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+ servings
a vanilla cake roll with pink, blue, and yellow icing inside, topped with chicks peeps.
5 from 16 votes

Easter Cake Roll

This easy Easter Cake Roll is a light and fluffy vanilla cake wrapped around marshmallow buttercream and topped with cute marshmallow peeps.
Author Diana
Servings 8 servings
Prep Time 35 days
Cook Time 15 days
Chill Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 days 30 minutes

Ingredients

For the Cake

  • 6 large eggs separated
  • ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) canola oil
  • cup (80 ml) whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup (90 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 3 yellow Peeps
  • 2 blue Peeps
  • 2 pink Peeps
  • Powdered sugar for dusting

For the Marshmallow Buttercream

  • 1 ½ cups (340 grams) salted butter
  • 1 ½ cups (170 grams) powdered sugar
  • 14 oz (392 grams) marshmallow cream
  • Gel Food Coloring in yellow, pink, and blue

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C (160°C fan oven) and line the bottom of an 11"x17" or similar size cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  • Place the egg whites and cream of tartar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Turn the mixer on medium speed.
  • Once the egg whites have become frothy and bubbly, turn the speed up to medium high. Very slowly stream in the granulated sugar while the mixer is running, the slower the better. Once all of the sugar has been added, turn the speed up to high and whisk until you reach firm stiff peaks, then turn the mixer off.
  • In a separate bowl combine the egg yolks with the milk, oil, and vanilla. Mix until the wet ingredients are well combined.
  • Then sift the flour and cornstarch into the bowl. Mix again until combined.
  • Scoop about one cup of the egg whites into the bowl with the egg yolks, gently fold together. Then pour all of that mixture into the bowl with the remaining egg whites and fold together until totally combined.
  • Pour the batter onto the prepared cookie sheet. Spread the batter out evenly. Gently but firmly tap the bottom of the cookie sheet on the counter, this will help to release some of the air bubbles and ensure the batter is level.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes. The cake is done when you can gently press a finger on the surface and the cake springs back.
  • Remove the cake from the oven and let cool for just a couple of minutes. Place a second sheet of parchment onto the top of the cake. Then slide the cake off of the cookie sheet and onto a clean tea towel on the counter.
  • While the cake is still warm, remove the top piece of parchment paper and carefully begin to roll the cake up with the towel starting at one of the short sides. If you are concerned about the cake sticking to the towel you can sprinkle a little powdered sugar over the top before rolling. Set aside to cool while you make the buttercream.
  • To make the buttercream, cream together the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add half of the marshmallow cream and beat until combined. Add the remaining marshmallow fluff and beat again until combined and light and fluffy.
  • Separate the buttercream into 3 bowls, one for each of the colors blue, yellow, and pink. Mix each of the bowls until the desired color has been reached and no more white is showing.
  • Carefully unravel the cooled cake roll. Slice the brown edges off of each side. Gently apply the 3 colors of buttercream in a striped pattern going parallel to the short ends of the cake. You can make as many or as few stripes of color as you'd like. Save any leftover buttercream to use as glue for the Peeps.
  • Roll the cake back up tightly, gently remove the bottom piece of parchment as you roll. Wrap the rolled up cake in some parchment or plastic wrap or the tea towel again and place in the refrigerator to set for at least 30 minutes.
  • When you are ready to serve, slice the ragged ends off of the cake roll, dust with powdered sugar and top with a line of Peeps, alternating in color. You can use a little leftover buttercream to help the peeps stick.
  • Slice and serve. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Notes

  • When separating eggs, it's important not to have any bits of egg yolk in with the whites. They won't whip up properly if there is yolk in with them.
  • Use Gel Food Coloring: You’ll get the most vivid and bright colors in your baked goods using a gel based food coloring rather than a liquid. Wilton gel food colors are my favorites. The set linked here has all of the basic colors and will last you a long time.
  • Be sure to roll the cake while it’s hot. If you let the cake cool too long in the pan, it will become too tricky to roll it up without breaking it. Be careful not to burn your fingers!
  • Don’t frost the edges. Leave a bit of unfrosted cake on the outside edges. We'll be slicing them away before serving anyways.
  • It's important to chill the cake roll before serving. If you slice into this while the frosting is too soft, it will ooze out everywhere. 
  • For Perfect Presentation, make your first 1 or 2 stripes of frosting (the ones that will be in the center of the roll) thinner than the others. It will look extra pretty that way!

Nutrition

Calories: 840kcal | Carbohydrates: 106g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 233mg | Sodium: 328mg | Potassium: 120mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 85g | Vitamin A: 1275IU | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg