This Strawberry Lemon Cake Roll is a fresh, fruity dessert that is perfect for spring and summer. It looks so beautiful that no one will ever believe how simple it is to make!

The Happy Breakthrough 

I was excited to write this post. This recipe was a breakthrough for me when I had the cookie shop. Pumpkin Rolls are easy to make and popular but are pretty specific to fall time. I knew I needed other types of cake rolls with other flavors for the rest of the year. 

As I began testing new flavors, I knew I needed to find a suitable swap for the moisture that pumpkin contributes. Pumpkin might work in a chocolate or spice cake mix, but not a fruity one. After some testing, I turned to applesauce for a neutral-flavored moisture source. 

I also considered the number of eggs in a cake roll. A higher proportion would give me the structure I needed, something to help the cake roll and give lift,  but adding too many eggs can make a product taste, well, eggy. Too little egg in a cake and it just breaks when you try to roll it. 

Seven eggs turned out to be the magic number. Add just a bit of applesauce for moisture and magic! Not to mention it doesn’t taste eggy. An all-around success! This was a happy outcome for me. Plus, with only three ingredients, it is incredibly simple. 

Controlling the Crumb

To give this cake a nice crumb, it is important to sift the cake mix. Once you’ve done that, add the applesauce and eggs then beat at medium speed with a hand mixer. I beat it for 30 seconds to combine, then scraped the bowl and just 30 seconds more at medium speed. This way, the cake is quickly combined but not much air is added. A fine crumb structure is important for not only the roll-ability of this cake but also the look of the finished cake roll. 

Quick Solutions to Roll Without a Mess

The other problem I ran into with cake rolls is the painstaking, messy method of rolling them. Most people turn the cake out onto a powdered sugar-dusted towel and roll it up in that to cool.

Not only does it make a mess all over the counters and floor, but then there is an extra towel to wash. In the cookie shop, this really added up. I learned when making multiple pumpkin rolls that I could skip that step if I lined the pans with parchment paper and sprayed them lightly with cooking spray. When the cake finishes baking, all I had to do was let it cool for 10 minutes and then roll the cake up in the parchment paper. 

The cake roll can cool in the parchment and then once I fill it, the parchment paper peels off with almost no fuss or mess. It was the perfect solution – cleaner, less dusty, and a time saver. I was happy to learn that using cake mixes to make a cake roll in this manner was just as effective. 

Choose Your Own Thickness

I bake this cake mix in a 12×17 pan at 325*F. I give a range on the baking time because your pan may be different than mine and it’s really important that you use the spring-back method. In other words, if the cake looks done, touch the center. If it springs back, immediately pull it out of the oven. 

I have found that one cake mix makes for a thick cake roll. If you make two of them, you’ll have two thinner cake rolls. I always wrap the filled roll with plastic wrap to keep its shape and refrigerate it for a few hours until I’m ready to serve it. The cake roll can be chilled for up to three days. Just use a sharp serrated knife to cut nice slices when you’re ready to serve it.

You’re Welcome!

As you make this easy Strawberry Lemon Cake Roll, imagine me standing next to you singing “You’re Welcome,” from Disney’s Moana. Your guests will never know you used a cake mix and will save you lots of time while still giving a beautiful and delicious dessert!