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Published on November 25, 2020 by Raveaboutfood

It just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without Pumpkin Roll in our house. This dessert has become a family tradition….a thin layer of pumpkin cake filled with sweet cream cheese filling and rolled into a log. It is beautiful and delicious! And it is not difficult to make, taking about an hour from beginning to end…and the results are divine. The perfect dessert for your Thanksgiving table!

Pumpkin Roll

Make this pumpkin roll for the holidays and you’ll be wondering why you haven’t made it before. Warm with the flavor of pumpkin spice and sweet from the cream cheese filling- it’s a dessert you won’t be able to resist!

Looking for a festive holiday drink to go with your meal? This Pumpkin Spice Moscow Mule is tasty and easy to make. Check out the recipe and make it a tradition in your home. Serve this holiday cocktail with dinner or dessert, your guests will love it.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Roll

Pumpkin Roll Recipe

Ingredients:

  • PURE PUMPKIN– Solid packed, 100% pure pumpkin from Libby’s is what you’re looking for in this recipe. It gives the cake its moist, pumpkin flavor. Do not buy pumpkin pie filling, as it has other ingredients added to it.
  • PUMPKIN PIE SPICE– It is a combination of cinnamon, ginger, allspice and nutmeg and makes this pumpkin roll so warm and inviting.
  • EGGS– These act as a binder for this recipe, as they as structure and richness of flavor.
  • WALNUTS or PECANS– These add texture to the cake roll. Chop them and sprinkle them over the cake batter before baking.
  • CREAM CHEESE– It is combined with the confectioners’ sugar and used to make the sweet filling that goes over the cake before it is rolled up into a log. Using reduced fat cream cheese will save you a few calories.

How to make Pumpkin Roll?

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  • Mix together the dry ingredients in a medium bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a hand mixer on high speed for 5 minutes. Eggs will be frothy and fluffy.
  • Beat in the sugar, pumpkin and lemon juice. Gradually mix in dry ingredients until combined. Pour batter into a greased and floured jelly roll pan, approximately 11×16-inch baking pan with a lip. Spread batter evenly and sprinkle with chopped walnuts or pecans.
Pumpkin Roll
  • Bake in a 375 degree oven for 20-25 minutes until firm and golden.
  • Remove from the oven and carefully loosen the edges and bottom of the cake from the pan with a large spatula.
  • Lay out a thin cotton dish towel and sprinkle it with powdered sugar. Carefully flip the cake onto the dish towel and roll it up. Cool the cake for 10 minutes.
How to make Pumpkin Roll
  • While the cake is cooling, make the filling. Mix all filling ingredients together in a medium bowl with a hand mixer. Unroll the cake and spread cream filling over the entire roll. Reroll the cake and trim the ends with a sharp knife.
Rolling up the cake with cream inside.
  • Wrap the pumpkin roll in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil and refrigerate until ready to serve. This recipe makes 8 servings. The cake is delicious with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. It is the best Fall dessert and will quickly become a family favorite.
Pumpkin Roll

For more favorite pumpkin desserts, check out these recipes:

Join my community of bakers by entering your email address in the SUBSCRIBE BOX to receive NEW recipes sent right to your inbox. Make this delicious Pumpkin Roll and it will be the star of your Thanksgiving dessert table!

Pumpkin Roll

Pumpkin Roll is a thin layer of pumpkin cake filled with cream cheese frosting that is rolled into a log. The perfect Thanksgiving dessert!
Servings: 8 servings
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
cooling time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients 

For the cake:

  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup pure pumpkin, solid-pack
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 cup walnuts, or pecans, chopped

For the filling:

  • 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions 

  • Mix together the dry ingredients in a medium bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a hand mixer on high speed for 5 minutes. Eggs will be frothy and fluffy.
  • Beat in the sugar, pumpkin and lemon juice. Gradually mix in dry ingredients until combined. Pour batter into a greased and floured jelly roll pan, approximately 11″ by 16″ baking pan with a lip. Spread batter evenly and sprinkle with chopped walnuts.
  • Bake in a 375 degree oven for 20-25 minutes until firm and golden. Remove from the oven and carefully loosen the edges and bottom of the cake from the pan with a large spatula.
  • Lay out a thin cotton dish towel and sprinkle it with powdered sugar. Carefully flip the cake onto the dish towel and roll up the dish towel and the cake together into a log. Cool the cake for 10 minutes.
    Pumpkin Roll
  • While the cake is cooling, make the filling. Mix all filling ingredients together in a medium bowl with a hand mixer. Unroll the cake and spread cream cheese filling over the entire roll. Reroll the cake and trim the ends with a sharp knife.
  • Wrap the pumpkin roll in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil and refrigerate until ready to serve. Recipe makes 8 servings.
    Pumpkin Roll

Equipment

  • 1 11×16-inch baking pan with a lip
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 electric hand mixer

Notes

Looking for a festive holiday drink to go with your meal? This Pumpkin Spice Moscow Mule is tasty and easy to make. Check out the recipe and make it a tradition in your home. Serve this holiday cocktail with dinner or dessert, your guests will love it.

Nutrition

Calories: 554kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 9gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 128mgSodium: 405mgPotassium: 199mgFiber: 1gSugar: 49gVitamin A: 1674IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 105mgIron: 2mg