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This is the world’s best pumpkin roll! It’s a perfectly moist and tender pumpkin cake that is rolled with a sweet cream cheese filling and dusted with powdered sugar. This is the easiest pumpkin roll recipe that you will ever make!

If you love pumpkin rolls just as much as I do then you should also try these Pumpkin Roll Bars, Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Cake, and these amazing Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls!

Pumpkin Roll cut up with powdered sugar sprinkled on top.

Pumpkin Rolls

You GUYS. I am obsessed. This is my absolute favorite time of the year. Bring on all of the pumpkin desserts. I love pumpkin but I have a serious obsession with pumpkin and cream cheese desserts. I made literally THEE best pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting. And guess what? It was so good that the entire family ate it all before I could photograph it. So I am going to have to make it again just so you can have that awesome recipe as well. But FIRST. Let’s kick off pumpkin season with my all-time fave…. this pumpkin roll recipe.

I know a pumpkin roll can seem kind of intimating but they aren’t at all. If I can make a one then anyone can! I know that some methods of making a pumpkin roll include flipping it over on a dishtowel with powdered sugar. But remember, we like EASY. So just keep it on the parchment paper that it bakes on, and roll it up with that while it cools! Easy Peasy! Then when it is cool, simply unroll it, frost it, and roll it back up peeling the parchment paper off as you roll it. Here, let me show you how easy it is to make!

Ingredients in a Pumpkin Roll

You are going to be surprised at how few ingredients you will need to make this recipe! And if you have already begun cooking for the holidays then I’m sure that you will already have everything! See the recipe card below for a list of exact ingredient measurements.

  • Eggs: I like to use large eggs that are at room temperature. They will mix better!
  • White sugar: You definitely want to have suagr in this recipe, it make it so sweet and the perfect dessert!
  • Cinnamon and nutmeg: Is it really even a pumpkin dessert without these two ingredients?
  • Pumpkin puree: you can used store bought pumpkin puree or you can use homemade pumpkin puree!
  • Flour: All purpose flour is what I used in this recipe and it worked great!
  • Baking soda: This will help the bread to rise and make it fluffy!

Cream Cheese Filling

  • Cream cheese: Make sure to soften your cream cheese to room temperature so that it mixes in smoothly.
  • Butter: I used unsalted butter for this recipe!
  • Powdered sugar: I use this instead of regular sugar because is dissolves easier and makes the filling nice and smooth.
Clear mixing bowl with pumpkin cake batter.

Let’s Get Baking!

Get ready to see how EASY it is to make this pumpkin roll! Seriously, you are going to want to make this all year long after you try it!

  1. Preheat and mix ingredients: Preheat your oven to 375 Degrees. In a large mixing bowl beat your eggs, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin puree. In a separate mixing bowl, mix together flour and baking soda. Add slowly to the wet ingredients and combine until smooth.
  2. Bake mixture: Line a 10×15 inch jelly roll pan with a sheet of parchment paper coming about 1 inch over the sides. Spread the mixture evenly on top of the parchment paper. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
  3. Cool and roll: Remove from the oven and allow to cool just enough to touch. Lift the cake out of the pan. Starting from the short ends, gently roll up the pumpkin cake with the parchment paper inside. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
  4. Make cream cheese mixture, fill and roll again: Once it has cooled, prepare the cream cheese filling. Beat together the cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar until smooth. Unroll the cake and spread on top leaving 1/4 inch edge so that the filling won’t spill out as you roll it up. Roll the pumpkin cake back up without the parchment paper. Then, I like to cover it in plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour before I serve making the cuts cleaner.
  5. Dust: Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
The process to make a Pumpkin Roll described in four photos. Process from batter to adding filling and rolling the roll.

Tips and tricks for getting the perfect pumpkin roll

If you are new to making a pumpkin roll then here are a few tips to help you make it turn out just right.

  • Parchment paper is your friend! You will use parchment paper twice in this recipe and it will make your life SO much easier! First, you will line your jellyroll pan with parchment paper and leave a one inch overhang. This makes it easy for removal and rolling up your pumpkin roll. Then, you will use the parchment paper for rolling your pumpkin roll. This helps it not stick to itself.
  • Filling: When putting on the filling, leave an edge around the pumpkin cake so it doesn’t spill over when rolling it up.
  • Chill to get a clean cut: To get the perfect cut, I like to chill my pumpkin roll for at least an hour or over night. This lets the filling set and a clean cut every time.
Close up of a few slices of Pumpkin Roll.

