This Pandan Durian Cream Roll Cake is an ode to my Southeast Asian roots, combining the flavours of pandan and durian in an aromatic, light and fluffy cake.
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Why you'll love this recipe
This recipe is based on my all-time favourite Perfect Swiss Roll Cake.
It's a flavour variation that is an ode to my Southeast Asian roots, combining the tropical flavours of pandan and durian.
Durian is an expensive fruit and can be hard to come by, so I've got a great tip on how to make this cake using an alternative.
What is pandan?
Pandan is also known as screwpine and has a vanilla-like flavour.
It is a long, green blade-like leaf and is commonly used in Southeast Asian cuisine, in sweet and savoury foods.
Here are some of my favourite ways to use pandan:
Pandan Gula Melaka Buns (Pandan Coconut Buns)
What is durian?
Durian is known as the "king of fruits" and illicits a strong response -- either you like it or your hate it.
It's a creamy, sweet yellow-fleshed fruit with a large seed that has a strong, pungent smell/aroma.
What does it taste like?
Durian tastes like sweet creamy custard.
It's delicious paired with whipped cream, as in these Durian Cream Pancakes.
Where can I find durian?
In North America, you can find durian typically frozen in Asian supermarkets.
There may be frozen whole durian, where you'll need to thaw it and remove the thorn-covered rind.
Otherwise, you can also find durian flesh frozen in packages.
Freeze-dried durian
Using freeze-dried durian is easiest and best way to flavour the whipped cream for this cake.
You can find freeze-dried durian online or in specialty Asian grocery stores.
Freeze-dried durian uses a process of low-temperature dehydration and helps to preserve it.
In this recipe, using freeze-dried durian adds concentrated flavour to the cream without additional moisture.
Ingredients you'll need
For the cake:
- 1 batch Perfect Swiss Roll Cake
- pandan extract: or paste, adds concentrated pandan flavour, as well as a green hue to the cake
For the cream:
- heavy whipping cream: (at least 36% milkfat), cold
- powdered sugar: to sweeten the cream a little
- freeze-dried durian: usually sold in small packets; you can find them in Asian supermarkets
How to make it
For the cake:
Make the Perfect Swiss Roll Cake according to the recipe with the addition of ½ teaspoon pandan extract/paste to the egg yolk batter.
For the cream:
To a chilled bowl, add the heavy cream and powdered sugar.
Whip with a whisk until it reaches soft peaks (Step 10 below).
Add the freeze-dried durian pieces to a spice grinder and grind until it becomes a fine powder (Step 11 and 12 below).
Dump in the durian powder and whip with the whisk a few times to incorporate the durian into the cream (Step 13 below).
Assemble:
With the cake slightly cooled (not completely cool), flip the pandan cake so that the browned side is facing the top.
Use an offset spatula to evenly spread the durian cream onto the surface of the cake (Step 14 and 15 above).
Gently roll the cake up, using the parchment paper as a guide (Step 16 above).
Wrap up the cake with the parchment and place onto a tray (Step 19 above).
Chill in the fridge for 4-6 hours, until the cake has firmed up.
Trim off the edges with a sharp, serrated knife and slice to serve (Step 18 above).
You can also decorate the cake with additional whipped cream and fruit.
How to store
Store the Pandan Durian Cream Roll Cake in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve.
Wrapped individual slices of cake can be frozen for up to 1 month.
How to serve
Serve the Pandan Durian Cream Roll Cake slightly chilled.
If serving from frozen, let the cake sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes prior to serving.
Expert tips
If you have fresh pandan, you can use fresh pandan in the cake -- just blend together 1 pandan leaf with the milk and strain through a sieve.
Note: you'll still need a little pandan extract if you want a light green hue after baking.
For this particular cake, I recommend rolling the cake with the browned side (top) facing inward, so the light green colour shows up on the exterior.
You can roll the cake from the short side or the long side; it's up to you.
If you don't like durian, you can easily omit or substitute with a different fruit, such as mango or coconut.
Other recipes you may like
Be sure to check out these recipes:
Blackberry Earl Grey Cream Roll Cake
Pandan Gula Melaka Buns (Pandan Coconut Buns)
Let me know if you try out this recipe -- tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer or leave me a comment/rating below!
Pandan Durian Cream Roll Cake
For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
Pandan roll cake:
- 1 batch Perfect Swiss Roll Cake
- ½ teaspoon pandan extract
Durian cream:
- 125 ml heavy whipping cream 36% milkfat, cold
- 15 g powdered sugar
- 20 g freeze-dried durian ground into powder
Instructions
For the cake:
- Make the Perfect Swiss Roll Cake according to the recipe with the addition of ½ teaspoon pandan extract/paste to the egg yolk batter.
For the cream:
- To a chilled bowl, add the heavy cream and powdered sugar.
- Whip with a whisk until it reaches soft peaks.
- Add the freeze-dried durian pieces to a spice grinder and grind until it becomes a fine powder.
- Dump in the durian powder and whip with the whisk a few times to incorporate the durian into the cream.
Assemble:
- With the cake slightly cooled (not completely cool), flip the pandan cake so that the browned side is facing the top.
- Use an offset spatula to evenly spread the durian cream onto the surface of the cake.
- Gently roll the cake up, using the parchment paper as a guide.
- Wrap up the cake with the parchment and place onto a tray.
- Chill in the fridge for 4-6 hours, until the cake has firmed up.
- Trim off the edges with a sharp, serrated knife and slice to serve. (You can also decorate with additional whipped cream and fruit).
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.
2pots2cook
Love pandan in all the variations but never tried it with durian. So curious ....
Michelle
It's such a delicious pairing, you'll have to give it a try Davorka! 🙂
David @ Spiced
What a great idea to use freeze-dried durian to flavor the whipped cream here! I've seen Durian in stores on occasion, but I've never tried one. (Laura has traveled to Southeast Asia, and she's told me about markets filled with durian.) Either way, I'm intrigued by this recipe! It looks awesome!
Michelle
Oooh be warned, either you like it or you don't -- but you'll have to try it once to know either way David! 😉
Neil
As a huge fan of Swiss roll too, I know I would love this! 🙂
Tasia ~ two sugar bugs
The green hue the pandan brings is so pretty! I've never had durian, but I am open to trying it.
Michelle
Thanks Tasia, it's definitely a flavour you'll have to try and see for yourself! 🙂
Linsey
Durian is the king of the fruits! When I smell the fragrant of durian, it brings back the memory of my childhood with the family gathering all around during the opening of the fruits and eating the fruits, so sweet and delicious! Taste like custard too!! Great treat!!!
Raymund | angsarap.net
This is an awesome flavour for a roll cake, delicate yet potent
Healthy World Cuisine
What a beautiful dessert! Love pandan so very much. Have only ever had fresh durian so will have to keep my eyes out for freeze dried pandan, What a fun dessert!