Swiss roll cakes are one of the many delicious desserts found in Asia. Durian swiss roll cake is one of the many specialities in Southeast Asia as durian is a local fruit. You either love or hate durians due to its pungent smell. Anyway, it had been months since my family kept singing praises over a particular type of swiss roll.
This recipe is not any ordinary swiss roll as it consists of durian. It is one of my favourite fruits which I get to enjoy only when it is in season. Anyway, my mom first told me about the Durian Swiss Roll (榴莲瑞士卷), raving about its deliciousness yet without it being overpowering sweet. Not to mention, its pleasant aroma too. My sister who really dislikes durian readily seconded my mom’s opinion and even went on to describe the texture of the luscious and creamy durian that was spread in between the Swiss roll. I feel frustrated not being able to actually taste it and could only allow my imagination to run wild.
As a Malaysian living abroad, I always try to recreate Asian food with their authentic flavours using ingredients that I can get my hands on. Thus, in this case, I found some frozen durian and recreated this delectable cake based on my mom's and sister's description.
Tips for soft and light Swiss roll
The goal of this recipe is to get a soft and light Swiss Roll with perfect whipped cream like those sold at most Asian bakeries. Organic eggs work great in Swiss Roll recipes as they do not have a strong icky smell. For those who are living in Germany, I am using 405 wheat flour which is equivalent to normal cake flour in other countries.
Size of pan
I used a 33 cm x 23 cm cake pan but if you like to have a thicker Swiss roll cake, I would suggest that a slightly shorter cake pan is used. For example, a cake pan of size 27 cm x 23 cm would be perfect. In both cases, you would still have a fluffy light cake. Please note that it must be cooled to room temperature before a layer of durian/whipped cream could be spread on it. If not, you may end up with a watery creamy mess!
Types of filling
Besides durian, I had also experimented using fresh mangoes and strawberries when they were in season. The results were really great too. Feel free to come up with your creation using the fruits you love. I am sure you will be just as amazed with the outcome.