Save to Pinterest A festive, whimsical cake roll decorated to resemble a classic holiday ugly sweater, using store-bought ingredients for a fast and fun dessert perfect for parties.
I brought this ugly sweater cake roll to a holiday party last year and everyone smiled seeing the playful designs covering the top. It's wonderful to let guests decorate their own slices too.
Ingredients
- Cake: 1 store-bought vanilla or chocolate Swiss roll cake (about 13–16 oz / 370–450 g)
- Filling (optional, for extra flavor): 1/2 cup (120 ml) whipped cream or vanilla frosting
- Decoration: 1 1/2 cups (180 g) vanilla or cream cheese frosting, red and green gel food coloring, assorted holiday sprinkles, mini candies and colored sugar, 1/4 cup (30 g) mini chocolate chips or candy pearls, 1/4 cup (25 g) shredded coconut (optional, for snow effect)
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Instructions
- Prepare Cake:
- Carefully unroll the store-bought Swiss roll cake. If desired, spread an even layer of whipped cream or frosting over the inside, then gently reroll the cake.
- Position on Platter:
- Place the cake roll seam-side down on a serving platter.
- Tint Frostings:
- Divide the vanilla frosting into three bowls. Tint one portion red, one green, and leave the third white.
- Decorate Cake Roll:
- Using an offset spatula or butter knife, frost the cake roll with the colored frostings in sections or fun patterns to mimic the look of a holiday sweater.
- Add Festive Details:
- Decorate with sprinkles, mini candies, chocolate chips, colored sugar, and coconut as desired to create playful sweater designs: zig-zags, polka dots, snowflakes, or reindeer.
- Chill & Serve:
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes to set the decorations before slicing and serving.
Save to Pinterest When we made this together, everyone picked their favorite holiday theme for decoration. It was such a joyful mess and made for cute family photos.
Required Tools
You'll need an offset spatula or butter knife, medium mixing bowls, serving platter, and food-safe gloves for coloring the frosting.
Allergen Information
This dessert contains wheat, eggs, and dairy. Check store-bought product labels for soy or nut traces as decorations vary.
Nutritional Information
Each serving of cake roll offers about 320 calories, 14 g fat, 46 g carbohydrates, and 3 g protein.
Save to Pinterest This easy treat brings so much laughter and creativity to your dessert table. Slice and serve with hot cocoa or sweet wine for a cheerful finish.
Common Recipe Questions
- → What type of cake works best?
A store-bought vanilla or chocolate Swiss roll is ideal for easy preparation.
- → Can I add extra flavor to the filling?
Yes, spreading whipped cream or vanilla frosting inside enhances richness and moistness.
- → How do I create the colored frosting decorations?
Divide vanilla or cream cheese frosting into portions and tint with red and green gel food coloring, leaving one portion white.
- → What decorations are recommended for the sweater design?
Use holiday sprinkles, mini candies, chocolate chips, colored sugar, and optionally shredded coconut for snow effects.
- → How should I store leftovers?
Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days to maintain freshness and decoration integrity.
- → Is this suitable for children to help decorate?
Absolutely, letting kids create their own sweater patterns adds fun and creativity.
