This easy Pumpkin Roll recipe is so impressive and delicious! It’s a classic Thanksgiving dessert that you definitely need to make this year. I used LOTS of cream cheese frosting so that there is No Bite of Cake Left Behind. Originally published November 16, 2018.

pumpkin roll with cream cheese frosting.
Table of Contents
  1. You will love this fun Pumpkin Roll Cake
  2. Pumpkin Roll Recipe Ingredients
  3. How to make a Pumpkin Roll
  4. Tips on how to roll a Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese
  5. Making a Pumpkin Cake Roll in advance
  6. How to serve a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Roll
  7. Pumpkin Roll variations
  8. Pumpkin Roll Recipe tips for success
  9. How to store a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Roll
  10. More pumpkin recipes that you are going to love!
  11. Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Recipe

Yesterday my 5-year-old son Truman walked into the living room holding up a giant knife: “Mom, can you kill someone with a chef’s knife?”
“Yes Truman.”
“Like, if you poke them in the heart with it really hard, they’ll die?”
“Yes”
“Oh.” And then he just walked away. Looking contemplative.

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pumpkin roll with cream cheese frosting, dusted with powdered sugar.

I think I’ll sleep with the door locked tonight.

pumpkin roll with cream cheese frosting, with one slice cut.

What is it with little boys and the killing?? No joke, on one of Truman’s first days of kindergarten this year, I asked him if he made any friends, and he told me that there was one boy at recess that he talked to.

“Oh yeah, what did you talk about?” (mumble mumble) “Sorry, what?” “Just like, violence and stuff.” Oh dear.

pumpkin roll dusted with powdered sugar, cut into slices.

Well, assuming there are no homicides in our family this week, I’m SUPER excited for the upcoming Thanksgiving festivities! What is your favorite part? Turkey? potatoes? rolls? I’m all about the DESSERT. Specifically this Pumpkin Roll recipe.

You will love this fun Pumpkin Roll Cake

Does your family have a favorite pumpkin roll recipe? It was never a thing in my family, we are much too obsessed with pie. But I can see how a pumpkin roll brings on the holiday cheer. They are just so cute all rolled up and swirly! They really add a lot visually to a Thanksgiving spread.

But on top of that they are DELICIOUS. There is a reason everyone is obsessed with pumpkin-cream-cheese combos this time of year (see these Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins). It’s because pumpkin and cream cheese is an amazing combination. And the best part about this pumpkin roll recipe is that I used a LOT OF FROSTING. So there really is no bite of cake left behind, always my mantra when it comes to the best cake. Who wants to eat dry cake?

spices in a white bowl.

Honestly though, this cake is pretty amazing even without the frosting. I love pumpkin spice flavors, and I added all the best ones to this cake. Cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, oh my! The cake is so flavorful and has the best light and fluffy texture.

Pumpkin Roll Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a quick shopping list to help you gather your ingredients. See the recipe card below for the full ingredients and instructions!

For the cake:

  • Eggs
  • Sugar
  • Canned pumpkin
  • Lemon juice
  • Vanilla
  • Flour
  • Baking powder
  • Cinnamon
  • Ginger
  • Cloves
  • Nutmeg
  • Cardamom
  • Powdered sugar

For the cream cheese frosting:

  • Full fat cream cheese
  • Butter
  • Powdered sugar
  • Vanilla
  • Lemon juice

How to make a Pumpkin Roll

Here’s a quick overview of how to make this pumpkin roll. Scroll down to the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!

To make the cake: 

  1. Preheat your oven and line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper. Spray the paper and sides of the pan well with nonstick spray.
  2. Beat eggs until pale and bubbly. Add sugar and beat well, then add pumpkin and beat well. Add lemon juice and vanilla, then beat until combined
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cardamom.
  4. Add the flour mixture and beat until very well combined, scraping the sides of the bowl.
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth to the edges.
  6. Bake at 375 for 13-15 minutes. Insert a toothpick in the center of the cake. If it comes out with no batter on it, the cake is done. Clear a work space on your counter. Have a bowl of powdered sugar ready to go.
  7. Within one minute of taking the cake out of the oven, sprinkle the entire top of the cake with plenty of powdered sugar. Fold the edge of the parchment paper that is hanging out of the short end of the cake over the cake. Start rolling up the cake on the short end, rolling the parchment paper. 
  8. Once your cake is completely rolled up, wrap the whole thing in plastic wrap so that it doesn’t dry out, then let it cool for 1-2 hours. 

To make the cream cheese frosting:

  1. Soften your cream cheese and butter, then add to a large bowl or stand mixer and beat until smooth.
  2. Add powdered sugar and beat together, then add another cup of powdered sugar and beat well.
  3. Add vanilla, lemon juice, and kosher salt, then add another 1/2 cup powdered sugar and beat well. 
  4. Adjust salt, lemon juice, and vanilla to taste as desired. Cover and store in the fridge until you are ready to frost the cake. 


