What exactly is a jelly roll pan?

Recipes sometimes call for either a jelly roll pan or a baking sheet, but how are they different? Do you need both to equip your kitchen properly? Here, you'll find all the important details about jelly roll pans, including what they are, how to use them, and tips on choosing one that'll withstand years of baking for sheet cakes, pizzas, and creative desserts.

What exactly is a jelly roll pan?

A jelly roll pan is typically 10 by 15 inches in size, featuring a one-inch edge, making it ideal for creating a Swiss roll or jelly roll—a delicate sponge cake rolled up with a thin spread of jelly or cream to form a spiral. An example of this would be the traditional French bûche de Noël.

How Do Jelly Roll Pans, Cake Pans, and Baking Sheets Differ?

The key difference between these pans lies in their sizes—and using a pan with different dimensions than the recipe specifies can affect your baking time, as the batter will be spread either thinner or thicker than intended.

Jelly Roll Pan

You can use one to roast a large batch of vegetables, bake dozens of cookies, or even prepare a giant sheet cake.

A jelly roll pan is a valuable addition to your kitchen. It's perfect for making a bûche de Noël, toasting nuts, or cooking asparagus. Plus, it likely fits in your dishwasher for easy cleaning.

Cake Pan

Cake pans are available in numerous sizes and shapes, from bundt pans to round, square, and rectangular varieties. The most popular size for rectangular cake pans is the 9 x 13 inch model, which tends to be deeper (about 2 inches) compared to the 1-inch depth of jelly roll pans.

Baking sheets are essential kitchen tools for many baking tasks, ranging from cookies to roasted vegetables.

Baking sheets, typically one inch deep like a jelly roll pan, are available in various sizes. Common dimensions include the quarter sheet at 9 x 13 inches, the half sheet at 18 x 13 inches, and the full sheet at 26 x 18 inches.

What purposes can jelly roll pans serve beyond their traditional use for making jelly roll cakes?

A jelly roll pan is a versatile kitchen tool, perfect for much more than just making jelly roll cakes. It's ideal for baking or roasting foods that might otherwise slide off, such as asparagus, sausages, or nuts. Additionally, it's great for making baked goods like pizzas, tarts, or bar cookies that require a crust, as the sides allow you to spread dough or batter up. Jelly roll pans are also excellent for baking brownies.

How should you go about selecting a jelly roll pan?

Jelly roll pans come in a variety of materials, much like other baking pans. Common options include aluminum, stainless steel, carbon steel, and even silicone, though the latter can be tricky to use when baking liquid-heavy batters in the oven.

For most sponge cake recipes used in jelly rolls, you'll likely use a parchment or nonstick silicone sheet. This helps you easily lift the cake out and roll it to create the dessert. A nonstick surface is useful to prevent the cake from sticking or getting caught during preparation.

What are the alternatives if I don't have a jelly roll pan on hand?

Your best option is to find a pan with similar dimensions. A half sheet pan comes closest to the jelly roll pan, but a cookie sheet can work as well—though keep in mind that the cake will be thinner and may bake faster by a few minutes.