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Home » Recipes » Cake Recipes

Strawberry Shortcake Roll Recipe

Published: May 8, 2021 · Modified: Mar 12, 2025 by Chef Dennis Littley

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Fresh local strawberries are plentiful in your local grocery and farmers market and what better way to showcase them than my Strawberry Shortcake Roll?

Once you get the hang of making this light and delicious sponge cake, you’ll be creating delicious varieties of this recipe in your kitchen throughout the year.

overhead view of strawberry shortcake roll on a white platter with slices on plates


 

I have been dreaming about Strawberry Shortcake since I started seeing those plump, juicy berries appear at the supermarket and just making a traditional strawberry shortcake didn’t seem to do justice to those beautiful strawberries.

Table of Contents:
  • What Ingredients do I need to make a Strawberry Shortcake Roll?
  • How do I make a Strawberry Shortcake Roll?
  • More Strawberry Cake Recipes You’ll Love!
  • Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake Roll

What Ingredients do I need to make a Strawberry Shortcake Roll?

overhead view of ingredients to make strawberry shortcake roll

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make my Strawberry Shortcake Roll. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place,” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

How do I make a Strawberry Shortcake Roll?

Start by preheating the oven to 400 (204 C) degrees and lining a 13 x 17-inch pan with parchment paper. Set the pan aside until needed.

four images showing how to make the sponge cake

Here are the steps to make the sponge cake.

  • Combine the milk, butter, and vanilla in a small pan and heat just enough to melt the butter, then set aside.
  • In a stand mixer, whip the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar on high speed for 5-7 minutes or until the beater forms wide bands of ribbons when lifted out.
  • Gently transfer the egg mixture to a bowl large enough to make folding in the other ingredients easy.
  • Pour the butter/milk mixture down the side of the bowl and fold this into the egg mixture using a rubber spatula.
  • Sift the flour over the egg mixture, doing this in three batches. After sifting, gently begin to fold the flour into the mixture. (the flour will settle on the bottom; fold more than you think you should; I still wound up with little flour balls in my cake)
  • Continue sifting in the flour in the three batches until it has all been folded in. (don’t forget to check the bottom of the bowl for more flour)
three images of panning and baking sponge cake
  • Pour the mixture into the lined sheet pan, and using an offset spatula, smooth it out evenly. Use your finger to run down the insides of the pan, creating a momentary separation of the cake from the pan.
  • Place on the center rack in the oven and bake for 12 minutes.
  • Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes, then turn the cake out onto a clean piece of parchment that has been dusted with 10x sugar. (do this quickly so it does not tear)
  • Gently peel off the parchment from the bottom of the cake (use a metal spatula if it is hard to remove)

*Making the sponge cake isn’t difficult, but how you handle it after finishing baking is the only part of the process that can make you crazy.

four images of prep for shortcake, strawberries and whipped cream
  • Wash and hull the strawberries and slice
  • Add sugar to the strawberries and allow to sit until needed
  • Add the whipping cream to your mixing bowl and starting on a lower speed begin to whip your cream, add in the sugar and vanilla.
  • gradually increase the speed of the mixer, and continue whipping the cream until it is fully set. This process will take 8-10 and will ensure that your whipped cream holds up.
two images showing assembly of shortcake

With cake on the new parchment that has been dusted with confectioner sugar, begin your assembly.

  • Spread the whipped cream onto the cake, spreading evenly to the ends of the sides, but leaving 1 inch on either end (short sides)
  • place the prepared strawberries on top of the whipped cream, distributing them evenly.
two images showing rolled shortcake
  • Begin rolling the cake using the parchment to hold it. Roll it gently but firmly, trying to keep it as tight as possible without letting whipped cream come out of the sides.
  • Continue rolling until it has completely rolled up.
  • Re-dust the parchment the cake is still on. Turn the cake facing the long side of the parchment and roll it up as tightly as possible without losing cream out the ends, twisting the ends of the paper like taffy.

*I rolled my cake in an additional piece of parchment to make sure it was secure

Place the rolled and sealed cake in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to set up. I left mine overnight, and it was fine.

shortcake roll dusted with powdered sugar

If needed, trim the ends of the roll so they are even before serving. Then, dust the roll with confectioners’ sugar.

