This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
This chocolate cherry roll is spiked!! The base is a Russian chocolate sponge cake called biskvit. Use rum in lieu of vanilla extract for a cream that smells and tastes amazing. I think you’ll agree! Check out the video for step-by-step instructions and a taste test that my husband insisted I include :-O.
There is a print-friendly version at the bottom of this post. Also, be sure to subscribe to my new youtube channel. One last thing and then I’ll stop rambling; this cake is GOOD!
Watch How To Make Chocolate Cherry Cake Roll:
Ingredients for the Chocolate Cherry Roll:
4 eggs (cold or room temp)
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour *measured correctly
3 Tbsp Unsweetened cocoa powder
Ingredients for the Frosting:
1.5 cup heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup powdered sugar, plus more to sprinkle the finished cake
2 tsp Rum (I used Meyers Dark rum 40% alcohol)
1 cup Canned cherries in light syrup OR whatever fresh or canned fruit you like.
How to Make the Chocolate Cherry Roll and Rum Cream:
Preheat the Oven to 350˚F.
1. Line an rimmed half baking pan (interior dimensions 16.5 x 11.38) with parchment paper, then butter and flour the top of the parchment paper.
2. In the bowl of your electric mixer, whisk together 4 eggs with 2/3 cup sugar for 12 minutes on high speed until the mixture is thick. Sift in 1/2 cup flour and 3 Tbsp cocoa powder and fold it in gently, scraping from the bottom of the bowl to make sure you do not have any lumps left in the batter. Continue folding/scraping gently for about 1-2 minutes until the batter is smooth and lump-free. It’s best to be humming a little tune at this point;… not really, but it makes everything so much more fun! Transfer to your prepped baking pan and Bake at 350˚F for 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
3. You must start rolling the cake when it just comes out of the oven. Transfer your cake to your work surface and place a sheet of parchment paper or a tea towel over the cake, then roll the cake over it, pulling it away from the parchment paper as you roll. Use a thin edged spatula if the cake sticks to the parchment. Let cool to room temp.
The Frosting & Assembly:
1. Clean and completely dry the mixing bowl. Whisk together 1.5 cups heavy whipping cream with 1/3 cup powdered sugar on high speed (about 2 minutes) until stiff peaks form, then beat in 2 tsp Rum until well combined. Don’t over-beat or it will turn buttery. Lick the whisk clean (very important!) and then Refrigerate frosting until ready to use.
2. Once the cake is cooled to room temp, unroll it and spread the top evenly with frosting. Scatter about 1 cup of drained cherries over the top. Roll the cake in the same direction that you rolled it initially. Transfer to your serving platter and sprinkle it generously with powdered sugar. You can cut off the ends for a prettier presentation.
Chocolate Cherry Roll with Rum Cream ~ A Video Recipe

Ingredients
For the Cake
- 4 eggs, (cold or room temp)
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 Tbsp Unsweetened cocoa powder
For the Frosting
- 1.5 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar, plus more to sprinkle the finished cake
- 2 tsp Rum, I used Meyers Dark rum 40% alcohol
- 1 cup Canned cherries in light syrup OR whatever fresh or canned fruit you like.
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven to 350˚F.
- Line rimmed baking pan (interior dimensions 16.5 x 11.38) with parchment paper, then butter and flour the top of the parchment paper.
- In the bowl of your electric mixer, whisk together 4 eggs with 2/3 cup sugar for 12 minutes on high speed until the mixture is thick. Sift in 1/2 cup flour and 3 Tbsp cocoa powder and gently fold it in, scraping from the bottom of the bowl to make sure you do not have any clumps left in the batter. Continue folding/scraping gently for about 1-2 minutes until the batter is smooth and lump-free. Transfer to your prepped baking pan and Bake at 350˚F for 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- You must start rolling the cake when it just comes out of the oven. Transfer your cake to your work surface and place a sheet of parchment paper or a tea towel over the cake, then roll the cake over it, pulling it away from the parchment paper as you roll. Use a thin edged spatula if the cake sticks to the parchment. Let cool to room temp.
- Clean and completely dry the mixing bowl. Whisk together 1.5 cups heavy whipping cream with 1/3 cup powdered sugar on high speed (about 2 minutes) until stiff peaks form, then beat in 2 tsp Rum until well combined. Don't overbeat or it will turn buttery. Refrigerate frosting until ready to use.
