Vegan Jam Roly Poly Vegan Baking

This oven-friendly recipe is made with vegetable suet to create a plant-based option.

What is Suet?

Suet in the traditional sense is a raw animal-derived fat. It’s usually sourced from beef or mutton and has many cooking applications from pastry to dumplings. It is not the same as lard. Since this recipe for Jam Roly Poly is vegan, it calls for vegetable-based suet. Vegetable suet is made from vegetable fats and tossed with wheat flour to keep the fat pellets separate. The texture is wax pellet-like and soft when pressed between the fingers. Buy it from the supermarket and store in a cool, dry place. I like this brand of vegetable suet.

Jam Roly Poly without suet

It’s entirely possible to make Jam Roly Poly without suet. The texture will however, be different if you use a hydrogenated fat (fat with water) such as vegan butter or spread. Suet is a form of non-hydrogenated fat which produces a crumbly, soft pastry-like finish. Therefore, if you use vegan block with water listed in the ingredients, the finish will be more doughy. For a vegan Jam Roly Poly without suet, virgin or refined (odourless) coconut oil is a better option than vegan block or butter.

Step-by-step: How to make Vegan Jam Roly Poly

How to roll Jam Roly Poly

Think cinnamon roll! Indeed, if you can make cinnamon rolls, this process will be a breeze. Due to the sticky and splodgy nature of jam, be sure to leave a border around it to avoid overspill. Vegan Jam Roly Poly recipe

Why has my Jam Roly Poly cracked?

It’s normal for Jam Roly Poly to crack a little while it cooks. The foil and baking parchment wrap should be left slightly loose so the pudding has room to expand.

Can you freeze Jam Roly Poly?

Allow the cooked Vegan Jam Roly Poly to cool completely. Wrap it in cling film and then a layer of aluminium foil. Place into a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Instructions to re-heat

Defrost at room temperature and then reheat in a pre-heated oven at 180°C/350°F for 10-12 minutes.

How to make Vegan Custard

I love this recipe for thick and creamy Vegan Custard from The Veg Space. It’s my go-to recipe and tastes so wonderful with this Vegan Jam Roly Poly. The perfect plant-based pudding!

Flavour ideas for Jam Roly Poly

Types of Jam

I use raspberry jam but strawberry, blackberry, cherry or even plum jam would be delicious options for Roly Poly.

Vegan Jam Roly Poly with spices

Cardamom is optional in this recipe. Feel free to leave it out for a more traditional take on Vegan Jam Roly Poly. You can replace the cardamom with 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg or 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon which is especially delicious with a strawberry jam filling.