• naturalLiving
  • activitiesfor kids
  • Easyrecipes
  • yourhome
  • just formoms
  • Start Here
  • About
  • Start Here
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Natural Living
    • Essential Oils
    • Natural Homemade Ideas
    • Natural Solutions
  • Activities for Kids
    • Arts and Crafts
    • Playdough and Slime
    • Sensory Activities
  • Recipes
  • For Your Home
    • Backyard Chickens
    • Easy DIY Projects & Crafts
    • Organizing Tips
    • Tips and Hacks
  • For Moms
    • Caring for Yourself
    • Parenting
    • Product Reviews
    • Travel
  • About
  • Start Here
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • SHOP
↑

Living Well Mom

Simple, easy, and natural ways to care for your family.

  • naturalLiving
  • activitiesfor kids
  • Easyrecipes
  • yourhome
  • just formoms
  • Start Here
  • About
  • Home
  • Seasonal
  • Essential Oils
  • Natural Solutions
  • Autism

Easy Pumpkin Spice Roll with Cream Cheese Filling

By Erika in Desserts

cake pumpkin Thanksgiving Thanksgiving recipesThis post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Jump to Recipe

Calling all fellow pumpkin spice lovers! If you are tired of paying for overpriced coffee just to get your fall fix, I’ve got the perfect solution for you: my incredible homemade pumpkin spice roll!

While rolls have a reputation of being fussy and often difficult, I promise this is a super simple recipe that anyone can make! I’ll walk you through the entire process step by step.

{I was too nervous to make a dessert roll for the longest time, but when I finally took the leap, I was surprised at how easy it is.}

pumpkin spice roll sliced and dusted with sugar this idea now...

Why you’ll love this pumpkin spice roll

A sponge cake texture, delightful pumpkin spice flavor, and a light cream cheese filling puts this Pumpkin Spice recipe into the family favorites category.

The pumpkin spice roll is a beloved fall classic and an easy-to-make pumpkin dessert option. Additionally, pumpkin contains good nutrients like beta carotene, iron, and folate, so you could almost argue that it is healthy. 😉

And yes, as I mentioned this pumpkin spice roll recipe is easy to make. But, it looks quite impressive. This is a great option to bring to Thanksgiving or a fall dinner party!

Pumpkin spice roll with a single slice cut, showing the cream cheese filling.

You know what would pair perfectly with this yummy roll? A pumpkin spice latte! Learn how to make a delicious, easy pumpkin spice syrup right at home.

Ingredients

Cake Ingredients:

  • eggs
  • sugar
  • canned pumpkin (note: make sure you get canned pumpkin, not canned pumpkin pie filling!)
  • all-purpose flour
  • baking soda
  • ground cinnamon
  • ground ginger
  • salt
  • ground cloves
Ingredients for making a pumpkin spice roll recipe

Cream Cheese Filling Ingredients:

  • softened cream cheese
  • softened butter
  • confectioners’ sugar
  • vanilla extract
  • additional confectioners’ sugar for dusting

How to Make a Pumpkin Spice Roll

1. Prep Your Baking Sheet

First, line a baking sheet (about 15x10x1″) with waxed paper. I recommend you wet the cookie sheet with a damp sponge first. This will help the waxed paper stick to the sheet rather than rolling up.

Then, grease the waxed paper. This is very important: you don’t want the cake to stick to it later! Set it aside.

Note: If you don’t have the right-sized cookie sheet, you can use a pan that’s a little smaller or larger. Just adjust the baking time accordingly.

baking sheet with parchment paper on it

2. Make the Batter

In your mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks on high speed until thick and lemon-colored.

Making pumpkin spice roll batter

Gradually, add 1/2 cup sugar and pumpkin, beating on high until the sugar is almost dissolved.

Orange Batter

For this next step, you can use a separate bowl or you can spoon the egg yolk/pumpkin mixture into another bowl, then wash, and use your mixing bowl.

You’ll be beating egg whites, so you’ll probably want your mixer to do the work. Make sure you wash and dry the mixing bowl as you don’t want traces of egg yolks!

So, beat the egg whites…

whipping eggs for a pumpkin roll recipe

…until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form. 

stiff peaks in a mixing bowl

I love a good egg white peak! It’s very satisfying. Especially since beating egg whites used to be my nemesis when I was a kid!

Next, gently fold the egg yolk/pumpkin mixture into the egg whites. Do not overbeat!

