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This melt-in-your-mouth fluffy and moist Blackberry Lemon Cake Roll (a.k.a. Swiss Roll) is easier than you think! The cake batter has just 4 ingredients and the whipped blackberry frosting is ridiculously simple to make.
This cake only looks like it took forever but really it has simple ingredients, comes together quickly and is definitely a show-stopping cake! Take a bite of this Blackberry Lemon Cake Roll and you’ll have no words, only sound effects…. mmm…
Watch the Blackberry Lemon Cake Roll Video:
The combination of blackberries and lemon just makes my mouth water. P.S. You can make this cake roll a day in advance, cover and refrigerate and it will be just as good the next day. Hooray for make-ahead desserts!
That topping looks so lovely but it’s the easiest part of the cake!!
Tools You Will Need (affiliate):
Flour Sifter or fine mesh sieve
18×13 (half sheet) rimmed baking sheet
parchment paper to line baking sheet
clean tea towel or linen towel
flexible spatula
High powered stand mixer*
Piping Bag and Large Open Star Wilton 1M Tip
*If using a good electric hand mixer instead of a stand mixer, add 2 min to eggs/sugar mixing time.
The Ingredients are surprisingly really simple but the results are awesome!
⬇️Print-Friendly Blackberry Lemon Cake Roll Recipe:
Blackberry Lemon Cake Roll (VIDEO)
Ingredients
Sponge Cake Ingredients:
- 5 large eggs, room temp
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
For the Lemon Syrup:
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 4 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, from 1 med/large lemon
For the Blackberry Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 8 Tbsp 113 grams unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 6 oz blackberries, chopped (reserving 6 whole berries to garnish)
Optional Garnish:
- 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream, chilled
- 1 Tbsp powdered sugar
- 2 lemon slices, cut into triangles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F. Line the bottom of an 18x13 baking sheet with parchment paper (do not grease).
- Add 5 eggs to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment and beat on high speed 1 min, or until foamy. Gradually add sugar and beat on high 7 min. It will be thick, fluffy and tripled in volume**
- Whisk together flour and baking powder and sift into egg batter one third at a time, folding to incorporate between each addition and scraping from the bottom to catch hidden flour pockets. Stop mixing when you no longer see streaks of flour.
- Transfer to lined baking sheet and bake right away at 350˚F for 13-15 min (mine took 15 min) or until top is golden. Remove from oven and right away run a thin edged spatula or knife around edges of your cake to loosen from the pan. While cake is hot***, invert cake face down onto a clean, dry linen towel, remove parchment paper then roll cake into the towel. Let cool to room temp (30 min - 1hr) in a draft free room.
- Meanwhile, combine all ingredients for lemon syrup (water, sugar, lemon juice), stir to dissolve sugar and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 8 oz softened cream cheese, 8 Tbsp softened butter and 1 cup powdered sugar. Beat together starting on low speed to incorporate sugar, then turn the mixer up to high speed for 2-3 min or until whipped, white and fluffy, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add coarsely chopped blackberries and stir into cream with mixer on low, just until incorporated.
- Carefully Unroll cake and loosen from the towel. Brush the top evenly with your lemon syrup. Put dollops of blackberry frosting over the surface and spread evenly. Roll the cake tightly in the same direction you rolled it the first time. Slice off the edges if desired and dust generously with powdered sugar.
- For the topping, beat together 3/4 cup heavy cream with 1 Tbsp powdered sugar for 2 min on high speed until fluffy and spreadable. Transfer to a large piping bag with a large open star tip and pipe 6 flowers over the top, placing a fresh blackberry and lemon triangle into the center of each one.
Notes
***To prevent cracks in cake roll, it should be rolled in the linen towel right after it comes out of the oven.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
This sponge cake base in this blackberry lemon cake roll is amazing! It takes on moisture really well and won’t get soggy for several days. Hungry for More? Check out all of my many cake recipes using this easy European sponge cake base.
Ready, Set,… Bake!! Enjoy this my friends! 🙂
Yummm!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Hi, can I exchange the black berries for blueberries or raspberries?
Hi Shelagh, I think blackberries or raspberries are best since they break up easily and still look good in the frosting. The third best option would be diced strawberries, and you can garnish with strawberry quarters over the cream puffs on top, and it would be lovely!
Can this recipe be cut down? My oven isn’t big enough for size of pan, any suggestions?
Hi Mary, I haven’t tested this, but you can try halving the recipe if you have a sheet that’s half the size. That will make for a much smaller roll
How would I go about making the cake part lemon while still keeping the texture light, fluffy, and melt in your mouth?
Hi, I always add the flavorings to this simple sponge cake so I would suggest brushing it with a lemon/water/sugar syrup to add lemon flavor.
