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Afternoon Kaffee, Cake, Recipes  /  March 13, 2022

Lemon Cake Roll (Lemon Roulade)

by Red Currant Bakery
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A light and fatless lemon sponge cake, rolled with whipped cream and lemon curd, this Lemon Cake Roll is tangy and zesty and the perfect spring cake.

Cross section view of the Lemon Roulade cake with powdered sugar on top.
What is a Roulade Dessert?

A roulade in German is often referring to a flattened out piece of meat rolled around a savory filling and then baked. When it comes to dessert a roulade is a roll cake – often a fatless sponge which makes it easier to roll without cracking, and is then filled with anything from cream, to jam, to curd.

How to keep the filling from squeezing out?

Especially with such a soft filling, it can be hard to keep all the filling from squeezing out. To prevent this, leave a 1″ border without filling on the two long sides and the short side farthest from you so the extra filling has somewhere to go. Additionally use the towel to lift and roll the cake over the filling, rather than squeezing it as you go.

Can you make a roulade the day before?

Yes! This cake is actually great if you make it the day before because it allows the filling to firm up inside the cake – making it easier to slice without all of the filling squeezing out.

What pan do you use for a Cake Roll?

This is dependent on the recipe and the country you are in because pans can vary so much in size. For this cake I have used a half size baking sheet which measures approximately 18″x13″.

Tips for rolling a cake

  • While you don’t want to knock the air out of the batter, be sure to mix it fully. You don’t want clumps of egg white or dry ingredients left in the batter before baking.
  • Don’t over bake the cake, it should barely start to turn a golden brown color on top.
  • Roll the cake without filling while it is still warm. Then allow it to cool fully while still rolled, before filling the cake.
  • It may seem counter intuitive to wrap it as the instructions say, still attached to the silicone baking mat or parchment paper, but it prevents the cake from cracking or breaking.

Additional German Cake Recipes to try!

  • Bienenstich – German Bee Sting Cake Recipe
  • Cranberry Orange Gugelhupf Recipe with Orange Glaze
  • Apfelstreuselkuchen – Apple Streusel Cake Recipe
Lemon Roulade ingredients.

Ingredients for Lemon Cake Roll

  • Eggs: Eggs are the key to this cake recipe, the egg whites are used to leaven the cake and the eggs keep the cake flexible and moist after baking.
  • Sugar: Granulated sugar is mixed with both the egg yolks and egg whites.
  • Corn starch: Corn starch is sifted in with the flour to create a mixture similar to cake flour which creates a lighter and fluffier texture.
  • AP Flour: A little all purpose flour gives the substance to the sponge so that it isn’t just eggs and sugar.
  • Lemon zest: The filling is very lemony because of the lemon curd but the zest of one lemon gives the cake a little extra kick of flavor.
  • Lemon curd: Feel free to use your favorite lemon curd for the filling, I prefer this lemon curd recipe from epicurious.
  • Heavy Cream: To give the filling a little more substance but still airiness, heavy cream is whipped and then folded with lemon curd.
Overhead view of two white plates, each with a slice of lemon roulade on them and a fork with a bite taken out.

How to make Lemon Roulade?

Lemon Sponge Batter

  • Preheat the oven to 400 F. Place a rack in the center of the oven. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat (my preferred option) or a sheet of parchment paper.
  • Separate all 6 eggs. Place 4 egg whites into the bowl of a stand mixer and 6 egg yolks into a separate medium bowl.
  • Add half of the sugar into the bowl with the egg whites. Beat the egg whites with the whisk attachment first on medium low speed until frothy and then increase the speed to medium high until stiff peaks form.
  • Just before the egg whites have hit stiff peaks, add the remaining sugar into the bowl with the egg yolks and whisk by hand until fully combined. Then, add in the lemon zest and whisk again.
  • Once stiff peaks have formed, remove the bowl from the mixer and pour the whisked egg yolks on top. Fold the egg yolks into the egg whites until fully combined – being careful not to knock all of the air out of the whites.
  • Sift the corn starch and flour into the egg mixture and fold to combine. Be sure the mixture is fully mixed – you don’t want any clumps of egg whites or dry ingredients left.
Process of making the lemon sponge batter for the lemon roll cake.

Bake the cake

  • Once fully mixed, pour the batter onto the lined baking sheet. Lightly spread the batter over the baking sheet all the way to the edges. Try to make the cake as even as possible as it won’t spread as it bakes.
  • Bake the cake in the middle of the preheated oven. First bake for 6 minutes, then rotate the cake and bake for 3-4 minutes until just barely golden brown on top.
  • Remove the baking sheet from the oven and place on a cooling rack for 3 minutes.
  • Gently run a dinner knife along all edges of the baking sheet to loosen the cake from the edges of the baking sheet.
  • Dust the surface of the cake with powdered sugar and lay a thin kitchen towel over the surface of the cake.
  • Holding the towel to the edges of the baking sheet, flip the baking sheet over so that the cake can fall away, onto the towel.
  • Starting at one short edge, roll the cake between the towel and parchment paper or baking mat all the way to the other end.
  • Once rolled, set the cake aside to cool fully before filling.
Process images of how to bake and roll the lemon sponge cake.

