Chocolate Birthday Cake Roll

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 15×10-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper and lightly grease the paper.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
• Add the vanilla extract, warm water, and vegetable oil to the egg mixture and mix until combined.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until smooth.
• Pour the batter into the prepared jelly roll pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

2. Roll the cake:

• Once the cake is baked, remove it from the oven and immediately dust a clean kitchen towel with powdered sugar.
• Carefully invert the cake onto the powdered sugar-covered towel and remove the parchment paper.
• Starting from one end, gently roll the cake up with the towel (like a jelly roll). Allow it to cool completely while rolled up.

3. Make the filling:

• While the cake is cooling, beat the cream cheese, heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a bowl until soft peaks form (about 2-3 minutes).
• If you’d like a chocolate filling, sift in the cocoa powder and beat until smooth. You can also fold in mini chocolate chips if you want added texture.

4. Assemble the cake roll:

• Once the cake has cooled completely, unroll it gently.
• Spread the cream cheese filling evenly over the cake, leaving a small border around the edges.
• Carefully roll the cake back up (without the towel this time), making sure to roll it tightly but not too tightly, to avoid cracking.

5. Decorate:

• Place the cake roll seam-side down on a serving platter.
• Optionally, drizzle with chocolate ganache or frosting. You can also sprinkle it with powdered sugar, sprinkles, or birthday candles for a festive touch.
• Slice and serve!

Tips:

• Make sure the cake is completely cooled before filling and rolling to avoid melting the filling.
• You can use store-bought whipped cream or frosting for a quicker version of the filling, or even add a layer of fruit preserves like raspberry or strawberry for added flavor.
• If you have leftover ganache or frosting, you can use it to cover the whole cake or as a topping.

This Chocolate Birthday Cake Roll is a fun and creative way to celebrate a special day, with the perfect combination of chocolate cake, creamy filling, and beautiful presentation! 🎂🍫🎉

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