To assemble the pumpkin roll:

  1. When your cake is cool, unroll completely and frost the entire inside of the cake, right ot the edges.
  2. Carefully roll up your cake again, without the parchment paper. Wrap it in plastic wrap again and chill for 1-3 hours until completely cool.

Tips on how to roll a Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese

pumpkin cake batter in a jelly roll pan, pumpkin cake fully baked.
If your cake goes in between the paper and the pan, just cut off the part closest to the pan. Eat it!
rolling pumpkin cake into a log with parchment paper.
pumpkin cake rolled into a log and wrapped in plastic wrap; pumpkin cake rolled back out for frosting.

Making a pumpkin roll recipe might seem intimidating because of the rolling process. You mean you want me to bake a cake and roll it up into a spiral without it cracking and crumbling into bits?? Yes, and it’s really not hard. There are just a couple rules to follow:

  • Roll it up when it is HOT. Like, within 1 minute of pulling out of the oven, you might burn the tips of your fingers, HOT. You know how the very edges of a cake get that crispy edge as they cool? You need to roll your cake BEFORE that edge gets too crispy. That’s why it’s important not to over bake.
  • Use lots of powdered sugar while rolling so that the cake doesn’t stick to itself.
  • Don’t rush your cooling and chilling times. The cake needs to be completely cooled once you roll it up. And once you unroll it, add the cream cheese frosting, and roll up again, it needs to be chilled before slicing.how to make a pumpkin roll

That’s about it! If you follow these rules you will have an amazing crack free pumpkin roll cake. Most pumpkin roll recipes call for removing the cake from the pan, placing it on a tea towel that is well-dusted with powdered sugar, and rolling with the towel. You can certainly do it that way, but it sounded like a huge pain in the neck to me.

rolling a pumpkin roll with cream cheese frosting inside on a piece of parchment paper.

I decided to roll the cake in the parchment paper that I baked it on. It worked great. I recommend sprinkling with powdered sugar before rolling so that it unrolls easier. (I didn’t use any, and I had to be very careful.)

a slice of pumpkin roll with a fork in it.

Why is my Pumpkin Roll Sticky?

Your pumpkin roll can get sticky if condensation forms on it. We’re sprinkling it with plenty of powdered sugar immediately after it comes out of the oven to prevent condensation from forming. It’s also important to line your pan with parchment paper so that the cake doesn’t get stuck to the pan while it’s baking.

Making a Pumpkin Cake Roll in advance

You can make a pumpkin roll 1-2 days before serving it and it will still be fresh and delicious. Alternatively, you can make, wrap, and freeze the pumpkin roll for 2-3 months.

How to serve a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Roll

Pumpkin roll can be served as soon as it’s been completely chilled. Cut it into 12 slices and serve it with extra powdered sugar sprinkled on top if you want. I like it with a glass of milk. 

Pumpkin Roll variations

I love this pumpkin roll exactly like this, but here are some more ideas to make it your own. 

  • If you’re not a fan of cream cheese frosting, you can substitute vanilla buttercream
  • Sweet tooth? Drizzle caramel or chocolate sauce on top of each slice (or the entire pumpkin roll) just before serving.
  • Mix toffee bits into the cream cheese frosting for a sweet crunch. 
  • Chop pecans or walnuts and add some to the cream cheese frosting. 
  • If you don’t have cardamom, you can omit it – I love the flavor of cardamom in spiced baked goods but it’s not 100% necessary.

Pumpkin Roll Recipe tips for success

Feeling intimidated? I know, this seems like origami, but with cake. I too thought this way until I learned the (not-so-secret) secrets to making a cake roll. Here we go:

  • Use canned pumpkin, NOT pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling has spices and sugar added – and we’re going to add the perfect amount of each on our own. Just check the can to make sure that it includes only pureed pumpkin and no additional ingredients if the front of the can seems unclear. 
  • Sprinkle the cake with powdered sugar as soon as it comes out of the oven. This helps the cake stay dry, not sticky, as you’re rolling it up. 
  • Make sure that you have parchment paper to line your jelly roll pan. Parchment is very non-stick. Do not use wax paper. Do not use a tea towel. This is the way. 
  • Fit the parchment to your pan. You’re cutting a piece long enough that it overhangs by a couple inches on each end (the short sides). Then use your fingers to press the paper into the corners. That way, when you pour the batter in, it’ll go into the corners as much as possible (don’t expect perfection, we’re just doing the best we can).

How to store a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Roll

The cake should be stored covered in the fridge (that cream cheese frosting could leak out or get weird on the counter). It will be good for several days (if it actually lasts that long).

Can you freeze a Pumpkin Roll?

Yes! You can freeze a pumpkin roll, tightly wrapped, for 2-3 months. Let it defrost in the fridge when you are ready to serve it.