How to Store Leftovers

If you have some leftover pumpkin roll then you should wrap the pumpkin roll tightly in plastic. Then, place it in your fridge and it will last for up to 3 days!

Sliced Pumpkin Roll with powdered sugar on top.

Can I freeze a pumpkin roll?

Yes! A pumpkin roll can be frozen for at least a month. Wrap it rightly with plastic wrap and then cover it with tinfoil. Write the date on it! When you are ready to eat it then take it out and thaw for about an hour before cutting.

Slices of Pumpkin Roll on a white plate.

A Reader’s Review

I made this Pumpkin Roll yesterday and it was an absolute hit!
Excellent taste and texture and the best part was that it is so easy to make!!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!

-Pamela

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The World’s Best Pumpkin Roll

4.59 from 17 votes
By: Alyssa Rivers
This is the world's best pumpkin roll! It's a perfectly moist and tender pumpkin cake that gets rolled up with a sweet cream cheese filling and dusted with powdered sugar!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 10 slices

Ingredients 

Cream Cheese Filling

  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 3 Tablespoons butter softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar plus extra for dusting

Instructions 

  • Preheat your oven to 375 Degrees. In a large mixing bowl beat your eggs, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin puree. In a separate mixing bowl, mix together flour and baking soda. Add slowly to the wet ingredients and combine until smooth.
  • Line a 10×15 inch jelly roll pan with a sheet of parchment paper coming about 1 inch over the sides. Spread the mixture evenly on top of the parchment paper. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool just enough to touch. Lift the cake out of the pan. Starting from the short ends, gently roll up the pumpkin cake with the parchment paper inside. Allow cooling completely on a wire rack.
  • Once it has cooled, prepare the cream cheese filling. Beat together the cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar until smooth. Unroll the cake and spread on top leaving 1/4 inch edge so that the filling won't spill out as you roll it up. Roll the pumpkin cake back up without the parchment paper. (I like to cover my pumpkin roll in plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour before I serve to help make the cuts cleaner.)
  • Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Notes

Once pumpkin roll is finished, I like to cover my pumpkin roll with plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour for cleaner cuts.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 244kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 4gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 232mgPotassium: 93mgFiber: 1gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 3025IUVitamin C: 0.7mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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51 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    mine came out delicious, and just an fyi if you don’t have unsalted butter, and only salted then skip the salt. came out perfect!! thank you

  2. 5 stars
    So easy and inexpensive to make! Looks amazing and tastes amazing. The only thing I tweaked was adding a teaspoon of
    Vanilla bean paste into the filling. Thanks for the recipe!

    1. Yes, I have and it’s good if you need more slices. Especially if you have other desserts to enjoy. It provides more servings and it gives the guest opportunities to try other desserts. Plus it’s cuter 😊when you place it on a platter or place in cupcake liners.

  3. 5 stars
    Made this for a friend and gave it to her for her birthday today. She said that it’s the best one she’s ever tasted.

  4. Looking at other recipes I noted they used 1 teaspoon of baking powder instead of baking soda. Is this what you attribute your recipe remaining moist to? Thank-you for including freezing information; with holiday frenzy, it is great to have “make ahead” recipes!

  5. 5 stars
    I am a novice baker and was very pleased with how this came out! I cut in with dental floss, the way my mom always did with cinnamon rolls, and it cuts very nicely. I made a double batch of the icing: it’s very rich but it’s nice to have extra on hand for other recipes as well because it is delicious! Mine was very moist. Next time I might add a bit more cinnamon and nutmeg or a little less icing to really bring out the flavor of the roll.

    1. 4 stars
      Great recipe. Easy to follow. I recommend pulling it out when it’s *just* cooked so it doesn’t crack while rolling. I use a bit less sugar in the icing and add a tiny bit of vanilla also. I also add a bit of cloves to batter. Have made this several times and it’s always a hit. Perfect for fall/Thanksgiving.

      1. How long is *just* cooked? I cook it about 17 minutes and some of them still crack a little. It is sticky coming off the paper. Any suggestions?

  6. 4 stars
    Almost the best. These recipes are almost all the same, with little variation. However, the recipe with a teaspoon of vanilla in both the cake and the filling just took it over the top. Also, that dash of cloves. Yum

  7. I found this recipe and am going to try it. Wonderful instructions. A pumpkin roll has always seemed intimidating, but I am going to see how it comes out, and will let you know. Never made one before, but LOVE eating them. 😉