Cooking is an art form that people of all ages and backgrounds can tremendously enjoy.
There are so many different techniques and flavors to explore it’s no wonder that the culinary world is constantly growing.
In this blog post, we will be discussing one of the most versatile kitchen tools- the jelly roll pan.
We’ll give you some tips on how to get the most out of your pan and show you some recipes that will make your taste buds sing! So let’s get cooking!
You might be tempted to find the jelly roll pan substitute for a different option that could produce an overcooked and undersized cake.
Read on to learn more about jelly roll pans, their dimensions, uses, and possible substitutes.
Jelly Roll Pan Substitute Options
Generally, there are numerous substitutes for the jelly roll pan. But the perfect replacement will depend on your specific requirements.
For example, a Jelly roll, also known as the Swiss roll, can only be baked on a jelly roll pan.
However, most of the substitutes on this list can still work perfectly as jelly roll pans, provided they have a 1-inch edge. Else your cake will produce an undesirable shape.
The following are some recommendations to prevent you from buying the wrong baking pans. Substitutes for the Jelly roll pan with 1-inch deep sides:
Half Sheet:
The Half sheet pan is an excellent option for drying out ingredients in the refrigerator, toaster cooking, and arranging and freezing cookie batches before storing them in plastic freezer bags. It is also ideal for when you have few guests to feed.
With this half-size sheet pan, you can make your Jelly roll. However, you will be required to estimate the amount of batter necessary to fill the pan and adjust your recipe to fit in the larger pan.
Doing this will ensure that the finished cake comes out with the right thickness.
Keep in mind that this approach is likely to involve some trial and error to get the recipe to adapt.
This is because any slight changes to the batter can have devastating effects on your cake’s structure.
Quarter Sheet
Besides the Half sheet pan, the next best option is the quarter-size baking sheet, which is almost similar in size to the quarter-size jelly roll pan (measuring 13 by 9 inches).
All you need to do to make your recipe just right is to lower the number of ingredients required for a standard jelly roll by half itself. And this will leave just enough batter to fill your quarter jelly roll pan and easily bake your cake.
Cookie Sheet
Cookie sheets are almost similar to Jelly roll pans. And this means they are perfect for baking biscuits, cookies, or anything baking on a flat surface. However, if you plan on making jelly rolls on your cookie sheet, make sure that it has a sort of edge.
Casserole Pan
When baking jerry rolls, most people often fill the cake pan with batter under the top of the edge, which usually does not work as expected.
When using a casserole pan or cake pan, filling the pan with less dough or batter is more advisable than making an entire cake.
Jelly Roll Pan Vs Half Sheet (Comparison)
Jelly Roll Pans
Jelly pans are similar in size to the quarter and half sheets pans, though jelly roll pans usually measure around 15.5 by 10.5 inches.
Most cheaply made jelly pans are available in grocery stores. At the same time, the quality ones also come under a budget-friendly range.
Named after the famous dessert – jerry roll or Swiss roll cake – the pans are explicitly meant for dessert making. This is because the volume of a half or quarter sheet varies significantly from the jelly roll pan.
Like using a quarter-sheet pan, this pan can also be used for vegetable roasting. The cooking area of these pans contains adequate space to spread your vegetables around neatly.
Half Sheets
Approximately half the size of full sheet pans, half-sheet pans typically measure around 18 by 13 inches with edges of about an inch high.
Half sheet pans are perfect for sheet-pan dinners and make-ahead desserts and breakfasts.
It is also the go-to pan for roasting your vegetables, as it has a large surface area. The space is large enough to comfortably spread your vegetables out, giving them plenty of room to turn brown and cook evenly.
Usage Differences of jelly roll pan and Half Sheet:
Nowadays, most manufacturers produce rimmed baking sheets as jelly roll pans, including half sheet pans, typically measuring 13 by 18 inches.
An amateur culinary artist some times unable to figure out the proper pan size for their requirement. Additionally, thinly layered jelly roll cakes get burned during baking.