Roll the Cake

  • Whip the cream to medium stiff peaks.
  • Fold half of the whipped cream into the cooled lemon curd. Then pour the lemon curd and whipped cream mixture into the remaining whipped cream and fold to combine.
  • Carefully unroll the cake. Very gently peel the parchment or baking mat off of the cake.
  • Spread the whipped cream and lemon curd mixture over the cake leaving a 1″ border on the two long edges and the short side furthest away.
  • Use the towel to lift and roll the short side of the cake, closest to you, over the filling. If needed use your hands to gently tighten the roll.
  • Roll all the way to the far end. Once rolled, wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 3-4 hours or overnight so the filling has a chance to firm up before slicing it. If it seems like it will flatten, wrap the cake in aluminum foil after the plastic wrap or prop up the sides with other things in your fridge.
  • Serve with a dusting of powdered sugar and optionally so fresh soft whipped cream.
Process images for making the lemon filling and rolling the lemon roulade.
Image that requests readers to rate and review the recipe.
Cross section view of the Lemon Roulade cake with powdered sugar on top.
Print Recipe
5 from 3 votes

Lemon Cake Roll (Lemon Roulade)

A light and fatless lemon sponge cake, rolled with whipped cream and lemon curd, this Lemon Roulade is tangy and zesty and the perfect spring cake.
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time9 mins
Cooling1 hr
Total Time1 hr 29 mins
Course: Afternoon Kaffee, Dessert
Cuisine: German
Keyword: lemon
Servings: 12
Calories: 310kcal

Equipment

  • Mixer

Ingredients

Lemon Cake Batter

  • 6 egg yolks
  • 4 egg whites
  • 60 grams granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 65 grams ap flour
  • 15 grams corn starch

Filling

  • 450 grams lemon curd approximately 450 grams (does not need to be exact)
  • 300 mililiters heavy cream cold

Instructions

Lemon Cake Batter

  • Preheat the oven to 400 F.
  • Place a rack in the center of the oven.
  • Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or a sheet of parchment paper. 
  • Place 4 egg whites into the bowl of a stand mixer and 6 egg yolks into a separate medium bowl. 
  • Add half of the sugar into the bowl with the egg whites.
  • Beat the egg whites with the whisk attachment first on medium low speed until frothy and then increase the speed to medium high until stiff peaks form.
  • Just before the egg whites have hit stiff peaks, add the remaining sugar into the bowl with the egg yolks and whisk until fully combined. 
  • Add in the lemon zest and whisk again.
  • Once stiff peaks have formed, remove the bowl from the mixer and pour the whisked egg yolks on top. 
  • Fold the egg yolks into the egg whites until fully combined – being careful not to knock all of the air out of the whites.
  • Sift the corn starch and flour into the egg mixture and fold to combine. 

Bake the Cake

  • Once fully mixed, pour the batter onto the lined baking sheet.
  • Lightly spread the batter over the baking sheet all the way to the edges. 
  • Make the cake as even as possible as it won't spread as it bakes.
  • Bake the cake in the middle of the preheated oven.
  • First bake for 6 minutes, then rotate the cake and bake for 3-4 minutes until just barely golden brown on top.
  • Remove the baking sheet from the oven and place on a cooling rack for 3 minutes.
  • Gently run a dinner knife along all edges of the baking sheet to loosen the cake from the edges of the baking sheet.
  • Dust the surface of the cake with powdered sugar and lay a thin kitchen towel over the surface of the cake.
  • Holding the towel to the edges of the baking sheet, flip the baking sheet over so that the cake can fall away, onto the towel.
  • Starting at one short edge, roll the cake between the towel and parchment paper or baking mat all the way to the other end.
  • Once rolled, set the cake aside to cool fully before filling. 

Filling & Assembly

  • Whip the cream to medium stiff peaks.
  • Fold half of the whipped cream into the cooled lemon curd.
  • Then pour the lemon curd and whipped cream mixture into the remaining whipped cream and fold to combine.
  • Carefully unroll the cake. 
  • Very gently peel the parchment or baking mat off of the cake.
  • Spread the whipped cream and lemon curd mixture over the cake leaving a 1" border on the two long edges and the short side furthest away.
  • If you have too much filling, you can always store it in the fridge and eat with fresh berries on top or add more to the top of the roll before serving.
  • Use the towel to lift and roll the short side of the cake, closest to you, over the filling.
  • If needed use your hands to gently tighten the roll.
  • Once rolled, wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 3-4 hours or overnight so the filling has a chance to firm up before slicing it. 
  • If it seems to soft, wrap the cake in aluminum foil to support it while it chills or prop it up on each side with other items in your fridge.
  • Serve with a dusting of powdered sugar and optionally so fresh soft whipped cream.

Notes

When mixing the batter, be sure the mixture is fully mixed – you don’t want any clumps of egg whites or dry ingredients left. Do not over bake this cake as it will dry out and crack, it should still be quite pale when finished baking. This is best eaten after it has a chance to set but can definitely be served immediately after rolling – it will just be a little messy. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 128mg | Sodium: 154mg | Potassium: 58mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 528IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg

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7 comments

  • Daisy
    March 13, 2022

    5 stars
    This recipe looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it!!!

    Reply
    • Red Currant Bakery
      March 13, 2022

      Hi Daisy! Thank you so much – I hope you get a chance to try it and please let me know if you have any questions!

      Reply
  • Autumn
    April 8, 2022

    Hi, this recipe looks amazing! I noticed that the ingredient list says 6 egg yolks and 4 egg whites but it is flipped in the instructions. Would you be able to tell me which one to follow? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Red Currant Bakery
      April 9, 2022

      Hi Autumn, I am so sorry about that. I have just updated the instructions, it is 6 egg yolks and 4 egg whites. I hope you like it!

      Reply
      • Autumn
        April 10, 2022

        5 stars
        Thank you! I just made this and it was divine!

        Reply
        • Red Currant Bakery
          April 10, 2022

          Hi Autumn! Yay I’m so happy to hear that, thank you so much for making it!!!

          Reply
  • josephine dionne
    April 18, 2022

    5 stars
    I WISH YOU WOULD USE ALSO STANARD MEASURING{CUP,TABLESPOONS ETC.

    Reply

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Audrey Leonard - Owner of Red Currant Bakery

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