Last Updated on December 10, 2022
One of the best things about falls is all the pumpkin treats. Pumpkin desserts are one of the tastiest things to enjoy when the weather starts to get chilly. This easy pumpkin roll recipe using cake mix combines great pumpkin flavor with delicious fall spices to create a classic treat.
Pumpkin rolls are a delightful dessert that is great to share with the family. This recipe is simple to make, thanks to using a cake mix. It requires no baking experience and is a great dessert to make on a crisp fall day.
Easy Pumpkin Roll Recipe Using Cake Mix: What is a Roll Cake?
Roll cakes were invented in central Europe in the 19th century. They are typically sponge cakes filled with jelly, whipped cream, cream cheese frosting, or icing. The fillings are spread on the cake and the cake is carefully rolled up.
Swiss rolls and jelly rolls are some of the most popular roll cakes. Spiced cakes are often made as roll cakes as well and are filled with cream cheese frosting. They are classic cake that is loved by many people around the world.
Easy Pumpkin Roll Recipe Using Cake Mix: Using Pumpkin in Desserts
Pumpkin is a popular ingredient in many dishes during fall. It has a delicious taste and texture when used properly in a dish. It can be used in both sweet and savory dishes, such as muffins, bread, cakes, pies, soups, and pasta.
It is important to ensure you are using the right pumpkin product in your dish to get the right pumpkin flavor. This particular recipe calls for canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie mix.
Canned pumpkin is simply cooked pureed pumpkin. On the other hand, pumpkin pie filling is cooked, pureed pumpkin that has already been sweetened and has different spices added to it.
Easy Pumpkin Roll Recipe Using Cake Mix: What You Will Need?
Ingredients
To make this easy pumpkin roll recipe using cake mix, you will need:
- 3 eggs
- 2/3 cup of canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
- ½ box yellow cake mix
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup whipping cream
- ¼ cup toasted chopped pecans, optional
3 Delicious Homemade Frosting Recipes
Equipment
To prepare this recipe, you will need:
- 15x10x1-inch pan
- Foil or waxed paper
- Two medium mixing bowls
- An electric mixer
- Cooling Rack
Easy Pumpkin Roll Recipe Using Cake Mix: Step-by-Step Instructions
Step One: Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan
Preheat the oven to 375 (350 for dark or nonstick pans) degrees Fahrenheit. Line the pan with foil or waxed paper and spray with cooking spray.
Step Two: Beat Eggs
Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs on high in a medium bowl for approximately two minutes or until they are thick and entirely yellow-colored.
Step Three: Beat Pumpkin
Beat the pumpkin into the eggs until well-mixed.
Step Four: Add Cake Mix and Spices
Gradually add in the cake mix, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves while mixing at low speed. Continue mixing for one minute.
Step Five: Bake the Cake
Pour the cake into the pan and bake for 10-14 minutes or until the cake springs back after being lightly touched in the middle. After baking, immediately remove the cake from the pan using towels and cover it with powdered sugar. Remove foil or waxed paper and carefully roll the cake and towel from the narrow end. Allow the cake to cool for at least an hour on the cooling rack.
Step Six: Prepare Filling
In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and brown sugar with an electric mixer on high until smooth. Add whipping cream and beat until stiff. Mix in two tablespoons of pecans.
Step Seven: Frost and Roll the Cake
Unroll the cake and remove the towel. Spread two-thirds of the cream cheese mixture over the cake and roll it back up. Spread the remaining one-third of the frosting on the cake.
Tips and Tricks
It is important to make sure to roll your cake with a towel the first time you roll it. This allows it to be flexible and less likely to crack, making it easier to work with. You will want to roll the cake while it is still warm to help achieve this.
If you are having problems getting your cake to roll, you can watch this helpful tutorial. To ensure your cake won’t crack or break, it is important to follow the directions. Rolling a cake can be tricky, but with a bit of practice, you should be able to get the technique down.
Though the nuts are an optional addition, many people like them for the added crunch, however, they are not for everyone. If you decide to use nuts, you can heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake them for ten minutes in a shallow pan. This gives them a nice toasted finish.
If you are using the Betty Crocker Super Moist Yellow Cake Mix, as the recipe recommends, you can use the remainder of the mix to make cupcakes. Simply add two eggs, three-fourths of a cup of water, and three tablespoons of vegetable oil and follow the directions on the box. This will make 16 cupcakes.
When not serving, this cake should be kept in the fridge. The fridge will help keep it fresh and you can take it out half an hour before serving to let it reach room temperature. It can last up to four days in the fridge and up to four months in the freezer.
Read more about Duncan Hines Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
Amazingly Easy Pumpkin Roll Recipe Using Cake Mix
Equipment
- 15x10x1-inch pan
- Foil or waxed paper
- Cooling Rack
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 2/3 cup of canned pumpkin not pumpkin pie mix
- ½ box yellow cake mix
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- 1 cup whipping cream
- ¼ cup toasted chopped pecans optional
Instructions
- Step One: Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan
- Preheat the oven to 375 (350 for dark or nonstick pans) degrees Fahrenheit. Line the pan with foil or waxed paper and spray with cooking spray.
- Step Two: Beat Eggs
- Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs on high in a medium bowl for approximately two minutes or until they thick and entirely yellow-colored.
- Step Three: Beat Pumpkin
- Beat the pumpkin into the eggs until well mixed.