I don’t have anything to store this in I don’t want to just put it in the fridge overnight it will dry out
can I just do all the steps except decorate the top the next day?
and cover the plate with plastic wrap?
Hi Robrene, I’ve gotten creative and placed a casserole dish or large pot over the top or even a clean box. You can also decorate the next day and cover with plastic wrap.
Do you have to make any ingredient changes to make a blueberry version of this
Hi Carolyn, you can switch out the blackberry for blueberry, although I haven’t tried it for this recipe to advise on the outcome.
I am sorry to bother you but I don’t know how to get your recipes when you do a video that I can save them in my recipe file on my iPhone can you or your husband help me on trying to download your recipes.
Thanks, Dale
Hi Dale, all the written recipes are here on my website. You can use the search field to look for the recipes or the link is always added to the notes or description below the YouTube video. I hope that helps!
Thank you Natasha, I’m going to make this cake
I hope you love it! We look forward to your feedback!
I made this a while back and it looked just like the picture and was irresistibly delicious! Making it again tomorrow with strawberries instead. Hubby didn’t care for the blackberry seeds …. any suggestions on that for next time? BTW, I love your recipes and am a huge fan 🙂
Hi Cindi, great to hear that you’re making this cake again tomorrow. Strawberries should be a good idea, I haven’t tried using another substitute for blackberry seeds though to advise. Please let us know how it goes if you do an experiment.
Can blueberries be used rather than blackberries
Hi Andrea! I think blackberries or raspberries are best since they break up easily and still look good in the frosting. The third best option would be diced strawberries and you can garnish with strawberry quarters over the cream puffs on top and it would be lovely!
Hi Natasha,
I love watching your video’s. They inspire me to bake more. The blackberry lemon cake roll is so amazing. Both my kid’s and husband love this cake.
Thank You from the Cook Islands.
Thank you so much for sharing that with us! I hope you and your family will love every recipe that you will try.
Great recipe! Easy and turned out amazing! Thank you!
I’m glad you loved it! Thank you.
OMG! It was delicious I also made it with raspberries and my family loved both of them. I enjoy watching your videos and Thanks for sharing your recipes.
I’m so glad to hear your good feedback, Maria. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Hi Natasha,
Thank you for sharing wonderful recipes!
Can I use this blackberry frosting on 9” or 8” cake with 2 layers ? Or double it?
Another question,Is this frosting similar to the one in these cupcakes -https://natashaskitchen.com/greek-yogurt-cupcakes-with-blackberry-frosting/#jump-to-recipe
Please let men know.
Hi Mikki, yes it is like the cupcakes. Here is the layered cake version of our Blackberry Cake which may heop.
OMG YUM! My husband went crazy over this cake: the perfect blend of tart and sweet. I added a little extra squeeze of the lemon into the frosting, and I might have over beaten it, so it really wanted to ooze out. Also, my sponge cake got stuck to the linen, so it turned out a bit ugly. I would maybe sprinkle some powdered sugar on the cake before rolling into the linen to prevent it getting stuck. SUCH a good recipe, and a lot easier than I thought! Thank you 🙂
Hello Meg, you are very welcome! Thank you for sharing your experience making this recipe, I’m glad you liked it!
I made this swiss roll and it was delicious. Thank you. I really enjoy your videos!
Glad you loved this recipe! Thank you for your good feedback.
Hi! Looks delicious. Can this be made with raspberries instead of blackberries as my husband loves raspberries.
Jess
Hi Jess, I think blackberries or raspberries are best since they break up easily and still look good in the frosting. The third best option would be diced strawberries, and you can garnish with strawberry quarters. I hope that helps.
Hi! I just made this and my sponge stuck to the tea towel and I ended up with cracks. I wonder if this was caused by underbaking? It tastes fabulous just looks a mess
Hi Linda, That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review! It helps to roll the cake right away while it was hot out of the oven. If you skip that step or wait too long, the cake doesn’t form the “muscle memory” to create the roll without cracking. I hope that helps for next time!
Thank you so much for your wonderful recipes. Just made this sponge roll and it’s perfect.
No cracks. Don’t eat cream cheese so filling with whipped cream and raspberries… on the side of plate will be strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cantaloupe and water melon. Guess whose got the grandkids coming to celebrate Pas birthday!
Happy New Year xx
Happy New Year’s Eve, Helen! I’m so glad it worked out for you! Thank you for that great review.
Omg! Nothing but the best! Thanks for sharing
You are most welcome!
Delicious cake roll! So light and fluffy. Perfect with a cup of tea. I made it simple as I didn’t have any berries on hand. Will definitely be making again, thanks Natasha!
You’re welcome Laima! I’m so glad you enjoyed that!