Have you guys got your Thanksgiving menus all worked out? I’m so excited! I’ll be making this Sparkling Christmas Slush Drink (perfect for adults and kids), my Aunt Shirley’s Famous Creamy Mashed Potatoes, and my trusty Sage Butter Roasted Turkey. It never fails! Oh and please, for the love, make this Make Ahead Turkey Gravy TODAY so that you don’t have to be madly whisking out cornstarch lumps when your guests are at the table. It’s on my to-do list this weekend!

Enjoy this time spent with your family! Happy Thanksgiving prep weekend!

More pumpkin recipes that you are going to love!

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Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese

5 from 1 vote
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 2 hours
Total: 2 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 12
This easy Pumpkin Roll recipe is so impressive and delicious! It’s a classic Thanksgiving dessert that you definitely need to make this year. I used LOTS of cream cheese frosting so that there is No Bite of Cake Left Behind. 

Ingredients

For the cake

  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice, fresh
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3/4 cup flour, spooned and leveled
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon cardamom
  • powdered sugar, for dusting

For the cream cheese frosting

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Line a 15×10 inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper. There should be extra paper hanging off the sides of the short end of the pan, and the paper should line up with the long edges of the pan. See photo. Spray the paper and sides of the pan well with nonstick spray.
  • In a large bowl or stand mixer, add 3 eggs. Beat for 3-4 minutes on medium speed until the eggs are pale and bubbly. Well-beaten eggs make for a light and fluffy cake!
  • Add 1 cup granulated sugar. Beat well. Add 2/3 cup pumpkin. Beat well.
  • Add lemon juice and vanilla. Beat until combined, scraping the sides and the bottom of the bowl.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cardamom.*
  • Add the flour mixture and beat until very well combined, scraping the sides of the bowl.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth to the edges.
  • Bake at 375 for 13-15 minutes. Insert a toothpick in the center of the cake. If it comes out with no batter on it, the cake is done. It should spring back when you press on the center. The edges should look set but take it out before they look crispy! It’s important for your cake to be baked all the way through, but over baking it will make it more difficult to roll, so keep a close eye on it.
  • Clear a work space on your counter. Have a bowl of powdered sugar ready to go.
  • Within one minute of taking the cake out of the oven, sprinkle the entire top of the cake with plenty of powdered sugar. Fold the edge of the parchment paper that is hanging out of the short end of the cake over the cake. Start rolling up the cake on the short end, rolling the parchment paper. You don’t need to roll it super tight. Add more powdered sugar as necessary.
  • Once your cake is completely rolled up, wrap the whole thing in plastic wrap so that it doesn’t dry out, then let it cool for 1-2 hours. You can put it in the fridge to speed it up if you want. Let the cake sit at room temperature for a few minutes before unrolling though.
  • While the cake is cooling, prepare the cream cheese frosting; see this post for all the details. I used 2 cups of powdered sugar in my frosting, but you can add more if you like a sweeter frosting.
  •  Beat the frosting until smooth, scraping the edges. Cover and store in the fridge until you are ready to frost the cake. (If your frosting is too warm when you roll up your cake, you risk it oozing out the sides.)
  • When your cake is cool, unroll completely and frosting the entire inside of the cake. Make sure to add plenty of frosting to the edge of the cake that is going to be rolled up in the center. Spread the frosting right to the edges of the cake.
  • Carefully roll up your cake again, without the parchment paper. Wrap it in plastic wrap again and chill for 1-3 hours until completely cool.
  • Use a sharp serrated knife to slice the cake into about twelve 1-inch slices. Wipe off the knife in between slices.
  • Store the cake covered in the fridge.

Notes

*You can use any spice blend you like! You can use about 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of pumpkin pie spice to replace the cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cardamom if you prefer.
Recipe adapted from the original Libby’s Pumpkin Roll

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 471kcal | Carbohydrates: 82g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 314mg | Potassium: 88mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 71g | Vitamin A: 2187IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 471
Keyword: Cream Cheese, pumpkin, roll
Did you make this? I’d love to see it!Mention @thefoodcharlatan or tag #thefoodcharlatan!

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Comments

  1. My cousin’s son once asked her, “Momma, what would happen if I cut off your head?”

    She immediately called to tell me. You know, just in case. =0D

  2. Made the pumpkin roll. Just taste wonderful.
    I must be doing something wrong. It is very wet.
    Just I just leave it uncovered to dry out some. 
    Thanks 

  3. Thank you so much for this recipe and showing how to use parchment paper to roll it. I always enjoy your delicious recipes.

    1. I’m so happy to hear that Trina! Thank you for letting me know, I love hearing from you. Let me know how it goes with the parchment paper, I thought it was so much easier than a tea towel! :)

  4. I have always wanted to make a pumpkin roll! This post gives me courage. We are traveling for Thanksgiving so I’m not doing any cooking this year which gives me a weird mix of relief and regret haha! But you don’t need a holiday to make pumpkin rolls right?

    1. You DEFINITELY don’t need Thanksgiving to make a pumpkin roll, it totally falls under the “fall baking” category which means you’re good until Christmas :) Enjoy your time off from cooking! Have fun on vacation!

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