Classic Chocolate Fudge ~ recipe cook-off (2024)

Classic Pumpkin Cake Roll with Cream Cheese Filling is classic for a reason ~ and one bite is all you need to remember why it's so loved.

If you are a frequent reader of The Kitchen is My Playground, you know I'm cooking my way through my family's cookbook ~ slowly, but surely. This week I tackled a recipe that scared me ~ the classic Pumpkin Cake Roll with Cream Cheese Filling my Mom used to make when I was growing up.

I'm so happy to say that I can report success with this one!

Because ... truly ... I had concerns.

Alas, I am scared no more. While this creation is a bit nerve-wracking the first time through, the beautiful and absolutely scrumptious result is worth the tiny bit of wear-and-tearon the nerves.

After my afternoon adventure with this cake, which included three in-process phone calls to my Mom, I can now walk you through its creation step-by-step. Complete with tips from Mom, of course. Follow Mom's advice, and you'll be cranking out a gorgeous Pumpkin Cake Roll, too!

Start by lining a jelly roll pan with waxed paper. To ensure the baked cake slides out of the pan intact, spray the pan with non-stick cooking spray, add the waxed paper, and then spray with non-stick cooking spray again. MOM TIP #1: Mom says this is very important. Do not skip this step.

Or you'll be sad later.

Next whip up the cake batter, being sure to beat the eggs for the full 5 minutes called for in the recipe. This incorporates air into the batter and creates a light, springy cake. You'll like it this way, I promise.

Spread the batter into your prepared jelly roll pan, like so ...

... and sprinkle evenly with the finely chopped walnuts.

Bake up the cake.

And now comes nerve-wracking part #1 ... turning the cake out of the pan. This part made me sooooooo nervous. To get ready for this nail-biter step, spread a towel out on your counter and sprinkle it generously with powdered sugar. Okay, now take about three deep breaths.

Takeyour cake out of the oven ... takea few moredeep breaths ... and immediately flip your pan over onto your powder-sugared towel. Say a little prayer that when you lift up the pan, you'll have a cake sitting there neatly separated from the pan.

Now, go ahead -- lift up the pan. Keep saying your prayer ... cross your fingers ... whatever you do ... until you see ...

... THIS!! A cake ~ neatly out of the pan in one piece. I was so excited that mine came out of the pan intact.

Time now to peel off the waxed paper. I had to do a little coaxing with mine. I very gently worked on the corners first, loosening them carefully. Next, I got all the edges loosened ...

... and after that, the rest of the waxed paper peeled up really easily.

Now comes nerve-wracking part #2 ... rolling up the warm cake. TIP FROM MOM #2: Roll it up tightly, gently, and slowly.

Towel-and-all, gently roll the cake up into a log, keeping it as tight as you can. Then set it aside to cool to room temperature.

And now we're onto nerve-wracking part #3 ... unrolling the cooled cake.

Once your cake is cooled, very gently unroll it. TIP FROM MOM #3: Unroll very slowly!! To quote Mom, "This thing will crack on you."

And, yep, mine sure did. See those three or so big cracks? Moving slowly helps avoid this. I moved slowly, but still couldn't avoida fewcracks. I just gently squished the cake back together, and 'glued'the cracksup with cream cheese filling.

Spread the cream cheese filling evenly over the unrolled cake. And, now, roll your Pumpkin Cake Roll back up! Just as before, keep it tight and roll slowly. Oh, and this time, leave the towel out of the cake roll. :-)

Success! Isn't it gorgeous?

Transfer this beauty to a serving platter and chill. The cake that is. And you, too. You deserve a little chillin' after all your hard work.

After the Pumpkin Cake Roll with Cream Cheese Filling has chilled, serve yourself up a big slice and enjoy.

And, WOW, is this ever good! Totally worth the frayed nerves. Thanks for the coaching, Mom!

Thank you for stopping by The Kitchen is My Playground. We'd love to have you back soon!

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