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Pumpkin Roll

Rolling it up would be challenge enough, so we wanted a cake that didn’t require much dressing up. Here’s what we discovered:

Test Kitchen Discoveries

  • Bake the cake on top of a sheet of greased parchment paper to make it easier to remove it from the pan when it comes time to roll.
  • Soften the cream cheese at room temperature before you spread it onto the cake. Do not soften it in the microwave or the texture of the filling will be runny.
  • It’s not as hard as it might seem to roll a fully baked cake. While it’s still hot, using a fresh sheet of parchment paper, roll the cake into a log to train it into that shape and let it cool. Unroll the cake, spread the filling over the top and gently re-roll it back.
  • Use your favorite recipe for cream cheese frosting, or try our Fluffy Cheesecake Frosting recipe.

Pumpkin Roll

Makes an 11-inch log

The simple pumpkin sponge cake with Fluffy Cheesecake Frosting needs no more than a dusting of powdered sugar.

1 cup cake flour , sifted
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 
1/2 teaspoon baking soda 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
5 large eggs 
1 cup sugar 
1 cup canned pumpkin puree 
3 cups cream cheese frosting (use your own or see related recipe)
Confectioners' sugar  and store-bought spiced nuts, for garnish

FOR THE CAKE: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 18- by 13-inch rimmed baking sheet and line with greased parchment paper. Whisk flour, spice, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl; set aside. With electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat eggs and sugar until pale yellow and thick, 6 to 10 minutes. Add pumpkin and mix on low until incorporated. Fold in flour mixture until combined. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake until cake is firm and springs back when touched, about 15 minutes. Before cooling, run knife around edge of cake to loosen, and turn out onto clean sheet of parchment paper that has been dusted with confectioners' sugar. Gently peel off parchment attached to cake and discard. Roll cake and fresh parchment into log and cool completely, about 1 hour.

TO ASSEMBLE: Gently unroll cake and spread with frosting, leaving 1-inch border at edges. Re-roll cake snugly, leaving parchment behind. Wrap cake firmly in plastic wrap and chill completely, at least 1 hour or up to 2 days. Remove plastic, dust with confectioners' sugar, and garnish with spiced nuts.

RELATED LINKS

Tips & Techniques
Rolling Cakes

Recipes
Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting