Coffee Roll

The coffee roll is a delicious dessert that combines the softness of a rolled sponge cake with a rich filling, in this case flavored with coffee. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 120 g of sugar
• 120 g of all-purpose flour
• 1 pinch of salt
• Espresso coffee to taste
• 250 g of mascarpone
• 50 g of powdered sugar
• Cocoa powder for decorating (optional)

Preparation

1. Prepare the sponge cake: beat the eggs with the sugar using an electric whisk until the mixture is fluffy and frothy.
2. Gradually add the sifted flour, mixing gently with a bottom-to-top motion to keep the mixture from deflating.
3. Pour the batter into a baking tray lined with parchment paper, leveling it well, then bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 10 minutes or until it is golden brown.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the filling: whip the mascarpone with the powdered sugar and, if you want to intensify the flavor, add a bit of cold espresso coffee.
5. Once the sponge cake is cooked, turn it out onto a damp kitchen towel, gently peel off the parchment paper, and roll the sponge cake with the help of the towel. Allow it to cool completely.
6. Gently unroll the sponge cake, spread the coffee mascarpone filling over it and roll it up again.
7. To finish, dust the surface of the roll with cocoa powder for an extra touch of elegance and flavor.

The coffee roll is ready to be served after a short rest in the refrigerator. It is a perfect dessert to conclude a meal or to accompany an afternoon coffee break.

Curiosity

The sponge cake, the base of this roll, is named after Genoese cook Giovan Battista Cabona who invented it while in the service of the Spanish court in the 17th century. His original version was lighter and fluffier than desserts of the time, and thus it quickly captivated palates across Europe.