- Step Four: Add Cake Mix and Spices
- Gradually add in the cake mix, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves while mixing at low speed. Continue mixing for one minute.
- Step Five: Bake the Cake
- Pour the cake into the pan and bake for 10-14 minutes or until cake springs back after being lightly touched in the middle. After baking, immediately remove the cake from pan using towels and cover with powdered sugar. Remove foil or waxed paper and carefully roll cake and towel from narrow end. Allow cake to cool for at least an hour on cooling rack.
- Step Six: Prepare Filling
- In medium bowl beat cream cheese and brown sugar with an electric mixer on high until smooth. Add whipping cream and beat until stiff. Mix in two tablespoons of pecans.
- Step Seven: Frost and Roll the Cake
- Unroll the cake and remove the towel. Spread two-thirds the cream cheese mixture over the cake and roll back up. Spread the remaining one-third of frosting on the cake.
Notes
- It is important to make sure to roll your cake with a towel the first time you roll it. This allows it to be flexible and less likely to crack, making it easier to work with. You will want to roll the cake while it is still warm to help achieve this.
- If you are having problems getting your cake to roll, you can watch this helpful tutorial. To ensure your cake won’t crack or break, it is important to follow the directions. Rolling a cake can be tricky, but with a bit of practice, you should be able to get the technique down.
- Though the nuts are an optional addition, many people like them for the added crunch, however, they are not for everyone. If you decide to use nuts, you can heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake them for ten minutes in a shallow pan. This gives them a nice toasted finish.
- If you are using the Betty Crocker Super Moist Yellow Cake Mix, as the recipe recommends, you can use the remainder of the mix to make cupcakes. Simply add two eggs, three-fourths of a cup of water and three tablespoons of vegetable oil and follow the directions on the box. This will make 16 cupcakes.
- When not serving, this cake should be kept in the fridge. The fridge will help keep it fresh and you can take it out half an hour before serving to let it reach room temperature. It can last up to four days in the fridge and up to four months in the freezer.
How Do You Defrost a Pumpkin Roll?
One of the great things about pumpkin rolls is you can make them ahead of time and freeze them. To do so, make your pumpkin roll; ideally, avoid putting any toppings on it.
Take your cool and prepared pumpkin roll and wrap it in a layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil. Next, place your pumpkin roll in the freezer in a spot where it can lay flat. You can freeze your pumpkin roll for up to three to six months.
When ready to eat, place your pumpkin roll in the fridge overnight. Then, place it at room temperature for an hour or two and top it with powdered sugar or icing before serving.
Who Invented the Pumpkin Roll Dessert?
There are a couple of different stories as to who invented the pumpkin roll dessert. Some say it was an Italian man named Atoni Figakroski in 1924. Others sources state that Gifford’s Ice Cream first sold pumpkin rolls in 1947.
There is also a published recipe for a sourdough pumpkin roll from a 1977 cookbook. Another cookbook from 1978 published a recipe for a spiced pumpkin roll. It seems unclear what the true origins are of the pumpkin roll.
What Kind of Towel Do You Use for a Pumpkin Roll?
A tea towel should be used when rolling a pumpkin roll. Tea towels are made from linen so you don’t have to worry about lint getting on your roll. Be sure to use a clean tea towel when making rolling your pumpkin roll.
If you do not have a tea towel, you can use parchment paper instead to roll your pumpkin roll. When using a tea towel, you should sprinkle powdered sugar on the towel to prevent any sticking. If you are using parchment paper you don’t have to use powdered sugar.
Why Does My Pumpkin Roll Stick to the Towel?
If your pumpkin roll is sticking to your tea towel it is likely because you didn’t add any powdered sugar or didn’t add enough powdered sugar. You should add a generous dusting of powdered sugar to your towel to prevent sticking. Be sure to roll your pumpkin roll when it is still warm to prevent cracking.
How Do You Cut a Pumpkin Roll?
You should use a large, sharp knife to cut your pumpkin. A bread knife can also work to cut your pumpkin roll as well. Generally, you will want to cut your pumpkin roll into eight even slices.
How Do You Know if a Pumpkin Roll is Bad?
Since pumpkin rolls contain cream cheese frosting they should be refrigerated when not serving. Pumpkin rolls will keep in your fridge for up to five days.
If you notice that your pumpkin roll has any mold, it is time to throw it out. In addition, if it has an off smell, taste, or appearance you should not eat your pumpkin roll. It is also best to throw it out if it has become hard and has a stale taste.
A Delicious Pumpkin Treat
This easy pumpkin roll makes a great dessert for fall or even any time of the year. The cake mix in the recipe makes it easy to make and guarantees a good cake. This is a recipe that you will want to share with all your family and friends.
This pumpkin roll cake makes a great addition to any party. If you tried this recipe, please share your experience making it.
Please comment if you enjoyed this article or have any remarks regarding this recipe!
Karen is a passionate pastry chef who loves to create delicious baked goods. She has been in the culinary arts for over 10 years, honing her skills and perfecting her craft. Karen is known for her creativity and attention to detail, creating unique desserts that bring a smile to everyone’s face. She is always looking for ways to challenge herself and come up with new recipes that are both tasty and visually appealing. Karen loves to experiment with different flavors and textures, and she is committed to providing the highest quality of products to her customers.
