Two-tone Zabaione Roll

The two-tone zabaione roll is an elegant and tasty dessert that can make a great impression at the end of a meal or for a special occasion. Here’s how to prepare it:

Ingredients

For the roll:

• 4 eggs
• 120g of sugar
• 120g of type 00 flour
• 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder
• A pinch of salt

For the zabaione cream:

• 6 egg yolks
• 150g of sugar
• 150ml of Marsala (or another sweet fortified wine)
• A pinch of salt

Preparation:

1. Start with the roll dough. Separate the yolks from the whites and whip the whites to stiff peaks with a pinch of salt.
2. In another bowl, whip the yolks with the sugar until you have a frothy and light mixture.
3. Gently fold the whipped whites into the whipped yolks, being careful not to deflate the mixture.
4. Divide the obtained mixture into two equal parts. Sift and add the cocoa to one half, mixing gently.
5. Prepare two rectangular baking trays of the same size, lined with parchment paper. Spread the light mixture evenly in one tray and the cocoa mixture in the other.
6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (356°F) for about 10-12 minutes. The doughs should remain soft to the touch.
7. Remove from the oven and let cool on a damp kitchen towel, then demold and gently remove the parchment paper.
8. While the doughs are cooling, prepare the zabaione. In a double boiler, whip the yolks with the sugar and a pinch of salt until you have a frothy mixture.
9. Add the Marsala little by little, continuing to stir, and cook until the cream has thickened.
10. Let the zabaione cream cool completely.
11. Spread a layer of zabaione on each of the two rectangles of dough, then roll up each rectangle to form two separate rolls.
12. Cut the rolls into slices about 1.5 cm thick and arrange them alternately (one light and one dark) on a serving plate, creating a two-tone spiral effect.
13. Serve the two-tone zabaione roll, possibly decorated with icing sugar or dollops of cream.

Trivia

Zabaione is a very ancient cream, whose origin probably dates back to the Middle Ages. It was traditionally considered a tonic and was also used for its supposed healing properties. Today it is appreciated for its rich flavor and light consistency, which make it perfect to accompany sweets or to be enjoyed on its own.