Swirling together pumpkin cake batter with stiff whipped egg whites

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, spices, and salt – gently fold into the pumpkin mixture. Again, don’t over mix!

Combined pumpkin spice sponge cake batter

Spread into prepared pan.

layout of printable recipe binder pages
Rubber spatula spreading cake batter onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper

Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

While the cake is baking, dust a clean kitchen towel with confectioners’ sugar – you’ll be rolling the cake up in this shortly after you remove it from the oven. 

The cake is done baking when it springs back when you lightly touch it.

how to check for doneness on a baking cake

Cool for 5 minutes. 

Turn the cake onto the kitchen towel and gently peel off the waxed paper. 

Gently peeling off the waxed paper from cake layer for a pumpkin spice roll recipe

Roll the cake in the towel jelly-roll style, starting with the short side. Cool completely on a wire rack.

3. Make the Cream Cheese Filling

In a small bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until nice and whipped.

Stand mixer mixing a cream cheese filling for a pumpkin spice roll recipe

Add the confectioner’s sugar and vanilla extract and beat until smooth.

Close up of cream cheese filling

4. Put the Pumpkin Spice Roll Together

Unroll the cake from the towel.

How to roll a pumpkin roll

Spread the cream cheese filling evenly over the cake to within 1/2 inch of the edge. (Don’t worry about being exact.)

Cream cheese filling being spread on a pumpkin roll

Roll the cake up again.

Finished pumpkin spice roll

Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm.

Remove your pumpkin spice roll 15 minutes before cutting. Dust with additional confectioner’s sugar if you desire.

Slice and enjoy!

Pumpkin roll on a silver platter

Storage

If your family manages not to gobble up this entire pumpkin spice roll right away, it will need to be stored in the fridge where it will be good for up to five days.

You can also store the roll in the freezer. To do this, wrap the roll in plastic wrap (this helps it keep its shape). Then, wrap the entire thing in aluminum foil and freeze. It will be good for three months.

FAQs About This Recipe

Sliced pumpkin spice roll on a silver platter with powdered sugar

Why does my pumpkin spice roll crack?

If you are having problems with your pumpkin roll cracking, it’s probably due to low moisture. In the instructions for this recipe, you roll the cake in a towel right out of the oven, then allow it to cool in the rolled shape before you unroll it and add the cream cheese filling.

It may seem like an extra step, but the entire reason we roll it (then unroll) is that the cake has more moisture and heat right out of the oven. This moisture and heat combo makes the cake more pliable than if you allow it to cool flat and then try to roll it later.

Why is my pumpkin roll sticky on the outside?

I’ll admit that sometimes rolls do get sticky on the outside. But, to counteract that, we add powdered sugar to the exterior of the roll! So, if it feels sticky…add a little more sugar.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes! This can easily be converted to a gluten-free recipe. All you need to do is swap out the all-purpose flour for a GF variety.

More Fall Recipes to Enjoy:

  • Gluten Free Pumpkin Spiced Snickerdoodles
  • Chewy Caramel Cookie Bars with M&Ms
  • Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake with Crumb Topping
  • Whipped Pumpkin Spice Mousse in 10 Minutes
pumpkin spice roll recipe
Print

Pumpkin Spice Roll

Print Recipe

A sponge cake texture and a light cream cheese filling, along with a delightful pumpkin spice flavor, makes this Pumpkin Spice Roll a real treat.

  • Author: Erika Bragdon
  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Total Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 eggs, separated
  • 1 cup sugar, divided
  • 3/4 cup canned pumpkin
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4–1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

FILLING

  • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Additional confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Instructions

  1. Line a cookie sheet (about 15x10x1″) with waxed paper and grease. {Tip: wet the cookie sheet with a damp sponge first and the waxed paper will stick.}
  2. In your mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks on high speed until thick and lemon colored. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar and pumpkin, beating on high until the sugar is almost dissolved.
  3. In another small bowl (or remove the pumpkin/egg mixture into another bowl, wash and use the mixing bowl), beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg yolk/pumpkin mixture into the egg whites. Do not overbeat!
  4. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, spices, and salt – gently fold into the pumpkin mixture. Spread into the prepared pan.
  5. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until cake springs back when touched.
  6. Cool for 5 minutes. Turn the cake onto a kitchen towel dusted with confectioner’s sugar and gently peel off the waxed paper. Roll the cake in the towel jelly-roll style, starting with the short side. Cool completely on a wire rack.

