How to Make Delicious Jellyrolls

Source: Liliana Fuchs

There was more than one jelly roll making people smile in the early 1900s.

Jelly Roll Morton was touring the South in minstrel shows and claimed to have invented jazz in 1902. Even though many after him challenged that statement, no one has ever proved he didn't. If you were lucky enough to have local clubs or other venues that featured traveling minstrel shows, you would have heard the new sound from Jelly Roll, born Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe, shortly after the turn of the century.

In 1900, you would need to be frequenting a Storyville brothel, then called a sporting house, to hear him play. He was only 14 and living with his very religious grandmother at the time. She thought he had a job as a watchman at a barrel factory.

Where did the name Jelly Roll come from? It was black slang for women's genitalia and considering where he worked, it makes sense. Eventually, his grandmother caught on to his real vocation and she kicked him out, declaring that 'devil music' would be his downfall. Luckily for music, it wasn't.

In 1915, his Original Jelly Roll Blues was arguably the first jazz piece ever published. If you have a jazz aficionado on your gift list, the Library of Congress recordings are wonderful!

How to Make a Jelly Roll

Grandma would have been a little scandalized with that story and would quickly change the subject to cooking, so that's what we will do. Here's the recipe from her notebook.


Mrs. Haydn's Jelly Rolls

• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup flour
• 3 tablespoons sweet milk
• 2 teaspoons baking powder

Turn out on a table napkin. Spread with jelly and roll up in a napkin. Leave until cold.


That's it?


Yes, because everyone knew the basics from the time they were little girls. Boys either married, lived with their mothers, or went hungry. Oh, how times have changed!


Explanation

First of all, you need a jelly roll pan but a cookie sheet with a 3/4 inch raised edge is the same thing. An average size is about 16 x 10 inches or so. Grease the pan and line with 2 overlapping strips of baking paper, not waxed paper.


Add flavouring if you like. Vanilla, lemon, and almond are all good choices depending on the type of filling you plan to use. Yes, there is much more than jelly!


Want a chocolate roll? Easy! Just replace half the flour with cocoa powder. Use vanilla as a flavouring. Or try a spice roll filled with vanilla cream. Just add 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon cloves or allspice, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ginger or whatever combination you like to the flour.


Pour batter into the pan immediately after mixing. Don't let it sit. Bake in a preheated 200˚C or 400˚F oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until the top springs back when lightly pressed. 


Turn out upside down onto the tea towel that has been lightly dusted with icing sugar. Remove baking paper. Trim off any crusty edges with a long, sharp knife. If you are using jelly, you can spread it now while the cake is hot, leaving about 1/2 inch on both short ends. Roll up using the towel to help guide, the same as you would with a sushi mat.


If you are using any filling other than jelly, trim edges and roll the cake up in the towel. Yes, roll the tea towel with it so it will be easy to unroll later. Cool. Unroll carefully and spread with desired filling. Get creative!


Fillings


Use jellies like raspberry or strawberry or try fruit cream, lemon cream, or ice cream. 


Fruit Cream Filling

• 1/2 envelope of plain gelatine (1/2 tablespoon)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup crushed, canned pineapple
• 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice or 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 cup whipping cream

Method:

1. Sprinkle gelatine into cold water. Dissolve over low heat and stir into the fruit. 
2. Add juice and chill until mixture begins to set.
3. Whip the cream and gently fold it into the gelatine mixture. Chill until almost set before using.
4. Sift powdered sugar on top. Decorate with candied flowers or fruit.

Note: Replace pineapple with fresh or thawed frozen berries, sweetened. Cherry cream is delicious! Or soften crushed peppermint candy canes in 1/2 cup hot milk, cool and use in place of fruit and juice.

Here are a couple of excellent pans with 5-star ratings. Remember, when baking cakes the shiny pans work much better than the dark ones. 

	Wilton Recipe Right Cookie/Jelly Roll Pan, 17-1/4 by 11-1/2-Inch Amazon Price: $5.00 List Price: $12.99
	Wilton Recipe Right Jelly Roll Air Pan, 15 1/4 x 10 1/4 Inches. Amazon Price: $10.99

If you are in the mood for a little Jelly Roll but don't have time to bake, try the musical version to get you in the mood!