Ingredients:

For the cake,

2 fresh apples, peeled and diced small

4 extra large eggs

2/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup milk

1 1/2 cups flour

2 tsps baking powder

1 shot glass of rum

For the filling,

1 pack (8 Ozs) cream cheese

1/3 cup strawberry jam

2 TBSPs powdered sugar, plus more for garnish

Directions:

Preheat oven to 360F.

Line a large cookie sheet pan (one with sides) with parchment paper, mine is 12x17”.

Coat bottom and sides of pan with baking spray and set aside.

Sift flour and baking powder together and set aside.

Next peel, core and dice the apples. Set aside.

Place eggs and sugar in a large bowl.

Blend on medium speed with hand mixer until light and frothy.

Slowly add milk and rum to egg mixture while continuing to blend.

Lower mixer speed to low and add flour, a little at a time to avoid lumps.

As soon as the flour is fully incorporated, stop mixing.

Add the diced apples to the batter and stir using a spatula.

Carefully pour the apple batter onto the prepared pan, spreading it evenly.

Bake in hot oven for about 25-30 minutes until top is golden.

Remove from oven and place a large piece of parchment paper over entire top of cake.

Flip cake upside down onto a clean surface (see TIPS).

Do not peel off parchment paper that is stuck to the cake.

Place a rolling pin at the narrow edge of the cake sheet.

Gently roll up the cake around the rolling pin to ease the process.

Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, cut cream cheese into cubes and place in a bowl.

Add the jam and powdered sugar and mix on low speed until well-blended.

Cover and store in refrigerator until needed.

When cake roll has cooled, carefully unroll it.

Peel off parchment paper used during baking.

Spread entire surface of cake with the prepared cream filling.

Re-roll the cake carefully.

Trim off both ends.

Serve immediately or wrap and store roll in refrigerator.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

TIPS:

The rum gives this cake an extra layer of flavor but you can substitute it with any aromatic liquor of your choice, like limoncello, Strega, amaretto. If you don’t want to use liquor, you can use vanilla extract and a little extra milk.

When it’s time to flip the cake, you may want to use a flat cookie sheet on the underside to help keep the delicate cake from breaking. Make sure to use oven gloves on your hands!

You can use any fruit jam you like to mix with the cream cheese. You can also use another filling of your choice.