*You could also make additional whipped cream and cover the roll with whipped cream and garnish with more strawberries.

overhead view of strawberry shortcake roll on a white platter

I promise you’ll have smiles at your table when you serve this OMG light and delicious strawberry shortcake roll. It’s perfect for a weekend get-together or just to make a family night special.

strawberry cake roll slice on a white plate with a fork cutting into it

Not being a trained baker,  I had shied away from making any type of cake rolls most of my life, but after seeing so many of my friends making these delicious desserts, I thought I’d give it a try.

The roll itself is really not that difficult, it does have its challenges, but nothing to stop you from trying. I think the most difficult part is finding a recipe that is almost foolproof because if the cake isn’t good, you can forget about getting it to roll correctly.

More Strawberry Cake Recipes You’ll Love!

  • Italian Strawberry Cream Cake
  • Strawberries and Cream Cake
  • Individual Strawberry Shortcake
  • Mascarpone Strawberry Cheesecake

Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

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slices of a strawberry shortcake roll on a white plate

Strawberry Shortcake Roll

Chef Dennis Littley
Fresh Strawberries make delicious desserts and my Strawberry Shortcake Roll is an easy and delicious recipe that will bring smiles to your summer table.
4.84 from 37 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 12 minutes mins
Total Time 42 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 330 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Sponge Cake

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ¼ cup milk (or heavy cream) I used whole milk
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 whole eggs warmed*
  • 3 egg yolks warmed*
  • ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
  • ¾ cup cake flour *

Whipped Cream

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Strawberries

  • 16 ounces fresh strawberries
  • ¼ cup sugar

Assembly

  • ¼ cup confectioners sugar for dusting finished cake
  • ½ cup sliced strawberries for garnish

Instructions
 

Sponge Cake

  • preheat the oven to 400 (204 C) degrees
  • Line a 13 x 17 inch pan with parchment paper
  • Combine the milk, butter and vanilla in a small pan and heat just enough to melt the butter, set aside
  • In a stand mixer, whip the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar on high speed for 5-7 minutes or until it forms wide bands of ribbons when the beater is lifted out.
  • Gently transfer the egg mixture to a bowl large enough to make folding in the other ingredients easy.
  • Pour in the butter/milk mixture down the side of the bowl and fold this into the egg mixture using a rubber spatula.
  • Sift the flour over the egg mixture, doing this in three batches. After sifting, gently begin to fold the flour into the mixture. (the flour will settle on the bottom, fold more than you think you should, I still wound up with little flour balls in my cake)
  • Continue sifting in the flour in the three batches until it has all been folded in. (don't forget to check the bottom of the bowl for more flour)
  • Pour the mixture into the lined sheet pan and using an offset spatula smooth out the mixture evenly. Use your finger to run down the insides of the pan creating a momentary separation of the cake from the pan.
  • Place on center rack in the oven and bake for 12 minutes.
  • Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes, then turn the cake out onto a clean piece of parchment that has been dusted with 10x sugar. (do this quickly so it does not tear)
  • Gently peal off the parchment from the bottom of the cake (use a metal spatula if it is hard to remove)

Strawberries

  • Wash and hull the strawberries. Slice the strawberries
  • Add sugar to berries and allow to sit until needed

Whipped Cream

  • Add whipping cream to your mixing bowl and starting on a lower speed begin to whip your cream, add in the sugar and vanilla.
  • gradually increase the speed of the mixer, and continue whipping the cream until it is fully set.
    *This process will take 8-10 and will ensure that your whipped cream holds up.

With cake on the new parchment that has been dusted with confectioners sugar, begin your assembly.

  • Spread the whipped cream onto the cake, spreading evenly to the ends of the sides, but leaving 1 inch on either end (short sides)
  • Place your sliced strawberries on top of the whipped cream, distributing them evenly.
  • Begin rolling the cake using the parchment to hold it with, rolling it gently but firmly along, trying to keep it as tight as possible without having whipped cream come out of the sides.
  • Continue rolling until it has completely rolled up
  • Re-dust the parchment the cake is still on and turning the cake facing the long side of the parchment and roll it up as tightly as possible without losing cream out the ends, twisting the ends of the paper like taffy.
    *I rolled my cake in an additional piece of parchment, to make sure it was secure
  • Place the rolled and sealed cake in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to set up, I left mine in overnight and it was fine.
  • Before serving, if needed trim the ends of the roll so they are even. Then dust with confectioners sugar and top with sliced strawberries.

