Banana Cream Jelly Roll

This Banana Cream Jelly Roll Cake showcases a delicate sponge cake, lovingly rolled around luscious banana pudding, and enveloped in a Dream Whip topping. Finished with a sprinkling of toasted coconut, it’s an irresistible dessert you won’t want to miss.

The first time I posted this recipe was back in 2014. I was asked to do a post about my mom and one of her recipes. I jumped at the chance because anytime I get the opportunity to sing her praises, I do! 

My Mom had me young, just two days 19 years old. I am sure I am biased, because everyone has something great to say about their Mom, and I am not knocking yours, I am just super proud of mine. My Mom was the fun Mom on the street who did cartwheels in the front yard with us and never told us no when we asked her to play a game with us, or if we could have friends over.  Don’t misunderstand me, I knew that when I needed it, she would tell me no, and when I wasn’t in the right she set me straight. You see there is a fine line between being a Mom and being your child’s BFF.

My Mom, however, was always there when I needed a shoulder to cry on, and yet I see now, that she stood in the shadows when I felt “I didn’t need her advice, and my girlfriends and I knew everything.”  She was always right there when I found out that option usually didn’t turn out so well. She was the perfect balance between friend and Mom, and she is the reason that I only wanted to be one thing when I grew up, a Mom.

Even when times were tough, my brother and I never knew it. There was always enough. Always enough food on the table, always enough to wear, always plenty of laughter, and always an abundance of love when my Mom was there. Our house was always immaculate, dinner was on the table at dinner time and she was there to tuck us in bed for prayers at night.

Mom’s Recipes

She wasn’t a gourmet cook or baker, but comfort food, kind of cook, and her Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup or Pork Chops and Mushroom Gravy are still my favorite dinners, and what I crave when I need comfort food.  

I loved coming home from school to smell cookies from the oven as an occasional surprise. Her Peanut Butter Cookies are still my favorite, with her Oatmeal Raisin Cookies a close second. So many of my recipes on my site come from my childhood and my amazing Mom.  But I needed something new to make for this post back then about my Mom, so I asked her what recipe I was forgetting. She mentioned this Banana Cream Jelly Roll Cake and I knew exactly what recipe I would post.

Banana Cream Jelly Roll Cake

This recipe actually comes from my paternal Grandma. She was an incredible baker and this jelly roll cake was no exception. Luscious layers of creamy banana pudding surrounded by tender sponge cake rolled into a log and then smothered with luscious Dream Whip is the kind of dessert you need to write home about. Though it may sound like a fancy dessert you’d pick up at the bakery, I’ll show you how easy it is to make this perfect dessert at home. 

What is a Jelly Roll? 

If you aren’t familiar with a jelly roll it is a dessert that’s also known as a Swiss roll in some regions, and it is a type of rolled sponge cake filled with a layer of jam, jelly, cream, or other sweet fillings.

We love jelly rolls as they have a light texture and the perfect combination of cake and filling. Plus, they also look super fancy when you slice them. They are great to enjoy as an everyday dessert or fancy treat. 

If you love this jelly roll cake, you are sure to love these roll cakes too: Banana Split Jelly Roll Cake and this Blueberry Orange Angel Food Cake Roll. 

Jelly Roll Cake

Though jelly rolls may sound complicated to prepare, the rolling technique is quite simple. You take your baked sponge cake which is baked in a 10 x 15 jelly roll pan and once it’s cool you spread your filling on top and then gently roll it into a log. 

I’ve made this jelly roll cake with banana pudding but you can pretty much use any flavor of pudding, jam, jelly, or your favorite preserves. Unlike some sponge cakes, this one doesn’t require you to separate the egg whites from the egg yolks, so it comes together a little easier. 

Ingredients for this banana roll recipe

For complete ingredients and instructions scroll to the bottom of this post for the full printable recipe. 

• Eggs: You can use any type of egg to make this cake. 
• Sugar: I used white granulated sugar to sweeten the jelly roll. 
• Flour: All-purpose flour works well to bake this jelly roll cake. 
• Baking powder: A touch of baking powder helps the jelly roll rise.
• Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the flavors. 
• Vanilla extract: Vanilla helps to bring out the sweetness of this roll. 
• Banana pudding: Banana pudding is what gives the jelly roll its banana flavor.
• Dream Whip: Dream Whip helps to create a whipped topping.
• Toasted Coconut: Toasted coconut adds a tropical flavor and some crunch to the jelly roll. 

