Easy Spiced Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting
Indulge in the comforting flavors of fall with this Easy Spiced Pumpkin Roll. After making this for my family countless times, I’ve discovered the trick to a perfect, moist cake roll every time. The warm spices and creamy frosting make this dessert irresistible. Try it with my Easy Apple Butternut Squash Casserole for a complete fall dinner. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Apple Butternut Squash Casserole Recipe for Fall Dinner and Crispy Mexican Street Corn Fritters with Spicy Lime Sauce.
Why This Easy Spiced Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting Is Pure Comfort
- It's a show-stopping dessert that's easier to make than you think
- The warm spices and tangy cream cheese frosting are a perfect match
- It's a great make-ahead dessert for holiday gatherings
What You'll Need for Easy Spiced Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- canned pumpkin
- eggs
- sugar
- all-purpose flour
- ground cinnamon
- ground nutmeg
- salt
- cream cheese
- powdered sugar
- ground cinnamon
- ground nutmeg
- vanilla extract
- orange zest
- Optional: powdered sugar for dusting
- Optional: fresh mint leaves for garnish
📝 Ingredient Notes
- canned pumpkin: Make sure to use pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- KitchenAid Stand Mixer — Makes batter smooth and evenly mixed → See on Amazon
- Offset Spatula — Helps spread batter evenly and roll the cake → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Spiced Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Prepare the cake: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 15x10x1-inch jelly-roll pan and line with parchment paper. In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar until thick. Add pumpkin, mix well. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to egg mixture, mixing just until combined. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until center springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 10 minutes.
- Prepare the filling: In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Stir in orange zest.
- Assemble the roll: Dust a clean kitchen towel with powdered sugar. Turn cake onto towel. Remove parchment paper. Starting from the short end, roll up the cake and towel together. Let it cool completely on a wire rack. Gently unroll the cake and spread the filling evenly. Reroll the cake without the towel. Dust with additional powdered sugar before serving. Store in the refrigerator.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Spiced Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Common mistake and fix: Avoid overbaking the cake. It will become dry and crack when rolling. To prevent this, check the cake at the minimum baking time and adjust accordingly.
- Pro tip: For an extra touch, add a teaspoon of orange zest to the cream cheese filling for a refreshing citrus note.
- Pro tip: Make the cake a day ahead and store it in the refrigerator. The flavors will meld together and the cake will be even more moist.
Storing & Reheating Easy Spiced Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days Make-ahead tip: Can be made a day ahead
Freezing Easy Spiced Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting
Freeze for up to 3 months
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving Microwave: Not recommended
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the orange zest with lemon zest for a different flavor note.
- Make-ahead: This dessert can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
- Scaling: This recipe can be halved to make a smaller roll.
- Troubleshooting: If the cake cracks when rolling, it's likely overbaked. To fix, gently unroll and roll it back up, using the filling to help stick the layers together.
Want to level up this recipe?
Parchment Paper — Prevents the cake from sticking to the pan and makes rolling easier → Check price on Amazon
Easy Spiced Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- canned pumpkin
- eggs
- sugar
- all-purpose flour
- ground cinnamon
- ground nutmeg
- salt
- cream cheese
- powdered sugar
Seasonings
- ground cinnamon
- ground nutmeg
- vanilla extract
- orange zest
Optional Toppings
- powdered sugar for dusting
- fresh mint leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the cake: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 15x10x1-inch jelly-roll pan and line with parchment paper. In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar until thick. Add pumpkin, mix well. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to egg mixture, mixing just until combined. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until center springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 10 minutes.
- Prepare the filling: In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Stir in orange zest.
- Assemble the roll: Dust a clean kitchen towel with powdered sugar. Turn cake onto towel. Remove parchment paper. Starting from the short end, roll up the cake and towel together. Let it cool completely on a wire rack. Gently unroll the cake and spread the filling evenly. Reroll the cake without the towel. Dust with additional powdered sugar before serving. Store in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the orange zest with lemon zest for a different flavor note.
- Make-ahead: This dessert can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
- Scaling: This recipe can be halved to make a smaller roll.
- Troubleshooting: If the cake cracks when rolling, it's likely overbaked. To fix, gently unroll and roll it back up, using the filling to help stick the layers together.
Storage
- Fridge: Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months
- Oven reheat: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving
- Microwave reheat: Not recommended
- Make ahead: Can be made a day ahead
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 220
- Protein: 4g
- Fat: 6g
- Carbs: 38g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Cholesterol: 70mg
- Sat. Fat: 3.5g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Spiced Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting FAQs
Yes, you can make the cake a day ahead and store it in the refrigerator. Add the filling just before serving.
The cake may have been overbaked. To prevent this, check the cake at the minimum baking time and adjust accordingly.
Yes, you can freeze the cake for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
No, this recipe is not suitable for the air fryer.
You can substitute the orange zest with lemon zest for a different flavor note.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Spiced Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
