Chocolate Fig Swiss Roll Cake (video)
Sweet, sun-ripened figs are the best part about summer coming to an end! This rich, chocolate fig swiss roll cake is the ultimate way to enjoy fresh figs – it’s rich, chocolate-y and fluffy! This delicious, fruity chocolate cake is made with chocolate sponge cake, chocolate whipped cream frosting and an irresistible homemade fig jam.
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Delicious & Easy Fig Cake!
If you’ve never had sweet, sun-ripened purple figs, you are seriously missing out! They start to ripen at the beginning of September in California and I wait all year for them! I add them to salads, appetizers and even dessert. They are great to add to fruit salads, or enjoyed on their own, too. They taste like little candies!
For this fig cake, I wanted to add the maximum amount of flavor and made my own fig jam! It’s so delicious and ridiculously easy to make! Make a double batch and save the extra for later to enjoy with some brie cheese! If you want the filling to be less sweet, use green-colored figs which tend to be less sweet; or, reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe. Make sure to let the fig jam cool completely before using on the cake!
Ingredients for Fig Cake
- Eggs: for making the sponge cake.
- Cocoa Powder: I like to use Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder for an intense chocolate flavor.
- Fresh Figs or Fig Jam: I love to make fresh fig jam but you can also use store-bought jam.
- Heavy Cream: keep the cream chilled until ready to make the whipped cream frosting.
- Cream Cheese/Mascarpone: soften the cheese at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: melted chocolate is a great way to add flavor to the frosting!
- Chocolate Liqueur: this ingredient is optional but it will add lots of flavor!
Making The Chocolate Sponge Cake!
This chocolate cake has so much incredible flavor! I used a simple sponge cake recipe and added cocoa powder to the batter. The sponge cake isn’t too sweet or moist, so it’s the perfect recipe to hold the fig spread and whipped cream frosting. When planning this recipe, I really wanted a fluffy frosting and filling and my whipped cream frosting came to mind. I added chocolate to the recipe and viola – soo good!
Making the Chocolate Whipped Cream Frosting
I love the fluffy and rich chocolate whipped cream frosting I use for this cake! It’s super easy to make, too! For the frosting: melt the chocolate chips in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Add the softened cheese, cocoa powder and vanilla. Beat for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mixture is smooth and creamy. In a separate bowl, whisk together the chilled cream and confectioner’s sugar for 4 to 5 minutes, until stiff peaks form. Add the chocolate mixture to the whipped cream. Mix just until the chocolate and cream are combined, about 30 seconds. Do not overmix!
Assembling the Chocolate Fig Swiss Roll Cake
Here’s how to assemble this easy cake roll!
- Make the sponge cake first and allow it to cool completely! The cake needs to be cool, otherwise the frosting will melt.
- Make the easy chocolate frosting. If you’re not using it right away, place the frosting into the refrigerator.
- Make the fresh fig jam while the cake is cooling! This jam also needs to cool completely before you use it in the cake. Try placing it into the refrigerator so it cools faster!
- Unroll the chocolate sponge cake gently. To add even more chocolate flavor, I added chocolate liqueur to the fig spread before using it on the cake. The liqueur adds chocolate flavor and a bit more liquid, which makes the cake extra moist! If you don’t want to add alcohol to this recipe, just use 1/3 cup of strong coffee!
- Spread on the chocolate frosting next and spread it evenly to the edges. Roll the sponge cake the same way you rolled it initially.
- Frost the outside of the swiss roll cake and garnish it with fresh figs and dollops of frosting.
- I recommend refrigerating the cake for a couple hours, or even overnight!
Common Recipe Questions
Can I make this fig cake ahead of time?
Yes, this is a great cake to make ahead of time. In fact, I recommend letting the cake set overnight for best results.
I don’t have fresh figs, what can I use?
You can use store-bought fig jam for this recipe, too!
Can I make this cake without the chocolate liqueur?
Yes, the chocolate liqueur is optional! This recipe will work great without the liqueur, too.
More Recipes!
Enjoyed this easy cake recipe? Check out some of my other recipes you’re sure to love!
- Honey Fig Cake – another easy fig and honey cake, topped with fresh figs and more honey!
- Mango Swiss Roll Cake – light, fluffy and fruity! The best mango cake with mascarpone frosting and loads of mango!
- Chocolate Raspberry Swiss Roll – amazing chocolate cake roll filled with raspberries and whipped cream!
- Strawberries & Cream Swiss Roll Cake – the best-ever strawberry cake with delicate sponge cake, strawberries and mascarpone whipped cream filling!
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Supplies/Tools
Need some supplies to make this recipe? You can get them here (Amazon affiliate links):
- I love these aluminum half-sheet pans – great for making cakes or roasting veggies.
- You can never have too many off-set spatulas to help with cake batter and frosting!
- Use this classic KitchenAid stand mixer, or this handy handheld mixer that also gets the job done!
- Finish off the cake using these jumbo cake decorating tips!
Chocolate Fig Swiss Roll Cake (video)
Ingredients
For Chocolate Sponge Cake:
- 6 large eggs
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
For Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese or mascarpone, softened at room temp
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups heavy cream, chilled
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
For Jam:
- 2 cups chopped fresh figs
- 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup chocolate liqueur, or coffee
Additional:
- chocolate bar, for garnish
- Fresh figs, for garnish
Instructions
For Chocolate Sponge Cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a large, jelly roll pan with parchment paper or a silicone mat; do not grease the sides.
- In a stand mixer bowl, combine the eggs, sugar and vanilla. Whisk on high speed for 7 to 8 minutes, until eggs are thick, voluminous and pale in color. Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl: flour, cocoa powder and baking powder. Sift the dry ingredients into the eggs in small increments, folding gently but thoroughly after each addition.
- Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan and use a spatula to spread the batter evenly. Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 19 to 21 minutes, until the cake springs back when tapped lightly on top.
- Roll the cake immediately after done baking! Remove cake and run a knife along the edge to release the cake from the sides. Lay a clean tea towel over the cake, invert a wire rack on top, then carefully turn the cake upside down onto the work surface. Lift off the pan off, then remove the parchment paper or silicone mat. Sprinkle the cake lightly with confectioner’s sugar, then roll the cake into a roll along with the tea towel. Allow the cake to cool completely.
For Fresh Fig Jam:
- While cake is baking and cooling, prepare the fig jam. Place the chopped figs, sugar and water into a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, until a thick jam forms. Remove the jam and allow it to cool completely. Once cooled, add the chocolate liqueur and stir to combine.
For Chocolate Whipped Cream Frosting:
- For the frosting: melt the chocolate chips in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Add the softened cheese, cocoa powder and vanilla. Beat for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mixture is smooth and creamy. In a separate bowl, whisk together the chilled cream and confectioner’s sugar for 4 to 5 minutes, until stiff peaks form. Add the chocolate mixture to the whipped cream. Mix just until the chocolate and cream are combined, about 30 seconds. Do not overmix!
Assembling the Cake:
- To assemble the cake, gently unroll the sponge cake. Use a large spoon to spread the fig jam over the entire cake surface, reaching to the edges. Next, spread a generous amount of the chocolate frosting over the cake, spreading to the edges. Gently roll the cake back up the same way it was shaped originally. Use the tea towel to help roll it back up and onto a long, rectangle platter.
- Use a spatula to frost the outside of the cake along the top and ends. Garnish the top with sliced figs, shaved chocolate (use a peeler for this), and/or dollops of cream (I used Ateco tip #847). Refrigerate the cake for a couple hours before serving; or, best if set overnight.
