Easy Pumpkin Roll Recipe (2024)

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You’ve got to try out this easy pumpkin roll recipe for fall. This cake is the perfect recipe to surprise your loved ones with on a cozy day.

If you want a dessert that has all of the warmth of the fall spices but is also easy to put together on a whim, this is a great cake option!

Another huge bonus about this recipe is it’s completely finished in under half an hour!

Are you looking for a cake roll for a birthday? Then check out this birthday cake roll recipe!

Easy Pumpkin Roll Recipe (1)

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Table of contents

  • Why you’ll love this recipe
  • Ingredients for this recipe
  • Equipment needed for this recipe
  • How to make the best pumpkin roll recipe
  • Recipes to try if you like this homemade pumpkin roll recipe
  • Common Questions
    • How do you make a cake roll without cracking it?
  • Storage suggestions

Why you’ll love this recipe

This pumpkin roll from scratch only takes 10 minutes of prep and bakes for 15 minutes, so by the time you’re done cleaning up, it’ll be ready to be served!

A cake roll is also a fun twist off of the usual 2-3 tiered cake making it something different that will definitely wow those you share it with! If you like making cake rolls this swiss roll cake is another dessert that everyone will love.

Ingredients for this recipe

Cake flour: The base of this entire cake.
Pumpkin puree: The pumpkin flavor for the recipe.
White sugar: To sweeten the cake.
Brown sugar: For a deep sweetness.
Eggs: To help bind the ingredients.
Cinnamon: For cozy fall flavors.
Nutmeg: A warm spice to include in the cake.
Ginger: Another warm spice to complete the fall flavoring.
Butter: Adding moisture to the cake.
Cream cheese: For delicious, creamy icing.
Confectioners sugar: For the sweet icing.

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Equipment needed for this recipe

For this recipe, you’ll want to use mixing bowls to hold the ingredients and mix them together. Then for the actual mixing, a hand mixer will make things easier for you. Bake the cake mixture in this jelly roll pan on top of some parchment paper and cooking spray. Use a cooling rack to help everything cool off evenly, and store it in an airtight container.

How to make the best pumpkin roll recipe

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Step 1: In a medium size bowl, mix together pumpkin, brown and white sugars, cake flour, and spices.

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Step 3: Beat egg whites on medium-high for 2-4 minutes. Or until stiff peaks form.

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Step 5: Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper, up over the edges as well, and cover with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes.

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Step 7: Remove cake from oven. Lift or slide the parchment-lined cake onto a cooling rack. Allow to cool slightly. Roll the cake inside parchment paper and set aside to cool completely.

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Step 9: Re-roll the cake without the parchment paper. Sprinkle with confectioner sugar and store in the fridge until ready to slice and serve.

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Step 2: Separate eggs. Add egg yolks to cake mixture.

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Step 4: Gently fold egg whites into the cake mixture. Do not over-mix.

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Step 6: While the cake is in the oven, beat together cream cheese, butter, and confectioner sugar until creamy and smooth. Set aside.

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Step 8: Unroll the cooled cake and spread the cream cheese filling, completely covering
cake.

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Enjoy!

Expert Tips

– For best results, allow the cake to set up in the fridge overnight.
– Roll the cake while it’s still warm to prevent cracks.
– Before letting the cake unroll to add the icing, be sure it has cooled completely to help prevent cracks in the cake sponge.

Recipes to try if you like this homemade pumpkin roll recipe

If you like this homemade pumpkin cake recipe, then you’ll likely really enjoy this easy pumpkin cookies recipe which is a great beginner recipe for those wanting to make a nice autumnal dessert. If you like a soft dish for dessert, then you really should try this smooth pumpkin mousse! However, if you’re looking for another easy fall cake recipe, you really can’t go wrong with this pumpkin dump cake. If you’re looking for something to wash the cake down with, then this sweet and creamy Starbucks vanilla frappuccino recipe would be a great addition to your dessert!

Common Questions

How do you make a cake roll without cracking it?

To prevent cracking, roll the cake while it’s still warm and let the cake sponge cool fully before unrolling to add the icing.

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Storage suggestions

To keep leftovers of this cake fresh, be sure to keep it in an airtight container at room temperature. Eat within 3 days for the freshest bite.

Yield: 8 Servings

Easy Pumpkin Roll Recipe

You've got to try out this easy pumpkin roll recipe for fall. This cake is the perfect recipe to surprise your loved ones with on a cozy day.

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time15 minutes

Total Time25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3⁄4 cup cake flour
  • 2/3 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1⁄2 cup white sugar
  • 1⁄2 cup brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 Tbsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 3 Tbsp butter, softened
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup confectioners sugar

Instructions

  1. In a medium size bowl, mix together pumpkin, brown and white sugars, cake flour, and spices.

    2. Separate eggs. Add egg yolks to cake mixture.

    3. Beat egg whites on medium high for 2-4 minutes, or until stiff peaks form.

    4. Gently fold egg whites into cake mixture. Do not over mix.

    5. Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper, up over the edges as well, and cover with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes.

    6. While cake is in the oven, beat together cream cheese, butter, and
    confectioner sugar until creamy and smooth. Set aside.

