Il Cucinologo
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Sweet Chestnut Roll

17/11/2023

The sweet chestnut roll is a delicious autumnal dessert that combines the softness of sponge cake with the intense flavor of chestnuts. Here’s how to make it with an Italian touch.

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs
  • 120 g of sugar
  • 120 g of flour
  • 200 g of already boiled chestnuts (or ready chestnut cream)
  • 200 ml of whipping cream
  • 80 g of powdered sugar
  • 1 vanilla pod
  • Cocoa powder for decoration

Preparation

  1. Start by preparing the sponge cake. Beat the egg yolks with half the sugar until you obtain a frothy mixture. In another bowl, whip the egg whites to stiff peaks, gradually adding the other half of the sugar.
  2. Gently fold the whipped egg whites into the yolk mixture. Then add the sifted flour, mixing from top to bottom to avoid deflating the batter.
  3. Spread the mixture on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and level it with a spatula. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 10 minutes or until golden and springy to the touch.
  4. Once baked, turn the sponge cake out onto a damp tea towel and gently roll it while still warm. Let it cool completely.
  5. For the filling, if you have boiled chestnuts, pass them through a food mill to make a puree. If using ready cream, soften it with a spoon to make it spreadable.
  6. Whip the cream with the seeds from the vanilla pod and the powdered sugar. If desired, set aside some whipped cream for decorating the roll later.
  7. Combine the whipped cream with the chestnut puree, mixing gently.
  8. Carefully unroll the sponge cake and spread the chestnut and cream filling, leaving a margin free at the edges.
  9. Roll the filled sponge cake again, wrapping it in parchment paper, and let it rest in the fridge for at least an hour.
  10. Before serving, dust the roll with cocoa powder and, if you set aside some whipped cream, decorate as desired.

Trivia

Not everyone knows that chestnuts were for a long time a staple food in Italian mountain areas, especially in times of famine. With the arrival of autumn, chestnut festivals populate the small villages, and recipes are as varied as they are delicious, from savory to sweet. The chestnut roll is a delightful way to celebrate this ingredient rich in history and tradition.