I love pumpkin spice cake and I recently found a recipe for a pumpkin spice cream cheese roll cake that sounded fantastic.
The only problem was the recipe used a jelly roll pan which is a kitchen tool I do not have.
I really wanted to try this recipe so I started looking for some jelly roll pan substitutes.
Nothing is going to stop me from eating a big slice of pumpkin spice jelly roll cake! There has to be a pan out there I can use instead of a jelly roll pan. Luckily, there is!
The best substitute for a jelly roll pan is a half-sheet baking tray. It is about the same size as a jelly roll pan with the same one-inch rim to hold the batter perfectly. A casserole dish makes a good jelly roll pan substitute. You can also make your own DIY jelly roll pan using aluminum foil.
Jelly Roll Pan Substitutes
1. Cookie Sheet – Best Jelly Roll Pan Substitute for Cakes
Is a jelly roll pan the same as a cookie sheet? No! It’s not the same thing.
Cookie sheet trays are usually completely flat, with no edge or rim. They are also larger than a jelly roll pan. However, you can use a cookie sheet tray in a pinch!
Line your cookie sheet tray with foil that is larger than the tray.
Bring the edges of the foil upward to create a rim. Pour your cake batter into the tray, spreading it as evenly as possible.
Bake the cake as directed in your recipe. It will be nice and thin, just as if you used a jelly roll pan.
2. Full Sheet Pan
When looking at a jelly roll pan vs baking sheet trays, you will notice that the size is much different. A jelly roll pan is usually about 18×13 inches in size. A full sheet pan is about 18” x 26”.
Sheet trays also have a nice rim that will hold cake batter. This makes them a perfect jelly roll pan substitute.
You will want to double your cake recipe since the pan is twice the size as a regular jelly roll pan.
3. Disposable Jelly Roll Pan
A disposable jelly roll pan is the perfect substitute for a real jelly roll pan.
You can find them in your local craft store or baking supply store. The best part of a disposable pan is that you can throw it away when you’re done!
4. Swiss Roll Cake Mat
A swiss roll cake mat and a jelly roll pan are essentially the same things.
A swiss roll pan is often made out of silicone rather than metal. However, this is perfect for easily rolling your jelly roll since the pan bends.
It may take a few minutes longer to bake your cake in a silicone swiss roll pan.
Silicone doesn’t transfer heat as well as metal so the cake will need some more time in the oven. However, it will bake perfectly!
5. Cake Pan
Use a rectangular cake pan in place of a jelly roll pan. Cake pans are also made of oven-safe metal and will bake just like a jelly roll pan.
The sides of a cake pan are higher but that’s perfectly fine. The batter will not spill out!
Look for a rectangular cake pan that is about the same size as a jelly roll pan. If your cake pan is larger or smaller than a standard jelly roll pan, adjust your recipe as needed.
6. Casserole Pan – Best Jelly Roll Pan Substitute for Granola Bars
A casserole pan can be used in place of a jelly roll pan. Many of us have casserole pans at home already which makes them a convenient substitute as well.
Casserole pans are usually about 9×13 inches. They are smaller than a jelly roll pan.
I suggest dividing your batter in half and baking it in two batches. You can still roll the two cakes together to make one, thick jelly roll!
A casserole pan will also bake perfect granola bars. The high sides will allow you to make nice, thick homemade granola bars.
7. 9×13 Cake Pan
Can I use a 9×13 pan instead of a jelly roll pan? You definitely can! A 9×13 cake pan is the perfect jelly roll pan substitute.
I love using 9×13 cake pans to make granola bars instead of a jelly roll pan. The tall sides let me make thicker granola bars.
The deep pan also locks in moisture, keeping the granola bars soft and chewy.
8. Half Sheet Pan
A half-sheet pan is almost exactly the same as a jelly roll pan.
A professional half sheet pan is 18×13 inches which is the same size as a jelly roll pan. A half sheet tray also has ½ inch to 1 inch edges.
The only difference between a jelly roll pan and a half-sheet pan is the bottom. Some jelly roll pans have textured bottoms which give them a pretty pattern.
Half sheet pans are completely flat but they will still bake your cake or granola bars perfectly!
9. Aluminum Foil – Best DIY Jelly Roll Pan
Measure a piece of aluminum foil that is 22” long and 17” wide.
You may need to overlap your foil if it isn’t wide enough. Bend the edges on each side of the foil upward about 2 inches, creating a rim.
Place the makeshift foil jelly roll pan of a cookie sheet tray or cookie tray to keep the base sturdy.
Pour your jelly roll batter into the pan and bake. The cake will bake faster in the aluminum foil since the foil is very thin.