- Once the cake is cooled to room temp, unroll it and spread the top evenly with frosting. Scatter about 1 cup of drained cherries over the top. Roll the cake in the same direction that you rolled it initially. Transfer to your serving platter and sprinkle it generously with powdered sugar. You can cut off the ends for a prettier presentation.
I just found out about your site, but already tried several recipes. Thank you so much. I am very happy that my friend ( who is not even russian, she is originaly from Philippines) told me about cool recipes she is trying out from your site. Thank you for all the details in the instructions. BTW, I know Alla who is married to Alex in WA, I wonder if it is the same one.
Welcome to the site Lily. Alex is her husband’s name :).
Looks good, in the video you mention about you cousin Alla in washington is it Alla Krinitsyn by any chance?
No, it’s another Alla 🙂 She’s married to my cousin Alex.
Oh, okay I tried your recipe of the roll and my kids loved it, it was all gone at one sitting. I have made rolls before but not chocolate and used a different cream. I like both of them. Thanks for the recipe.
Awesome! Thanks for letting me know your kiddos loved it 🙂
Natasha, thanks for this recipe, I’ve never made a roll cake! Will definitely try this soon! You’re so great on the video! I hope to see on the food network channel with your own show one day! God bless you!
Thank you for such a sweet comment Inna :D.
Oh wow yum, that looks absolutely divine!
Thank you Rosie 🙂
Cherries and rum is one of my most favorite combinations!
I’d say it’s my new favorite! I was happy to discover it 🙂
good job on the cake roll..:) just a little advice for you. Try not to decorate your plates with ingredients that’s not in your dish….
I know it… I didn’t have any fresh cherries on hand and it just needed some fruit 😉
Wow, this looks delicious! 🙂
Thanks Christina 🙂 It’s awesome to hear from a fellow blog-her blogger 🙂 Your site looks awesome by the way; I’ll have to do some exploring on your blog…
Wow! … yet another awesome treat. I can’t wait to make it and surely will. Do you by any chance have a recipe for kulich and cheese Paskha?
I have a recipe for kulich but I haven’t had a chance to test it yet. If it turns out amazing; I’ll definitely share it 🙂
This looks delish! I would so make it if I had rum on hand. I should have watched the video earlier today when I was looking at what ingredients I need for your spartak cake. Looks like a trip to the liquor store is needed!
You could make it with just 1 tsp of vanilla if you don’t have rum, but it’s so so delicious with rum 🙂
Definatly going to try this! I dont like to bake at all, but every recipe iv tried off your site it comes out awesome! Thank you for the video, you are too funny!! Ill let you know how it goes!
You are welcome Irina :).
Can I skip the rum? Or use something else in its place?
Nice video!
you can try not removing the prachment paper when you roll it into a roll (to retain shape), this might prevent the cracks. Just remove the parchment after the cake has cooled, rolled up.
I’ll have to try that next time! Thank you so much for the great tip!
I was going to say the same thing, roll with the parchment as is and not add extra parchment paper on top to roll, then when you unroll, after it cools off, peel the parchement as you go. Works great and you save parchment
Thanks Laura. I’ll definitely try that next time! 🙂 I love learning from you all!
Hi, Natasha. Congratulations on this new addition to your blog!
Great video! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Rimma! I just hope we get faster at posting videos with time 🙂
This looks really good! Going to try making it this weekend 🙂
Let me know what you think of the cake.
Great video , u funny lady!
Thanks Sveta 🙂
Oh my goodness, just what I needed 🙂 can’t wait to try it.
Since I’m not a big fan of cherries, I think I may add rasberry to mine .
Thanks for sharring the recipe/video.
You can use any fruit you like, I just had canned cherries on hand
🙂
Made this today (with rasberries), it was delicious. My family wants me to try it with cherries next time as well 🙂
I’m glad you like the recipe :).
Good job, Natasha!
Thank you 🙂
Oh, yes please… I need a piece now, a perfect addition to my morning coffee:) Great job Natasha!!! Love the video:)
I better go get my morning coffee; and breakfast; that would be good too 🙂 I’m a little late on both (11:00am!)
Great video, your too funny! But, it makes me feel confident in making this recipe without it failing. Thanks!!!
Thanks Inna; I was hoping videos would have that affect; building confidence that is 😉
So in the video, you don’t separate your eggs, but in the ingredients, it states to separate.. A little confused?
I fixed the ingredient list; not sure what I was thinking there. Do not separate your eggs 🙂 Thanks for pointing that out! You are awesome!
Hehe.. Thank you!
I take it you enjoyed it? 🙂