Gluten-Free Pumpkin Roll

Name: Gluten Free Pumpkin Roll Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Ingredients: 3/4 cup gluten free flour (we used Cup4Cup multipurpose flour); 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (✅); 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (✅); 1/2 teaspoon baking soda (✅); 1/2 teaspoon salt; 3 large eggs, room temperature; 1 cup sugar; 2/3 cup pumpkin puree; 1 teaspoon vanilla (✅); 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature (✅); 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar, divided; 6 tablespoons butter, room temperature; 1 teaspoon vanilla (✅)

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Our gluten-free pumpkin roll is a fall favorite. We always love Libbys pumpkin roll recipe and wanted to develop a gluten-free version so that we could continue to enjoy this delicious fall treat. Moist pumpkin cake is rolled with a delicious cream cheese filling in the middle to create the perfect dessert for the holiday season! Made with canned pumpkin, a gluten-free flour blend, and spices, this pumpkin log makes up to 8 servings.

slice of pumpkin roll on serving plate with fork

This recipe is tested with Cup4Cup gluten-free multipurpose flour blend. Containing xanthan gum, it has been omitted as an ingredient on our recipe card. If baking with a flour blend without xanthan gum, follow the directions on the package to add accordingly.

Pumpkin roll has been a staple on our table for many years along with Christmas Wreath Bundt Cake, Gluten-Free Apple Cake, Gluten-Free Apple Cider Donuts and Christmas Story Fudge. All recipes we look forward to making for our guests around the holidays.

Ingredients

3/4 cup gluten free flour
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice check for gluten free
1/2 teaspoon baking powder check for gluten free
1/2 teaspoon baking soda check for gluten free
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/4 cup powdered sugar, divided
6 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla

dry ingredients added to wet ingredients in blender

How To Make A Pumpkin Roll

Preheat the oven to 375°F then line the jelly pan with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray.

Label Check: The majority of non-stick cooking sprays are gluten-free; however, flour can be added as an extra measure to prevent sticking.

Blend the dry ingredients

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt until combined.

Blend the wet ingredients

Add the eggs, sugar, pumpkin, and vanilla to the blender. Puree until smooth, about 1 minute. If you don’t own a blender, these ingredients can be mixed with a Kitchenaid mixer, hand mixer or simply whisked together in a mixing bowl.

Add the dry ingredients slowly to the blender, secure the lid then pulse until blended, scraping the sides if needed.

pumpkin roll batter spread with spatula on a parchment lined baking sheet

pumpkin roll batter spread on baking sheet

Pour into the jelly roll pan

Pour the batter into the prepared parchment-lined jelly roll pan and spread it evenly across the pan with a spatula.

Prep a kitchen towel with powdered sugar

Sprinkle a kitchen towel with 1/4 cup of powdered sugar and set aside.

Bake

Bake the cake for 13-15 minutes then remove it from the oven and turn it over onto the prepared towel with sugar. The parchment paper can be removed from the cake and discarded.

Gently roll the cake

Starting on one of the narrower ends, gently roll the cake in the towel slowly. Then, place onto the wire rack to cool.

sheet pan with pumpkin roll dumped on flour coated towel

Cream Cheese Filling

While the cake is baking, you can make the cream cheese filling. Any time we need a delicious filling, this cream cheese mixture is our go-to. It makes the perfect topping for cake, cookies and muffins.
In a medium-sized bowl blend together cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla until smooth. Set aside until the cake is completely cooled.
Once cooled, gently unroll the cake. Spread the cream cheese icing onto the cake then roll the cake back up and carefully place it onto plastic wrap. Roll tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour before slicing.

This pumpkin log is the ideal dessert recipe to make ahead as it can be stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours before slicing and serving.

cream cheese frosting ingredients in mixing bowl

dollops of cream cheese frosting placed in center of pumpkin cake

How to prevent the cake from cracking?

Roll warm. Roll the log as soon as it is removed from the oven as the heat will help keep the cake moist to prevent cracking.
Roll but not too tight. Rolling the log too tight will cause cracking throughout the roll.
Don’t overbake. Overbaking will cause the cake to be more stiff and crumbly.

What to do if the cake cracks?

There is some level of trial and error when it comes to making a pumpkin roll. This recipe was tested with Cup4Cup flour baked in a ccc. If opting for a different flour blend or baking pan and the cake does crack, here are a few suggestions:

Patch the cracks with cream cheese filling then sprinkle with cinnamon or powdered sugar.
Crumble the cake then layer with the cream cheese filling in a trifle bowl or soufflé cups.
Cool and crumble on top of vanilla ice cream for a seasonal sundae.

pumpkin cake rolled with cream cheese frosting inside

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your eggs and cream cheese are at room temperature. This helps with even mixing and a smoother texture.

Sift Dry Ingredients: Before whisking the dry ingredients, it’s a good idea to sift them. This helps remove any lumps and ensures even distribution of the leavening agents.

Measure Accurately: Use precise measurements for your ingredients, especially for baking powder, baking soda, and sugar, as they can greatly affect the texture and rise of the cake.

Gentle Rolling: When rolling the cake in the kitchen towel, do it gently and with care. Use the towel to guide the cake into a roll, but don’t press too hard, as this can cause cracking.

Chill Before Slicing: Refrigerating the rolled cake for at least 1 hour before slicing helps it hold its shape and makes it easier to cut clean, attractive slices.

Slice with a Sharp Knife: Use a sharp knife to slice the pumpkin roll for clean, neat cuts. Wiping the knife with a damp cloth between slices can help achieve cleaner cuts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the size of the pan make a difference?

It does since different size pans can cause the cake to become too thin or thick to roll. Using a 15” x 10” jelly roll pan creates the desired thickness to easily roll the cake into a log.

Can you freeze pumpkin roll?

Unfortunately, we have not frozen this recipe. If planning to freeze, we recommend trying to freeze leftovers as this recipe is best served fresh after baking.

Can this recipe be made dairy-free?

Making a few simple ingredient swaps to the cream cheese filling will make this recipe dairy-free. Replace the cream cheese with 8 ounces of dairy free cream cheese and the butter with 6 tablespoons of a dairy free butter alternative such as vegan butter or vegetable shortening.

Storage Instructions

To store your pumpkin roll, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out and absorbing odors from the refrigerator. Store it in the refrigerator to keep it fresh for an extended period, and make sure it’s on a flat surface to maintain its shape. If you plan to store it for more than a few days, you can also place the wrapped roll in an airtight container to provide an extra layer of protection. When you’re ready to enjoy, simply unwrap the roll, slice it with a sharp knife, and savor the delicious flavors. Properly stored, your pumpkin roll should stay fresh for up to a week in the refrigerator.

More Pumpkin Recipes

There are so many possibilities with it comes to baking and cooking with canned pumpkin. From savory and sweet to gluten-free and non-gluten-free, there are recipes for everyone. Here are a few suggestions to inspire you to use pumpkin this season and beyond.

CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.

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