Fluffy Spiced Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting Swirls

Fluffy Spiced Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting Swirls brings me right back to an early November afternoon in New York City, when the scent of pumpkin spice seemed to drift through open bakery doors on a crisp sidewalk. Walking past a café on the Upper East Side, I saw a pumpkin roll — steam rising softly as someone lifted a slice. It looked homey but festive all at once. I knew I needed to recreate that moment in my own kitchen: a spiced pumpkin sponge, rolled with cream cheese frosting swirls, soft, tender, and beautiful to slice into.

This recipe delivers that cozy autumn feel in a show-stopping roll cake you can slice for guests or serve at holiday coffee hour. Let’s roll it up!

Thanks for being here. I hope these recipes bring warmth to your kitchen and a little joy to your day.

Table of Contents

Why This Fluffy Spiced Pumpkin Roll Stands Out

The appeal of a roll cake with autumn spices

Pumpkin roll cakes combine two magic elements: light sponge cake and rich cream cheese filling. When you infuse the cake with pumpkin puree and warm spices like cinnamon and pumpkin spice blend, you get flavor that screams fall — without requiring heavy effort. The fluffy texture makes every bite melt in your mouth.

Cream cheese frosting swirl adds elegance to simple ingredients

This isn’t just a plain sheet-cake roll. The frosting swirl creates ribbons of tangy-sweet cream cheese against the soft pumpkin sponge, giving each slice a beautiful texture and flavor contrast. It’s “simple ingredients meets elegant presentation.”

Ingredients for Fluffy Spiced Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting Swirls

Here’s what you’ll need (yields about 12 slices):

Cake Sponge:

• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ⅔ cup canned pumpkin puree

Cream Cheese Frosting Filling:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 4 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Make the Fluffy Spiced Pumpkin Roll

Preparing the cake sponge

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a 15 × 21-inch baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper, leaving about 1 inch of overhang on all sides for easier lifting.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, pumpkin spice blend.
3. In another bowl, whisk eggs, granulated sugar, pumpkin puree, and vanilla until smooth and slightly thickened.
4. Gradually fold the dry mixture into the wet mixture until just combined — avoid overmixing, or the sponge might lose rise.
5. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Use a spatula to smooth it into corners and across the surface.

Baking, rolling, and frosting

6. Bake for about 11–13 minutes, or until the cake springs back when gently pressed and looks set but still soft.
7. While cake bakes, lay out a clean tea towel on your counter. Dust generously with powdered sugar.
8. Once baked, immediately lift the cake out by the parchment overhang. Invert it onto the sugared towel, remove the parchment, then roll the cake + towel together into a tight log (starting from one short end). Let it sit rolled while cooling completely, for about 90 minutes.
9. Meanwhile, prepare the filling: beat softened cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and powdered sugar, and beat until smooth.
10. After the cake has cooled fully (still in the roll shape), gently unroll it. Spread the cream cheese filling evenly over the surface.
11. Reroll tightly (without the towel inside). Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before slicing.
12. Before serving, dust the top lightly with powdered sugar for presentation. Slice into 12 pieces to serve.

For more seasonal dessert inspiration, see our Modern Gingerbread Cake Loaf – Moist & Fragrant .

Tips & Common Mistakes for Perfect Pumpkin Roll

Avoiding cracks & ensuring fluffiness

• Don’t over-bake: a sponge that’s too dry cracks when you roll it. Watch closely around the 11-minute mark.
• Roll while warm: that first roll (cake + tea towel) must be done while cake is warm so it sets in that shape while cooling.
• Cool completely before unrolling & frosting — patience pays. If you unwrap too early, the cake may crack or the frosting swirl will shift. Chowhound
• Even batter thickness: ensure the sponge is evenly spread, so that no part is too thick vs too thin or it could overcook edges.

Adjusting to pan size or oven variance

• If your oven runs hot, check a minute early. If it browns too fast, tent with foil lightly.
• Make sure your baking sheet is rimmed and fits your oven; if it’s smaller, thickness may vary slightly.
• For silkier texture, use room-temperature eggs and cream cheese.

Variations & Customization Ideas for Fluffy Spiced Pumpkin Roll

• Add a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom to the cake batter for extra warmth.
• Swap half of the sugar for brown sugar for richer flavor.
• Use light version cream cheese or lower-fat butter to reduce richness slightly.
• If you want gluten-free, try a trusted 1:1 gluten-free flour in place of the all-purpose (but you’ll need to test bake time slightly).
• Add finely chopped pecans or walnuts sprinkled over the filling before re-rolling for texture.

Internal link suggestion: check our Fall Baking Collection for more cozy roll cakes and spiced desserts.

Serving Suggestions, Storage & Make-Ahead Advice

• Serve chilled or at cool room temperature. The frosting keeps it moist.
• Store leftover slices in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• For a make-ahead option, you can bake the sponge the night before and keep it rolled (wrapped tightly), then prepare the filling and unwrap to frost on serving day.
• You can slice and freeze single pieces individually, wrap in plastic & foil. Thaw in fridge overnight.

Nutrition & Health Notes

Here is an estimated nutrition per slice (12 slices total):
Calories: ~ 210 kcal per slice
Fat: moderate (from butter & cream cheese), carbs from sugar & flour
Protein: small amount (from eggs & cream cheese)
You can reduce sugar slightly or use lighter butter or light cream cheese if desired for lower calories.

FAQs

Print

Conclusion & Internal Link

Fluffy Spiced Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting Swirls is your ideal autumn dessert — soft, spiced, elegant, and just sweet enough without being heavy. For more seasonal dessert inspiration, see our Holiday & Fall Baking .