted by big smiles and eager bellies. 

Ingredients

As fancy as this cake looks, it actually only takes a handful of ingredients to make. Five ingredients is all it takes to create this recipe, and they're all readily available at your local grocery store. It's a super simple list and a clear indicator of how easy it is to make this recipe. Here's what you'll need:

• White cake mix (including ingredients indicated on the box)
• 6 neon food dye colors
• Butter, softened
• Vanilla
• Powdered sugar
• Milk

How to Make Cake Roll

The process of making this vanilla swiss roll recipe is as easy as the ingredient list. It comes together very quickly, and it's so good. Using a boxed cake mix cuts down drastically on the prep time. The boxed cake really does do all the heavy lifting here. The only things you'll have to do is add the dye and make the filling. Easy peasy!

You'll find the complete recipe with amounts and baking times in the recipe card at the end of the post, but take a look at the recipe outline below. It will give you an idea of just how easy it is to make this delicious vanilla cake roll. 

• Prepare a jelly roll pan (10.5” x 15.5”) with shortening and flour. This step will ensure that your cake does not stick. Set aside for later.
• Prepare cake batter according to the box directions.
• Separate batter evenly into 6 bowls.
• Add a color of food dye to each bowl and mix until the colors are uniform throughout. Transfer batter into 6 resealable bags. Cut a small corner off of each bag.
• In a diagonal pattern, squeeze strips of each color until the pan is filled. If you have batter remaining, you can go back and fill in as needed.
• Gently shake the pan to even out the cake batter.
• Using a toothpick, draw swirls in the batter to create a tie-dye look.
• Bake for 18 minutes or until the cake is set. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes.
• Place a towel on a flat surface and sprinkle flour on it.
• Flip the cake out of the pan and onto the towel.
• Sprinkle a small amount of flour on the top side of the cake and cover it with another towel. Starting on one end, roll the cake up with a towel on each side. Try to keep it as tight as possible.
• With the cake tightly rolled, set it aside to completely cool.
• When cool, gently unroll it.
• To prepare the frosting, beat butter and vanilla together. Add powdered sugar and enough milk to reach the consistency you desire.
• Spread on the frosting, covering the top of the cake.
• Begin rolling the cake from one end, using one towel to help guide you.
• When the cake is completely rolled, wrap the towel tightly around it to help hold its form. Place cake roll in the freezer for 4 hours.
• Remove from the freezer and cut into slices.
• Serve and enjoy!

What did I tell you? It doesn't get much easier when you're making a cake like this! It's far less effort than it appears, which is great because you'll look like a dessert hero for minimal effort. It's a win/win.

Tips

Once you know how to make cake roll using boxed cake mix, it becomes one of the easiest "fancy" desserts you'll have in your arsenal. It's a straightforward recipe for the most part. The coloring and the rolling are the only things you might not have done before when it comes to baking cakes. To make sure you get the absolute best outcome to your vanilla swiss roll recipe, I want to give you some tips to help you do your best work. 

Don't Swirl Too Much

You want your vanilla cake roll to have a tye-died effect. That means swirling patterns of distinct colors throughout the cake. Don't swirl your batters too much. If you do, you'll end up actually blending the colors rather than making a swirled look. While some blending of the colors is expected and even a nice addition to the cake, too much swirl will just mix everything into a mud color. 

Roll the Cake While Warm

The key to rolling this cake without it breaking or cracking is to roll in gently while it's warm. If the cake is cool, it will break when you try to roll it. However, the cake will roll easily while it's warm. Just remember to go slowly to further reduce the chance of any mishaps!

Always Use Flour While Rolling the Cake

It's important to remember to lightly flour your cake when you roll it. You'll be rolling your caked tightly on itself. If you don't flour the cake, it will stick to itself, making it difficult - if not impossible - to unroll it and add the filling. 

Roll Tightly

Rolling your vanilla cake roll as tightly as possible is key to this recipe. Ideally, when making this vanilla swiss roll recipe, you'll roll it ultra tightly upon itself. The tighter the cake is rolled, the easier it is to roll it back up after it's cooled, and the more uniform the filling layer will be. As long as you go gently and slowly, you should be able to roll up the cake quite tightly. 

Serving the Vanilla Cake Roll

To serve this cake roll, slice it while frozen so that it holds its shape. For optimal shape, the cake can be eaten straight out of the freezer. If you have sensitive teeth, you can also let it set until partially defrosted for a softer texture. Either way, it's absolutely delicious!

Storing the Cake Roll

This cake roll should be kept in the freezer, so storage is incredibly simple. Simply keep the cake in an air-tight, freezer-safe container for up to a month. When you're ready to serve, simply take it out, cut off a slice, and place it back in the freezer. 

You know How to Make Cake Roll Using Boxed Mix - Try it Out!

Now that you know how to make cake roll using boxed cake mix, it's time to give it a try. As fancy as this cake looks, it's really so easy to make. It's perfect for family desserts or parties, and it comes together relatively quickly. With a combination like that, you'll find yourself making this cake more often than you might have thought. Give it a try. I know you and your family and friends will love it!