Absolutely! Here’s a big, nostalgic, and delicious recipe compilation honoring the 8 most beloved roll cakes from the 1970s — a sweet trip down memory lane wrapped in sponge cake and filled with love, buttercream, and retro charm. 🎂✨
🌀 1970s Roll Cakes Revival
“8 Timeless Cake Rolls That Never Go Out of Style”
From potluck parties to holiday feasts, these roll cakes ruled dessert tables — and they still do!
🌟 Introduction: A Sweet Slice of the ’70s
The 1970s were a golden age of creative, comforting desserts. Amid Jell-O molds and pineapple upside-down cakes, cake rolls (also known as jelly rolls or Swiss rolls) became iconic. These spiraled beauties were made for entertaining, gifting, and showing off, all while delivering rich flavor in a simple, beautiful format.
Each of these 8 roll cakes has its own story — from cozy pumpkin spice to vibrant rainbow swirl. Below is a comprehensive journey through each cake, including its ingredients, method, nostalgic charm, and why people still fall in love with them today.
🧁 1. Christmas Roll Cake 🎄
🎅 A festive classic with sprinkles, almond extract, and dreamy buttercream.
✨ Ingredients:
Cake:
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- ¾ cup sugar (divided: ½ + ¼ cup)
- ¼ + 1 tbsp whole milk
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract
- 1½ tbsp red & green sprinkles
- ½ cup powdered sugar (for dusting)
Filling:
- ½ cup salted butter, softened
- ¼ cup shortening
- 1 tsp clear vanilla
- ½ tsp almond extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp heavy cream
- 1½ tbsp holiday sprinkles
🧑🍳 Method:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a jelly roll pan (10×15”) with parchment.
- Beat egg whites + vinegar until frothy. Slowly add ¼ cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks.
- In a separate bowl, beat yolks + ½ cup sugar until pale. Add milk, extracts.
- Fold whites into yolks. Add sifted dry ingredients.
- Spread into pan, sprinkle with holiday colors, and bake for 12–14 min.
- Roll up in powdered sugar–dusted towel. Cool. Unroll, fill with buttercream, and re-roll.
❤️ Why We Love It:
It tastes like Christmas morning, and looks like a Hallmark card.
🍂 2. Pumpkin Roll Cake 🎃
✨ Ingredients:
Cake:
- ¾ cup flour
- 3 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- ½ tsp baking powder, soda, and salt
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla
- ⅔ cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
Filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 6 tbsp butter
- 1½ tsp vanilla
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
🧑🍳 Method:
- Combine dry ingredients. Beat eggs + sugar, then add pumpkin + vanilla.
- Add dry mix, spread on parchment-lined pan.
- Bake 13–15 mins at 350°F.
- Roll in towel with powdered sugar. Cool.
- Fill with sweet cream cheese, re-roll and chill.
❤️ Why We Love It:
A cozy fall hug in every bite. The go-to Thanksgiving dessert for generations.
☕ 3. Hot Chocolate Cake Roll 🍫
✨ Ingredients:
Cake:
- ½ cup flour
- ¼ cup + 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 4 eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- 5 tbsp oil
- 1½ tsp vanilla
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Filling:
- ¾ cup butter
- 1 tsp clear vanilla
- 7 oz marshmallow fluff
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1–2 tbsp cream
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
Topping:
- Chocolate syrup + more marshmallows
🧑🍳 Method:
- Make cake base as usual. Roll, cool, fill with marshmallow frosting.
- Top with syrup and marshmallows. Chill.
❤️ Why We Love It:
Like drinking hot cocoa by the fire — but better. And edible with a fork.
🍌 4. Banana Roll Cake 🍯
✨ Ingredients:
Cake:
- ¾ cup flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt & baking soda
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- 1½ tsp vanilla
- ½ cup mashed banana
Filling:
- 4 oz cream cheese
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ¾ cup whipped topping
Topping:
- Powdered sugar & caramel drizzle
🧑🍳 Method:
- Beat eggs + sugar until fluffy. Add banana + vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients.
- Bake at 350°F for 12–14 mins.
- Roll, cool, fill, top with caramel.
❤️ Why We Love It:
Banana bread meets birthday cake. Grandma-approved.
🍓 5. Strawberry Roll Cake 🍰
✨ Ingredients:
Cake:
- ¾ cup flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 tsp strawberry flavoring
- Red food coloring
- 1 tbsp oil
Filling:
- 4 oz cream cheese
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla
- 1 cup whipped topping
Topping:
- More whipped topping + halved strawberries
🧑🍳 Method:
- Bake pink cake, roll, cool.
- Fill with sweet cream cheese + whipped topping.
- Top with whipped cream + strawberries.
❤️ Why We Love It:
It’s sweet, flirty, fruity, and 1970s baby shower perfection.
🇨🇭 6. Swiss Roll with Ermine Frosting 🍫
✨ Ingredients:
Cake:
- ½ cup flour
- ¼ cup cocoa
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 4 eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 tbsp oil
- 1½ tsp vanilla
Filling (Ermine):
- 2½ tbsp flour
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup milk
- ½ tsp vanilla
- ½ cup butter
Topping (Ganache):
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- ½ cup heavy cream
🧑🍳 Method:
- Bake sponge. Cook flour/milk into paste. Cool.
- Whip paste with butter and sugar to form ermine frosting.
- Roll, top with ganache drizzle.
❤️ Why We Love It:
The OG chocolate roll — rich, silky, and elegantly vintage.
🥕 7. Carrot Cake Roll 🧁
✨ Ingredients:
Cake:
- ¾ cup flour
- Spices: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 tbsp oil
- 2 cups shredded carrot
Filling:
- 6 oz cream cheese
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1¾ cups powdered sugar
- 1½ tsp vanilla
Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar + 2 tbsp milk
🧑🍳 Method:
- Bake spiced carrot cake. Roll in towel. Cool.
- Fill with tangy frosting. Drizzle glaze over the top.
❤️ Why We Love It:
Like Easter in cake roll form. A hidden gem among the classics.
🌈 8. Rainbow Roll Cake 🌈
✨ Ingredients:
Cake:
- ¾ cup flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 4 eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 tbsp oil
- 1½ tsp vanilla
- ½ tsp almond extract
- Gel food coloring (6 colors)
Filling:
- ¾ cup butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ tsp almond extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp cream
🧑🍳 Method:
- Divide batter into 6 bowls. Color each, layer in pan, bake.
- Roll in towel, cool.
- Fill with almond-vanilla frosting.
❤️ Why We Love It:
A psychedelic throwback to ‘70s joy — and the pride of every retro baker.
🎉 Conclusion: For the Love of Cake Rolls
From holiday sprinkles to marshmallow fluff, these roll cakes celebrate a golden era of baking — where family, flavor, and fun came first. Whether you’re