Save A festive, whimsical cake roll inspired by ugly holiday sweaters, made easy with store-bought cake and playful decorations. Perfect for parties or a cheerful dessert table.
I love this cake roll because it brings playful creativity to holiday desserts without complicated baking, making it perfect for any celebration.
Ingredients
- Cake: 1 large store-bought plain sheet cake (approx. 9x13 inches, vanilla or chocolate)
- Filling: 1 cup heavy cream, cold; 2 tablespoons powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Decorations: 1 1/2 cups ready-to-spread vanilla or chocolate frosting; Assorted colored gel food coloring; Assorted holiday sprinkles, mini candies, and edible decorations; 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Filling:
- In a chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
- Prepare the Cake:
- Remove the store-bought cake from its packaging and, if necessary, trim the edges to form a neat rectangle. Place the cake on a piece of parchment paper. Gently slice off any domed top to level the cake. With the short side facing you, carefully roll the cake (with parchment) into a log, then unroll to create a memory for easier rolling.
- Assemble the Roll:
- Spread the whipped cream filling evenly over the surface of the cake, leaving a 1-inch border on all sides. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips over the cream, if using. Gently roll the cake from the short end, using the parchment paper to help guide it tightly into a log. Wrap the rolled cake in parchment and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (optional for cleaner slicing).
- Decorate:
- Divide the frosting into separate bowls and tint each with different food colorings for sweater patterns. Spread a base layer of frosting over the cake roll. Use piping bags or zip-top bags with snipped corners to pipe ugly sweater designs zigzags, dots, lines, and whimsical shapes. Add sprinkles, candies, and edible decorations for a playful look.
- Slice and Serve:
- Cut the cake roll into 1-inch slices and enjoy!
Save This recipe always brings family smiles and laughter as we decorate the cake with nostalgic holiday sweater designs together.
Notes
Get creative with designs: use crushed candy canes, edible glitter, or pretzel sticks. Pair with hot cocoa or a dessert wine for a festive touch.
Required Tools
Serrated knife, parchment paper, mixing bowls, electric mixer or whisk, offset spatula or butter knife, piping bags or zip-top bags
Allergen Information
Contains dairy, eggs, and wheat (gluten). May contain soy and nuts depending on cake and decorations check all labels for allergens.
Save This ugly sweater cake roll is the perfect cheerful centerpiece for your holiday dessert table.
Common recipe questions
- → What type of cake works best?
Any plain store-bought sheet cake like vanilla or chocolate works well, with pound cake offering extra sturdiness for rolling.
- → How do I prevent the cake from cracking when rolling?
Gently slice off any domed top to level the cake before rolling, and roll it carefully with parchment paper to retain shape and avoid cracks.
- → Can I customize the frosting colors?
Yes, divide the frosting and tint each portion with different gel food colorings to create fun, vibrant sweater patterns.
- → Is chilling required before decorating?
Refrigerating the rolled cake helps it set for cleaner slicing and makes decorating easier, though it's optional.
- → What filling is used inside the roll?
A whipped cream filling sweetened with powdered sugar and flavored with vanilla adds light richness inside the cake roll.
- → Can I add extra toppings?
Mini chocolate chips, holiday sprinkles, candies, or edible decorations enhance the playful look and add texture.