10. Round Cake Pan
A round cake pan can be used to make a jelly roll when in need.
Spread your cake batter in a round pan, keeping the batter about 1 inch thick. Bake your jelly roll cake until it is golden brown.
Use a sharp knife to cut the jelly roll cake into a rectangle.
Spread your jelly roll filling across your thin cake and roll it right up! All you need to turn a circle cake into a rectangle is a knife!
Chocolate Roll Cake
This Chocolate Roll Cake is very delicious that my kids love and easy to make. It is super easy to prep all the ingredients and takes less than 20 minutes to bake. It is yummy and kids-approved!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup cake flour
- 2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 6 eggs, separated
- 2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttercream frosting
- ¼ cup raspberry jam
Instructions
- Whisk the cake flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, ½ cup sugar and salt together in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites and ¼ cup sugar together to form stiff peaks.
- In a separate bowl, whip the egg yolks with the remaining ¼ cup sugar until the yolks are light yellow and airy.
- Fold the yolks and whites together gently. Add the vanilla extract.
- Fold in the dry ingredients, mixing in about ½ cup at a time. The batter should be smooth and a little thick.
- Use an offset spatula to spread the batter into a jelly roll pan lined with parchment paper. Make the batter as even as possible.
- Bake the cake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 18 minutes.
- Place a piece of parchment paper on a clean work surface. Flip the baked, warm cake out of the pan and onto the parchment on the counter. Cover with a towel and let sit for about 10 minutes to cool slightly.
- Mix the buttercream and raspberry jam in a bowl. Spread the raspberry buttercream across the entire jelly roll cake, making a thin layer of frosting over the wholesale cake.
- Roll the cake lengthwise into a tight spiral, using the parchment paper to bend and roll the cake easily.
- Chill the cake in the roll, wrapped in the parchment paper.
- Once chilled, decorate the cake however you’d like, slice and serve!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 302Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 106mgSodium: 178mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 1gSugar: 33gProtein: 5g
What is a Jelly Roll Pan
Jelly roll pans are specifically designed to make perfect, thin sponge cakes. The sponge cakes are then spread with jelly, or any kind of thin filling, and rolled up into a spiral, cylinder shape.
A jelly roll pan is a type of flat sheet pan that has a one inch rim. Jelly roll pans are usually about 13×18 inches in size.
They are most often made of aluminized steel but you can also find them made of silicone which makes the cakes easier to roll.
Many jelly rolls pans have a textured bottom. This wavy pattern on the bottom of the pan helps the cake bake more evenly and also gives the jelly roll a pretty design.
You may find jelly roll pans that also come with lids. Snapping on the lid after the cake bakes helps it stay soft and moist, making the cake easier to roll.
Many people love a snap on lid since it is a great little bonus that will really ensure your jelly rolls and rolled cakes turn out perfectly.
However, you may find yourself needing an airbake jelly roll pan replacement lid or missing parts to your jelly roll pan.
Don’t worry! If you need just the lid or a whole entire jelly roll pan substitute, these substitutes will help.
Jelly Roll Pan Uses
Jelly roll pans can be used for many things. They are, after all, essentially a fancy baking sheet pan! Here are a few ideas for jelly roll pan use:
- Bake any kind of rolled cake. Yule logs, pumpkin rolls and classic jelly rolls are the classics.
- Roast veggies
- Sheet pan dinners
- Bake cookies
While a jelly roll pan does have the correct dimensions to make jelly roll cakes, it is just as useful as any cookie tray or baking sheet pan in your kitchen.
Where to Buy a Jelly Roll Pan
You can find jelly roll pans in almost any big box store or online. Look in a fancy cooking store near you or a walmart jelly roll pan will work, too!
The best jelly roll pan I found was online. I love this model because it is made of silicone which makes rolling the cake super easy.
This jelly roll pan is also a good choice because it has a convenient lid and also that nice textured bottom to make your jelly rolls super pretty.
Jelly Roll Pan Substitutes for Cakes
Jelly roll pans are most often used to make thin, rollable cakes.
Swiss rolls, yule log cakes and pumpkin rolls like the one I was making from Gimme Some Oven all require a jelly roll pan.
Jelly Roll Pan Substitute for Granola Bars
Jelly roll pans are often used to make granola bars. The pans are the perfect thickness for granola bars and they bake granola bars nice and even.
If you want to make granola bars without a jelly roll pan, you can use one of the great substitutes from this article.
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Final Considerations
Jelly roll pans can be quite useful. They make perfect rolled cakes but can also make amazing roasted veggies and even granola bars.
Of course, you don’t always need a jelly roll pan. All of these great substitutes will work well!
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