Notes

*Warm eggs by placing them in a bowl, covering them with hot tap water, and allowing them to sit for 5 minutes. Warm eggs will froth better. You can also just set your eggs out until they come to room temperature.
*You can make cake flour by adding 2 tablespoons (15 gm) of cornstarch to ¾ cups minus two tablespoons (80 gm) of all-purpose flour.

Nutrition

Calories: 330kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 4gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 152mgSodium: 36mgPotassium: 134mgFiber: 1gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 809IUVitamin C: 26mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askchefdennis or tag #askchefdennis!
Pinterest image for strawberry shortcake roll

Comments

    4.84 from 37 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Irene says

    May 09, 2025 at 11:36 am

    5 stars
    Came out great! The sponge cake was spot on!! I was concerned about turning it out but it was just fine. Nothing like fresh strawberries and homemade whipped cream.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      May 10, 2025 at 7:59 am

      Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed the shortcake roll, it’s one of my favorite desserts using strawberries!

      Reply
  2. Andi Hudson says

    March 31, 2025 at 6:23 pm

    5 stars
    Hi, I tried doubling this recipe and it didn’t turn out. I’ve made it just fine with the single batch recipe as written multiple times. Any pointers or tips?

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      April 01, 2025 at 8:17 am

      Are talking about making two rolls or one large roll. I would not attempt to make a large roll, but if you’re just trying to make two rolls, it could be that doubling makes it harder to fold the ingredients together, which would cause problems with the cake. You could probably master it with more practice but I think if you want to double it, you’d be better off, making it in two separate bowls.

      Reply
  3. Colleen says

    March 12, 2025 at 12:28 pm

    Chef Dennis, how is it that we don’t have to roll the cake while it’s warm, let it sit, and then unroll it to put the icing and strawberries in? Doesn’t it crack? This looks terrific and I can’t wait to try it but just wanted to check regarding the rolling step. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      March 12, 2025 at 1:11 pm

      If you add the whipped cream to the warm cake, it will start to break down. You don’t want the cake to be cold, but it can’t be too warm.

      Reply
  4. MLE says

    September 24, 2024 at 3:49 pm

    5 stars
    I am making this recipe for probably the 40th-50th time. Sometimes I mess it up, sometimes I don’t, but its always delicious. I make mine with raspberries instead of strawberries. sooooo good. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      September 24, 2024 at 4:12 pm

      I hope it comes out more often than not. Making it with raspberries sounds like a delightful idea!

      Reply
  5. Malia Qury says

    May 26, 2021 at 2:14 pm

    Very fantastic recipe. I made it at home. I enjoyed it.

    Reply
  6. Michelle says

    May 26, 2021 at 11:05 am

    5 stars
    Fantastic recipe. I have tried many times to make a cake roll, and failed. However this time the sponge roll was superb! I do wish the ingredients were in grams, but I was able to succeed anyway. This recipe does take some skill and effort but it is SO WORTH it! Thank you for sharing your recipe.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      May 26, 2021 at 11:26 am

      there is a toggle that will change the recipe to metric at the bottom of the recipe card. That will take care of most of the conversions

      Reply
  7. silvia says

    May 17, 2021 at 3:15 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious, who can resist fresh strawberries and cream? Not me. This roll was fairly easy to make. A perfect dessert for a sunny day.

    Reply
  8. Jamie says

    May 17, 2021 at 12:22 am

    5 stars
    What a beautiful dessert to make especially during the summer! I can’t wait until it’s strawberry season here because I know I’ll be making this cake over and over again!

    Reply
  9. Naiby says

    May 16, 2021 at 10:58 pm

    5 stars
    It’s like you read my mind. I’ve been seeing strawberry shortcake popping into my head and there you go. I love how you can roll it, how original.

    Reply
  10. Nicole Washington says

    May 16, 2021 at 10:42 pm

    This is a perfect recipe for around this time of year as we are approaching strawberry recipe season.

    Reply
  11. Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says

    May 16, 2021 at 4:43 pm

    5 stars
    Need. Want. HAVE TO HAVE!!! This strawberry shortcake roll is amazing! I love how light and fluffy it is! It’s perfect this time of year and it’ll definitely be a staple dessert all summer!

    Reply
  12. Aditi Bahl says

    May 15, 2021 at 3:13 pm

    5 stars
    Shortcake recipes have often disappointed me. But tried yours and it gave me a lovely surprise. They were delicious and just perfect flavor. Also easy to make.

    Reply
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My name is Chef Dennis Littley, creator and owner of Ask Chef Dennis Productions. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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