H and I did something really radical yesterday, we baked a cake! We caked a very British dessert called a Jam Roly Poly and I have to admit I am super happy with the way it turned out, it wasn’t perfect but for a first attempt at baking something sweet it was a good effort. I’m calling it rustic. Now for some reason, even though I like to think I am a pretty good cook and I bake savoury tarts all of the time, I have never ever baked anything sweet. Well I lie, my mum and I attempted a meringue when I was about fifteen and it was a disaster. I think this scarred me for life. Eleven years later and I have finally successfully baked a dessert. My boys were both impressed.
It was also a really family affair. My grandad planted the apple tree and so grew the apples which were in the Jam. My younger brother picked the apples from the tree. My mum made the Jam and H and I made the Jam Roly Poly. Here’s the recipe (don’t laugh at my pictures, I told you it was rustic):
Prep time: 5 minutes (without a toddler) or 20 minutes (with a toddler)
Cooking time: 45 minutes
The original recipe is one by Phil Vickery that was featured on This morning and can be found here. This is the first time I have ever made this so I pretty much followed the recipe to a T.
Ingredients (each one is a link to the product except for the Jam which was home made)
1 Medium Egg, lightly beaten
2 tbsp cold water (approx)
pinch of salt
185g Seedless Jam (I didn’t actually measure this out, I used about half a jar and just spread it nice and thick)
- The Jam Roly Poly is cooked in a steamer and as the raising agents in the dough start working right away it is important to have your steamer up and ready as soon as the Jam Roly Poly is ready to cook. I prepped mine first, I had it on standby with boiling water in so all I had to do was press go. Mines an electric one where you can programme the cooking time in but a manual would work just as well.
- Place all of the ingredients except the jam in a bowl and mix thoroughly into a dough. You don’t want the dough to be sticky but I actually found mine a bit dry so ended up adding a bit more water.
- Roll out into a 30 x 40 cm square. This was the tricky part for me as my terrible toddler kept grabbing at it and scoffing it as I was rolling so it kept breaking. If this happens to you what I suggest is that you tell the toddler to behave, give him/her a distraction and continue rolling!
- What I didn’t do at this point was tidy up the edges, I think if you want a nice looking pudding this is important, I was ready to stop wrestling with my toddler.
- Spread your jam onto the Roly Poly. Be generous. I actually thought I had put a good thick helping of Jam on but after it was cooked and tested by McD I realised that it could have done with a bit more.
- Remove any toys your toddler has tried to squash into the Jam and roll the Roly Poly up nice and loosely. I had to cut mine in half as it was too long to fit into my steamer whole.
- Wrap in foil and cook in a steamer for 45 minutes.
I was very naughty and had a piece right out of the steamer. I just couldn’t wait. But this is the BEST way to eat it. It was absolutely phenomenal. A delicious warm pudding for the looming British winter weather. Enjoy!
Here is my mums Jam recipe for those of you who would like to make your own jam.
1kg of apples (from my grandads apple tree)
- Place all of the ingredients into a large saucepan and boil until the fruit rises. My mum recommends you use a large saucepan so that the fruit doesn’t boil over.
- Simmer until the fruit is runny and allow to thicken.
- Wait for liquid to cool before handling as it tends to be really really hot.
- Divide the mixture into some clean jars, seal and do not open again until you are ready to use.
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