The Best Pumpkin Roll Recipe
Pumpkin roll is one of my favorite holiday desserts. The sweet spiced pumpkin cake and the tangy filling are just the perfect combination of flavors. One day I had some extra cream cheese frosting laying around my kitchen. I also had some fat free Greek yogurt in my refrigerator and my wheels started turning; what would happened if I mixed the two? Well, all I can say is it was fabulous! I let a few others taste it to see what they thought, and they all agreed. So when I had all these requests to make over a pumpkin roll, I knew this would be my filling! I added some crushed walnuts to the filling and it was delicious! You can, of course make it without the nuts if you wish. If your like me and love pumpkin, you’ll probably also love these pumpkin recipes for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pumpkin Banana Bread, Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins, Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin No-Bake Cheesecake, and Pumpkin Pecan Banana Bread.
Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Roll Cake
Easier than you think. Pumpkin roll has a reputation for being difficult to make but if you follow the tips in this post, you’ll see that it’s not difficult at all. Perfect pumpkin flavor. The cake portion of this pumpkin roll cake is made with pumpkin puree and a blend of spices for that classic pumpkin spice flavor. It pairs perfectly with the tangy cream cheese filling. Ideal for making ahead. Pumpkin roll stores well in the fridge for several days and it’s actually best a day or two after it’s made, which makes it perfect for the holidays as you can cross it off your list days in advance. It freezes well too!
What You’ll Need
Here’s an overview of what you’ll need for this pumpkin roll recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card below for measurements.
To make the base of the cake: Flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, eggs, vanilla, and granulated sugar make the cake batter. Spices: Pumpkin pie spice, all spice and ground cinnamon give the cake the classic pumpkin spice flavor. Canned pumpkin: To make this easy, using store-bought canned pumpkin puree is perfectly fine. But you can also make your pumpkin puree from scratch, if you wish. For the cream cheese filling: Light cream cheese, Greek yogurt, powdered sugar, walnuts (optional) and vanilla combine to make a sweet but lightly tangy filling.
How To Make Pumpkin Roll
Here’s an overview of how to make pumpkin roll cake. See the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
Prepare the pan: Spray a pan with non-stick spray, line with parchment paper, spray with more non-stick spray, and lightly flour. Make the cake batter. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together for 5 minutes until thick, pale yellow, and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla and pumpkin puree. Fold in the sifted flour mixture with a spatula. Bake. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes. Roll. Sprinkle a clean dish towel with confectioners’ sugar. Immediately invert the cake onto the towel, remove the parchment paper, and sprinkle lightly with confectioners sugar. Roll the cake with a towel and place on a wire rack to cool.
Make the filling. Beat the cream cheese, yogurt, and vanilla extract until light and fluffy then beat in the sugar. Fold in the walnuts. Refrigerate for at least an hour. Assemble. Unroll the cake, spread the filling evenly on top, and re-roll. Transfer to the serving platter, cover, and chill for at least a few hours. Lightly dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Helpful Tips
Here are a few tips to help you make the best pumpkin roll recipe.
Beat the eggs enough. This is key to giving the pumpkin roll shape. When you raise the beaters, the batter should fall back to the bowl in slow ribbons. Roll the cake immediately. Do not let the cake cool before inverting it on the towel and rolling it. If it cools, it is more likely to crack when you roll it. Use LIGHT cream cheese. Do not use fat free cream cheese. It is too thin and will not give the texture needed for this recipe. Chill before slicing. You CAN serve your pumpkin roll cake immediately but chilling it overnight (or at least for several hours), makes it much easier to slice.
How to Store Pumpkin Roll
As noted above, pumpkin rolls are actually best when made in advance. Here’s how to store them:
Fridge: To refrigerate your pumpkin roll, wrap it up tight in plastic wrap without the powdered sugar. Refrigerate for up to 5 days Freezer: You can also freeze your pumpkin roll for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge for 24 hours before serving.
More Pumpkin Recipes
Pumpkin Butterscotch Bars No Bake Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Pumpkin Pie Dip Pumpkin Pie Cheesy Baked Pumpkin Pasta