FILLING

  1. In a small bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until nice and whipped. Add the confectioner’s sugar and vanilla extract and beat until smooth.
  2. Unroll the cake from the towel. Spread the filling evenly to within 1/2 inch of edges. Roll up again. Cover and freeze until firm. May be frozen for up to 3 months. Remove from freezer 15 minutes before cutting.

Notes

Tip: Wet the cookie sheet down when placing the waxed paper – it will stick better.
Tip #2: Prepare your clean kitchen towel with dusted confectioner’s sugar while the cake is baking.
Tip #3: I recommend wrapping your pumpkin roll with plastic wrap and then a layer of foil to keep it fresh while freezing.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 10
  • Calories: 298
  • Sugar: 36g
  • Sodium: 252mg
  • Fat: 12g
  • Saturated Fat: 6g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4g
  • Carbohydrates: 45g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 4g
  • Cholesterol: 87mg

Pin the image below to save the Pumpkin Spice Roll recipe for later.

A sponge cake texture and a light cream cheese filling, along with a delightful pumpkin spice flavor, makes this Pumpkin Spice Roll a real treat. Plus you won’t believe just how easy this recipe is to make!

Dear mom, I have so much more I’d love to share with you…

Fill out this form to join the Living Well Mom email community and receive the best of the best for your family’s journey to living well!
    *Note: ↑ this form does not give you a freebie. If you are looking for a free printable or other freebie, scroll back up to the rest of the post and use the other form.

    Filed Under: Desserts, Fall, Recipes, Seasonal, Thanksgiving Tagged With: cake, pumpkin, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving recipesPublished on October 7, 2021

    You May Also Love

    smiling boy with glasses holding up last day of school fifth grade sign
    Last Day of School Signs for 2023 – Free Printables for All Grades
    Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe (Kid-Approved!)
    a close up of some deviled eggs
    Best Ever Deviled Eggs With Miracle Whip

    About Erika

    Erika Bragdon is a second-generation homeschooling mom with 3 kids at home and 1 in college. She lives in the beautiful hills of New Hampshire on a small farm and loves writing, baking, nature, and sharing flower essences and more natural solutions with moms.

    Comments

    1. Cassandra Eastman says

      November 25, 2013 at 11:30 pm

      Mmm, I can’t wait to make this now! Thanks for the step by step instructions, they are so helpful!

      Reply
      • Erika says

        November 27, 2013 at 9:35 am

        Thanks for checking it out, Cassandra! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

        Reply
    2. David Smith says

      January 8, 2014 at 11:21 am

      This pumpkin roll looks really good. Great pictures that outline the procedure too. I haven’t made a rolled dessert before, never thought if doing so yet. Now I think I might, just because this looks really good and easy to do. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    3. Melissa Johnson says

      November 11, 2015 at 3:03 pm

      I’ve always wanted to learn how to make this! Thank u for breaking it down for me!

      Reply
      • Erika says

        November 11, 2015 at 3:56 pm

        You’re welcome, Melissa! Have fun!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Erika Bragdon sitting on a bench drinking a drink out of her mug

    Welcome! I’m Erika and I’m the creator behind Living Well Mom.

    More About Erika

    The Latest

    • How To Use Coconut Oil For Acne And Get Clearer Skin
    • Last Day of School Signs for 2023 – Free Printables for All Grades
    • Free Travel I Spy Printable For Road Trips
    • Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe (Kid-Approved!)
    • How to Tell Hens and Roosters Apart: Rooster vs Hen Differences

    Trending now…

    • playdough in a container How to Make the Easiest Homemade Playdough Recipe {Lasts for Months!}
    • Taco Pizza is a great as an easy family dinner (you can even make it the night before) or a tasty appetizer. Kids love this recipe and the cream cheese/sour cream “sauce” and spicy taco flavor are a hit with adults too.The Best Easy Taco Pizza Recipe
    • homemade macaroni and cheese on plateKid-Friendly Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe
    • Chicken and rice casserole in a casserole dish on a tableTasty Chicken and Rice Casserole (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
    • Aloha Chicken is a delicious quick-and-easy weeknight meal the whole family will love! Get the easy recipe here.Easy Aloha Pineapple Chicken Recipe
    • kid friendly meals18 Easy Kid Friendly Meals
    • Home
    • Seasonal
    • Essential Oils
    • Natural Solutions
    • Autism

    Living well is a journey not a destination

    copyright ©2023, Living Well Mom. / Site by Pixel Me Designs
    Privacy PolicyTerms & ConditionsDisclaimer
    111 shares