Be sure to keep reading to find tips and tricks, substitutions, and answers to questions you may have about this jelly roll recipe. 

How to make this jelly roll cake recipe

This jelly roll is fun and easy to make. Pull out your electric mixer and all your ingredients. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Line a jelly roll pan with a piece of parchment paper, and grease with Crisco or cooking spray. 

In a mixer bowl, on medium speed, beat eggs for about 5 minutes or until very thick and lemon colored.

Gradually beat sugar into eggs, followed by the vanilla.

Slowly add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture;  flour, baking powder, and salt, and beat until the batter is smooth.

Pour into the prepared pan and spread into the corners. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Loosen the cake from the edges of the pan. While hot, invert the cake onto a clean kitchen towel or tea towel, and roll it from the short side, jelly roll style. Cool completely to room temperature on a wire rack.

While the cake cools, toast the coconut.

Prepare the pudding and the Dream Whip as directed on the packages. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Carefully unroll the cooled cake. Remove the towel and spread the pudding evenly over the entire surface of the cake.

Roll back up and place the seam side down on a plate.

Frost with Dream Whip and top with toasted coconut. Store in the refrigerator. Slice to serve.

Store leftovers in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge until soft enough to cut. 

Love it? Pin it!

If you love this banana cream jelly roll cake make sure that you don’t lose it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go!

Substitutions

Remember that when it comes to making substitutions in recipes, you don’t need to be afraid to get creative and use ingredients that suit your personal taste and dietary preferences. Make it your own!

• Use a different flavor pudding; any fruit flavor will taste great as will chocolate. 
• Try whipped cream or Cool Whip as the frosting instead of Dream Whip or opt for a rich cream cheese frosting. 
• Drizzle the jelly roll with raspberry or strawberry sauce instead of frosting or in addition to the frosting.

FAQs about banana cream jelly roll cake

• What is the difference between a jelly roll and a Swiss roll? A jelly roll and a Swiss roll are the same type of dessert, known for their rolled-up cake filled with different fillings. The main difference is the name Swiss roll is most often used in England while jelly roll is used in the United States. 
• Does a jelly roll need to be refrigerated? Yes, you should store the jelly roll in the refrigerator as it contains dairy-based products that require refrigeration. 
• What is the difference between a jelly roll and a roulade? A jelly roll can also be called a roulade however a roulade can also include savory fillings, not just sweet ones. 
• How to roll up a jelly roll cake? The key to rolling up the jelly roll cake is to bake it in a jelly roll pan and once baked loosen the edges with a knife. Once it’s cooled slightly flip it over onto a dish towel and roll it up gently. Once cool, unroll it, spread your filling over the top, and then gently roll again.  
• How do you keep a jelly roll cake from cracking? The key to keeping a jelly roll cake from cracking is to make sure you don’t overbake it as if it’s dry it is more likely to crack. While the cake is cooling you can place a damp towel over it to keep it moist which also helps with rolling. In addition, make sure to spread the filling evenly across the cake as this distributes the pressure evenly.  Roll the cake from the short edge, not the long edge of the cake.
• Can I use a 9×13 pan instead of a jelly roll pan? You can use a 9 x 13 pan instead of a jelly roll pan but you may need to adjust the filling amount and the baking time. Be careful when handling the cake as it will be larger than the traditional jelly roll size. 

Tips & Tricks

• For more banana flavor add mashed banana to the pudding mix. 
• To fancy up this dessert, drizzle with caramel sauce and make a caramel banana cake roll.
• To speed up the preparation process, pick up a container of Cool Whip instead of using Dream Whip. 
• Forgo the whipped topping altogether and sprinkle the banana roll cake with powdered sugar, also known as confectioner’s sugar.

More Recipes to Love

If you are looking for some scrumptious banana desserts, I’ve got you covered. For frozen treats, you may like these Banana Cream Pie Shakes or this Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream. 

For baked treats, you may like these Banana Pecan Rolls, my Banana Cream Pie, (pictured above) these Pumpkin Spice Banana Muffins, or these Chocolate Banana Bars. Find all of my Banana Recipes here.

Mom, “I love you, a bushel and a peck and a hug around your neck.” I adore my Mom, and I know that God couldn’t have given me a more perfect person to be mine. I only hope that I am lucky enough to make my children feel the same way!

This delicious dessert not only tastes great but looks great too. If you are looking for banana flavored show stopper of a dessert, this recipe is for you!

This recipe was originally posted on May 14, 2014. It has been updated to improve user experience and reshared on July 15, 2024.