Ugly Sweater Cake Roll (Printable Version)

Festive cake roll with whipped cream filling and colorful, playful frosting decorations.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cake

01 - 1 large store-bought plain sheet cake (approximately 9x13 inches, vanilla or chocolate)

→ Filling

02 - 1 cup heavy cream, cold
03 - 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Decorations

05 - 1 1/2 cups ready-to-spread vanilla or chocolate frosting
06 - Assorted colored gel food coloring
07 - Assorted holiday sprinkles, mini candies, and edible decorations
08 - 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)

# Steps to Follow:

01 - In a chilled bowl, beat heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
02 - Unpack the store-bought cake and trim edges for a clean rectangle if needed. Place on parchment paper and level the top by slicing off any domed portion. Roll the cake gently from the short side with parchment paper, then unroll to create a memory for easier rolling.
03 - Spread the whipped cream filling evenly over the cake, leaving a 1-inch border on all sides. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips if using. Roll the cake tightly from the short end, guiding with parchment paper. Wrap in parchment and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes if desired for cleaner slices.
04 - Divide frosting into bowls and tint each with different gel colors. Spread a base layer over the roll. Use piping bags or zip-top bags with snipped corners to create whimsical sweater patterns. Garnish with sprinkles, candies, and edible decorations.
05 - Slice the cake roll into 1-inch pieces and serve.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Quick and easy to prepare with no baking required.
  • Uses a store-bought cake to save time and effort.
  • Fun, festive design inspired by ugly holiday sweaters.
  • Customizable decorations to suit any holiday theme.
  • Vegetarian-friendly and perfect for sharing with a crowd.
02 -
  • Use chilled bowls and beaters to help the whipped cream firm up faster.
  • Creating a ‘memory’ by rolling and unrolling the cake makes it easier to roll smoothly later.
  • Snip a small hole in zip-top bags to pipe frosting easily without special tools.
  • Refrigerate the rolled cake before decorating to keep frosting intact and slices tidy.
  • Check all store-bought ingredients for allergens if serving guests with dietary restrictions.
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