Swiss Roll - Serves 7 - 8

Ingredients

Method

Preheat the oven to 190°c / 375°f / gas mark 5.

Line a 25cm x 35 cm baking tray with greaseproof paper and grease the paper.

If you have a food mixer this job is very easy. This light sponge can be whisked by hand or using an electric hand mixer but this will take longer.

If you are using a food mixer – place the caster sugar and eggs into the machine bowl, fit the whisk attachment and whisk on fast speed for 8 – 10 minutes. It is whisked enough when you lift up the whisk it leaves a trail on the top of the mixture for a second. This is called a sabayon.

If you are using a hand whisk or electric hand whisk – find a large saucepan and a large heatproof bowl that fits on top.

Fill the saucepan with an inch of water making sure it doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl when placed on top. Bring the water to the boil. Take off the heat.

Place the caster sugar and eggs into the bowl and whisk together.

Place over the saucepan and whisk for 10 minutes until when you lift up the whisk it leaves a trail on top of the mixture.

Using the pan of hot water speeds up this process.

Sieve together the ground almonds and cornflour. Use a spoon to add the flour to the sabayon and fold in carefully. You want to keep as much air in the mixture as possible so don’t bang the spoon on the bowl!

Start at one end of the baking tray and pour the mixture out along the centre from end to end. Using the back of the spoon, push the mixture from the centre out to the sides of the baking tray until the whole sponge is about 2cm thick. Try to handle the mixture as little as possible.

Bake for 8 to 12 minutes until firm. Take out of the oven and leave to cool slightly while you place a piece of greaseproof paper on the work surface the same size as the baking tray. Sprinkle caster sugar all over the paper.

Pick up the paper with the sponge on at two corners like you are hanging out the washing (that is how my teacher explained it to me).

Place the sponge on top of the sugared paper. Move it around so it doesn’t stick. Leave between the two pieces of greaseproof until needed. This will stop it drying out.

For chocolate Swiss roll substitute 25g cornflour for cocoa powder before sieving.

When cold, peel off the top sheet of greaseproof paper and spread with jam of choice. Roll up the sponge using the paper underneath to help you.