Delicious Homemade Pumpkin Roll Recipe

If you’ve been searching for that perfect fall treat to wow your friends and family, you’re going to want to stick around for this one. I’m so excited to share my Delicious Homemade Pumpkin Roll Recipe with you because it’s ridiculously tender, packed with warm spices, and wrapped around a luscious cream cheese filling that always disappears quickly at my house. Seriously, from the first bite, you’ll fall in love with how cozy and perfectly balanced this pumpkin roll turns out.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe shines because the ingredients blend classic pumpkin flavors with a creamy filling that you can trust to come out right every time. Picking quality pumpkin puree and full-fat cream cheese really makes a difference, so keep an eye out for those!

• All-purpose flour: Spoon and level it to avoid a dense batter—this helps your roll stay soft and spongy.
• Baking powder and baking soda: These give the cake a light lift while balancing the acidity of the pumpkin.
• Ground cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice: Essential for that cozy pumpkin roll flavor; homemade spice blends work beautifully here.
• Salt: Just a pinch enhances all those sweet pumpkin and spice notes.
• Eggs: Room temperature eggs whisk up better, giving the cake a fluffy texture.
• Canned pumpkin puree: Make sure it’s pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling, for the best taste and consistency.
• Light or dark brown sugar and granulated sugar: Brown sugar adds moisture and depth, while granulated sugar balances sweetness.
• Pure vanilla extract: A little vanilla brings warmth and rounds out the flavors.
• Confectioners’ sugar: Used for rolling the cake and sweetening the frosting—it helps prevent sticking and adds that creamy sweetness.
• Full-fat brick cream cheese: Softened properly—it makes the frosting luxuriously smooth and thick.
• Unsalted butter: Also softened, so it blends seamlessly with the cream cheese.

Variations

One of the things I love about this Delicious Homemade Pumpkin Roll Recipe is how versatile it is. Feel free to get creative by tweaking the spices or the filling to suit your taste or dietary needs.

• Spice it up or down: Sometimes I increase the cinnamon and add a pinch of nutmeg for extra warmth, especially for Thanksgiving gatherings.
• Dairy-free version: I’ve swapped the cream cheese and butter for coconut cream and vegan butter with great results.
• Gluten-free spinoff: Using a gluten-free flour blend works, but be gentle folding to keep the cake from breaking.
• Filling alternatives: Try adding a bit of orange zest or chopped toasted pecans to the cream cheese filling for extra texture and flavor.

How to Make Delicious Homemade Pumpkin Roll Recipe

Step 1: Prep your pan and mix dry ingredients

Before you dive in, preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Prepare a 10×15-inch baking pan by spraying it with nonstick spray or greasing with butter—this helps the parchment paper stick so your cake rolls out nice and easy later. Line the pan with parchment paper and give that a quick spray too. Then, whisk together your flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt in a large bowl. Setting the dry ingredients aside now makes the mixing process smoother.

Step 2: Blend wet ingredients and combine

In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin puree, both sugars, and vanilla until smooth. Pour this mixture into your dry ingredients and whisk everything just until combined. You want a smooth batter but take care not to overmix, or the cake could turn dense.

Step 3: Bake the cake and prepare to roll

Spread the batter evenly into your prepared pan and gently shake it to even out the surface—this is a neat little trick I learned to make sure the cake bakes uniformly. Bake for 17–18 minutes until the cake springs back when touched lightly. As soon as it comes out of the oven, sprinkle a kitchen towel with confectioners’ sugar and invert the cake onto the towel. Peel off the parchment paper, then slowly roll the cake up with the towel starting at the narrow end. This rolling while warm avoids cracks later.

Step 4: Cool while rolled and prep the frosting

Let the cake cool completely in its roll—pop it in the fridge for about 2 hours if you want to speed things up like I do. While it’s chilling, beat the softened cream cheese until it’s silky smooth, then add the butter, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla, mixing until creamy and fluffy. This frosting is honestly the star of the show!

Step 5: Frost and re-roll

Unroll your cake gently and lay it flat. Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly, leaving about a half-inch border around the edges—this prevents the frosting from squeezing out when you roll it back up. Then, carefully and tightly roll the cake again, this time without the towel. It’s okay if a little frosting squeezes out; that’s just extra deliciousness waiting!

Step 6: Chill before slicing

To help the roll hold its shape, cover it loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes. When ready, dust with extra confectioners’ sugar for a pretty finish, slice, and enjoy. Your guests will be asking for the recipe—I promise!

How to Serve Delicious Homemade Pumpkin Roll Recipe

Garnishes

I often keep it simple with just a dusting of confectioners’ sugar, but sometimes I sprinkle a few toasted pumpkin seeds or a light drizzle of caramel sauce over the slices for a special touch. A sprinkle of finely chopped pecans adds a wonderful crunch as well.

Side Dishes

This pumpkin roll pairs wonderfully with a hot cup of spiced chai or bold coffee. For a festive brunch, I like serving it alongside fresh fruit or a dollop of whipped cream to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday gatherings, I’ve wrapped the roll in a wide ribbon and placed it on a pretty platter with fresh autumn leaves and mini pumpkins around it—it really dresses up the dessert table and makes it feel extra special.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I wrap leftover pumpkin roll tightly in plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge—it stays fresh and moist for up to 4 days. Just bring it to room temperature before serving for the best texture.

Freezing

If you want to freeze slices, I recommend wrapping each slice individually in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer-safe container or bag. When I’ve done this, they freeze beautifully and thaw quickly in the fridge overnight, still tasting like fresh-baked.

Reheating

To warm up leftovers, I let them sit at room temp or microwave for just 10-15 seconds for a cozy, soft slice without melting the frosting completely. You’ll find this makes the flavors come alive again.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Delicious Homemade Pumpkin Roll Recipe has become my go-to for autumn and holiday celebrations because it’s just as beautiful and tasty as it is easier than you think. I love how it brings people together with every slice filled with cozy pumpkin spices and creamy frosting. Give it a try—you’ll see why my family goes crazy for this roll every single season. Trust me, once you master this, it’ll be a staple in your baking repertoire too!

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