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How to Make a Walnut Pumpkin Cake Roll with Ricotta Cream

Name: How to Make a Walnut Pumpkin Cake Roll with Ricotta Cream
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: ½ tsp ground cloves; ½ tsp ground cinnamon; ¼ tsp salt; ½ tsp baking soda; ½ tsp baking powder; ¾ cup all-purpose flour, (unbleached); 3 large eggs; 1 cup sugar; ⅔ cup pumpkin pie mix; ½ cup walnuts, (chopped); 2 cups ricotta cheese, (or farmer's cheese); 1 cup powdered sugar, ( + 3 Tbsp for the top); ½ tsp vanilla; 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, (softened)

ByMarina Rizhkov Posted onSeptember 28, 2023September 28, 2023

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A pumpkin roll is a fall favorite in our home. The Pumpkin Cake Roll recipe packs pumpkin goodness, a sweet, smooth ricotta cream, and bakes to perfection. Deliciously spiced, moist, and decadent – this pumpkin roll recipe will have you craving for more.

pumpkin-cake-roll-on-a-white-board-with-a-slice-on-the-side

This beautiful pumpkin roll is the perfect showstopper for any of your parties. Or the perfect Sunday afternoon treat. It’s amazing any time of the day, any day of the week honestly. No occasions required.

If you’ve never baked a jelly roll cake, I know exactly what you’re thinking: it’s way too hard. I get that.

Those perfectly pictured rolls you see on Pinterest just seem so intimidating. But I promise you, it’s surprisingly easy! You’ll be a cake-rolling machine in no time.

Table of Contents

Key Ingredients

Walnut pumpkin cake roll ingredients- powdered sugar, ricotta, vanilla, butter, walnuts, spices, baking soda, eggs, milk, sugar, and pumpkin pie mix.

ground cloves – can be found in the spice aisle
ground cinnamon – gives a great autumn taste, don’t leave it out!
salt- sea salt.
baking soda
baking powder
all-purpose flour
eggs- large.
sugar- fine cane sugar.
pumpkin pie mix- can be found an most local grocery stores.
Walnuts- make sure they are not over dated.

What you’ll need to make the cream

ricotta cheese- can also be substituted for farmer’s cheese.
powdered sugar- or confectioner’s sugar
Vanilla- liquid form, but can also be the powder form.
unsalted butter- make sure it’s unsalted.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

How to make a Walnut Pumpkin Cake Roll with Ricotta Cream

Step 1: Prepare the oven

Preheat the oven to 350F. Prepare a baking sheet with lined parchment paper.

Step 2: Start with the dry ingredients

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl: ground cloves, ground cinnamon, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and flour. Set aside.

Step 3: Then the wet ingredients

In a mixer, beat together eggs with sugar until well beaten and almost a white color. Add in ⅔ cup of pumpkin pie mix.

Step 4: Combine ingredients together

Then stir in the dry ingredients.

pumpkin cake roll cake batter in a silver bowl.

Step 5: Prepare to bake

Pour the cake batter on to the baking sheet with lined parchment paper.

dough for pumpkin cake roll unbaked with parchment paper and a baking tray.

Step 6: Add the nuts

Chop walnuts and sprinkle onto the batter.

dough or pumpkin cake roll unbaked with parchment paper and a baking tray.

Step 7: Bake

Bake for 15 minutes, or until it’s a darker brown color.

pumpkin cake roll dough baked with parchment paper and a baking tray.

Step 8: Roll it fast!

As soon as you take it out of the oven, roll it with the parchment paper. Then, Unroll it, take off the parchment paper, and roll it back again. Let it cool down completely before spreading the cream.

pumpkin cake roll dough baked rolled up in parchment paper.

Step 9: Prepare the Cream

With a hand mixer beat together ricotta cheese, confectioner’s sugar, and vanilla for a minute. Add in the unsalted butter, then beat for another minute.

ricotta cream or pumpkin cake roll in a clear bowl with hand mixer.

Step 10: Let it cool

After the roll has cooled down, unroll it and spread the cream inside.

pumpkin roll with ricotta cream on a wooden board with a spatula.

Step 11: Finishing touches

Roll it back up and sift powdered sugar on top (optional)

Expert Tips

Use a good quality jelly roll pan. It makes all the difference. You’ll be able to bake your thin cake and plop it out easily.
Roll the cake right out of the oven. This is a very important step! Remove your cake from the pan and roll it with the parchment paper it’s lined with. I like to then unroll it, remove the parchment paper, and roll it again.
Let the cake cool completely. You don’t want to spread your cream on a warm cake. Stick it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.
Unroll. Spread. Roll. Devour. Once your cake has cooled down, unroll it and generously spread your cream filling. Roll it back up, sprinkle it with some powdered sugar, and voila!

Recipe FAQs

Can I skip the walnuts in the ingredient list for a nut-free version?

Yes, if you have a nut allergy, you can omit the walnuts. This fall dessert will still be delicious.

Can I add other spices for more flavor?

Absolutely, feel free to experiment with spices like nutmeg, pumpkin spice, or cloves for added seasonal flavors.

Can I use a different type of cheese for the cream?

While ricotta works best for this recipe, cream cheese can be a suitable alternative.

pumpkin-cake-roll-sliced-on-parchment-paper-and-a-wooden-board-with-a-knife

Enjoy these seasonal pumpkin recipes

You can make a Healthy Pumpkin Pie Smoothie right at home. It’s a sweet snack in the fall.
A holiday favorite, my family always enjoys these Pumpkin Muffins with Sweet Vanilla Glaze.

More Dessert Recipes Using Walnuts

If you tried this Walnut Pumpkin Cake Roll with Ricotta Cream or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and leave your 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!

Marina Rizhkov

I’m Marina, a Mother, Culinary Nutrition Expert, and Blogger. I am so glad you took the time to stop by and treat yourself to some of my recipes. My goal is to give you the knowledge and courage to get out of your comfort cooking zone and cook from scratch! You’ll find a bunch of pictures, nutritional information, and step-by-step instructions to help you achieve tasty homemade meals.