That is why it is advisable to use the jelly roll pan with unique dimensions that are perfect for giving your cake the correct sponge or sheet-like structure.
This plays a crucial role in maintaining your cake’s shape after filling and rolling.
Additionally, using a jelly roll pan will guarantee you end up with a jelly roll that not only tastes amazing but also appears with no signs of burning, crumbling, or cracking.
FAQ’s
How to Make Jelly Roll Cake
A classic Jelly Roll cake is a superb dish usually rolled around an impressive silky frosting, quickly earning a good spot on any menu.
Nonetheless, it is pretty easy to make a jelly roll cake even by a learning baker, provided you have all the correct tools.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla
- 2/3 jam or jelly
- 3 eggs
- ¾ cup of all-purpose baking flour
- Powdered sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon of baking powder
- ¼ tbsp salt
- ½ cup of water
Directions
- You will need a jelly roll pan, the perfect tool, but you can also get the job done with a 1-inch edge pan like the ones listed above.
- Heat your oven to 380 degrees Fahrenheit. Line your pan with waxed paper and apply grease.
- In a medium-sized bowl, toss in the eggs and beat them with a mixer quickly for around 5 minutes or until they appear thick or lemon-colored.
- Add in granulated sugar and later beat in vanilla and water slowly. Now add salt, flour, and baking powder to the mixture while gradually beating it until the batter becomes smooth.
- Pour the mixture into your pan and spread it to all corners.
- Bake your cake for around 12-15 minutes. Once the 15 minutes have elapsed, immediately remove the cake from the pan’s corners and flip it upside down onto a clean towel.
- Carefully remove the towel and foil while beginning from the narrow end.
- Place the cake in a refrigerator for about half an hour.
- Unroll the cake and carefully remove the towel.
- Using a fork, spread the jelly over the cake and roll up the cake, then sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Tips:
-It is still possible to use an ice cream filling as an alternative for jam.
-In such a scenario, make sure to add 1 pint of softened ice cream over the cooled cake and roll up the cake and enclose it in plastic wrap.
-Freeze for around 3 hours or until sturdy.
How to Clean and Care for a Jelly Roll Pan?
Whether you are carefully crafting a cranberry-apple slab pie or whipping up a sheet pan supper for your family. The sheet pans or jelly roll pans are usually essential in the baking process.
Therefore, they are more likely to be exposed to excessive wear and tear.
Before getting rid of your horrible favorite pan, the following are some essential cleaning agents you could use to clean and care for your jelly roll pan:
Materials
- A coarse sponge or rag
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baking soda
Step 1: Add Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
The first step in cleaning your jelly roll pan or sheet is to sprinkle some baking soda on it and then with hydrogen peroxide followed by a sprinkling of another baking soda on top.
Since these cleaning agents need time to function, we recommend that you should leave it for at least 2 hours for maximum results.
Furthermore, there is a possibility that the chemicals might be too harsh for specific coating or materials, so make sure to do a test run before cleaning your entire cooking tool.
This is especially true if they are made from specialized material or coating.
Step 2: Wipe
Use a sponge or rag to wipe away your pan clean smoothly. If there are stubborn stains, you are advised to avoid hard scrubbing.
Instead, do a second application using a soft scrubber.
Step 3: Care for Your Pan
Now that your baking pans and sheet are spotlessly clean, you certainly want to keep them that way for as long as possible.
The best way to achieve this is to place aluminum foil or parchment paper on your pans before adding extra food.
Last Few Words:
We have answered the question ‘what a jelly roll pan is and its substitutes?’. Remember to always use a jelly roll pan of 10 by 15-inch rimmed baking sheets when you get recipe requests.
Even the 13 by 18 inches half sheet pans can also be used as an alternative to a jelly roll pan. This is crucial to ensuring that your cakes are the right size, have thin cake layers, and are certainly not overbaked.
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