Best Pumpkin Roll Recipe

When I was at University, I had a roommate who gave me her pumpkin roll recipe…I loved it!!! Several times I made it and while it was good, something was off about it. Eventually, I figured out that I had written “tbsp” instead of “tsp” for baking soda… oops 😉

Now that that problem has been solved, I bring you the perfect pumpkin roll recipe! It’s not just me who loves it- we have had bidding wars at church dessert auctions over this thing. Even my husband (who doesn’t like pumpkin) loves it. People are always asking me for it, so I thought it would be an appropriate thing to share with you as we enter this Autumn season. If you’re looking for more delicious fall pumpkin recipes, check out these soft pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!

Creating the Pumpkin Roll

Here is a visual tutorial of how to make these (see the bottom of post for the recipe).

First, gather all your ingredients (look at these delicious ingredients!)

Mix together the ingredients for the roll in a medium bowl using a whisk or electric beaters.

This is the grease & wax part (wax paper first, then grease). I crease the wax paper around the edges of a 10″ X 15″ Jelly roll pan so that it stays in place better, like this:

(which helps the shape of the cake-ish part of the roll)… also, grease it really really well (it’s not cool when the cake won’t come off of the wax paper).

Now pour your mixture into the pan & smooth it out so that it fills the pan like so:

…and you’re ready for baking. Keep an eye on it near the end of the baking time- you want it a bit brown- if it turns black… you’ve gone too far!

Flipping Your Pumpkin Roll

Once you’ve got it out of the oven, you’re at the flip stage. I usually put the pan down first, then a tea towel, then an upside down pan. Grab hold of the whole thing (with oven mitts on!) and flip it over onto the cool tray.

READER TIP! Dust your tea towel with powdered sugar before you flip it, to help the cake to not stick to the towel.

Congratulations, you pulled off the flip! (are you still with me?) I’ve now removed the pan I cooked it in, and we’re ready to remove the wax paper.

Carefully pull the wax paper away- you really don’t want your cake to stick to the wax paper or start to come apart- this part is really important (that’s why I wanted you to grease your wax paper really well).

Next, you’re going to roll up the end of your tea towel (as shown above) and then continue rolling- with the cake and the tea towel. Do this carefully- the cake can crack at this stage if you’re not gentle with it.

Leave your roll sitting like that for 10 minutes so that it’ll cool before you spread your filling in. You can mix your filling during this time.