    7. Remove cake from oven. Lift or slide parchment lined cake onto a cooling rack. Allow to cool slightly. Roll cake inside parchment paper and set aside to cool completely.

    8. Unroll cooled cake and spread cream cheese filling, completely covering cake.

    9. Re-roll cake without the parchment paper. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar and store in fridge until ready to slice and serve.

Notes

* For best results, allow the cake to setup in the fridge overnight.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 294Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 88mgSodium: 124mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 1gSugar: 31gProtein: 4g

I am not a medical expert. These calculations are provided as a courtesy.

Easy Pumpkin Roll Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to rolling a pumpkin roll? ›

Roll the cake while it's hot!

This is the secret to a perfectly-swirled roll cake. While the cake is still hot, use the parchment to transfer the cake from the baking pan onto a clean kitchen towel. Using the towel as a hot mitt, roll the cake into a tight spiral from the narrow side.

What is pumpkin roll filling made of? ›

Pumpkin Roll Ingredients

You likely have most of the ingredients you'll need on hand. If not, here's what to add to your grocery list: For the Cake: eggs, sugar, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, all-purpose flour, and baking soda. For the Filling: cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, butter, and vanilla extract.

Why does my pumpkin roll crack when I unroll it? ›

The biggest trick to preventing your cake roll from cracking is to roll the cake up in the parchment paper as soon as it comes out of the oven. The hot cake will be soft and pliable and should roll up without cracking.

Why does my pumpkin roll get sticky? ›

I have done some research and I was not able to find a clear answer for you. So, don't stress about it. This cake is moist, and it will get sticky. I believe the pumpkin puree is what gives the stickiness to this cake, and the alternative to a moist sticky cake is a dry, flaky cake that will not roll properly.

How do you keep pumpkin rolls from sticking to parchment paper? ›

Spray or grease the parchment paper too. We want an extremely nonstick surface for this cake roll. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt together in a large bowl.

Why is my pumpkin roll filling runny? ›

Also, it's crucial that your ingredients are all room temperature so that the cream cheese filling can be nice and sturdy. Otherwise, the filling will be too thin and will ooze out of the pumpkin roll. (If it seems too thin, just add more powdered sugar.)

Is pumpkin puree the same as canned pumpkin pie filling? ›

They are the same product. Both canned pumpkin puree and pie filling are useful, shelf-stable ingredients that can help speed up your kitchen prep time. Just remember that puree is unsweetened, while pie filling contains sugar and spices. This will help you choose the right pumpkin product for your recipes.

Why is my pumpkin roll dry? ›

Overbaking can lead to a dry and brittle cake that is more likely to crack when rolled. Roll While Warm: After baking, roll the cake while it's still warm. Gently lift the kitchen towel with the cake and roll it into a log shape. Rolling while warm helps the cake remember its shape and prevents cracks.

What is the difference between Libby's pumpkin and pumpkin pie filling? ›

While the canned pumpkin puree is just canned pumpkin, the Libby "Canned Pumpkin Pie Filling" also has sugar syrup, natural flavoring, salt and spices.

Does pumpkin roll go bad? ›

Pumpkin rolls keep well in the refrigerator and freezer, so they're the perfect dessert to make ahead of time if you'd like. To store your pumpkin roll, wrap it up tightly in plastic wrap. Then you can either refrigerate it for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Why is my pumpkin bread still raw in the middle? ›

When the toothpick comes out clean, the bread is done. If not, bake 5-10 minutes longer and recheck. PRO-Tip: Do not pull the loaves out without doing a toothpick check. If you remove the loaf too early, the middle will be raw.

Can pumpkin roll sit out? ›

A pumpkin roll is a great dessert to make up to 1-2 days ahead of time. Prepare it completely and store it in the refrigerator covered securely in plastic wrap. When you are ready to serve it, allow it to sit on the counter for a few minutes and then slice and serve.

Why is my pumpkin bread not moist? ›

Try cutting the amount of flour, or adding more milk. It's also possible your oven was too hot, or you baked the pumpkin bread for too long. Try reducing the oven temperature and cutting the baking time.

Why is my pumpkin roll so moist? ›

As the pumpkin roll cools, it has a tendency to form a little bit of condensation on the outside. This can cause it to feel a little wet or sticky. That's where the powdered sugar comes in! Not only does it add a little bit of extra sweetness, but it helps absorb some of that excess moisture.

How long can pumpkin roll sit out? ›

Homemade pie that has been left out for longer than two hours should be thrown away. If you left any pumpkin pie out for too long, don't be tempted to roll the dice.

Can you roll jelly roll in parchment paper? ›

To use either, first roll up the still-warm sponge cake right along with the parchment paper, and let it cool completely. Then gently unroll the cake and cover with the filling.

How do you keep cake rolls from cracking? ›

Step 3: Roll Cake with Towel Inside and Cool

Starting with a short side of the cake, roll up the towel and the warm cake together into a spiral. Yes, the towel will be inside your baked cake roll. This step helps to form the cake roll shape later without any cracking. Roll to the end of the towel.

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