This Eggless Pumpkin Roll recipe has a soft and tender eggless pumpkin cake filled with silky cream cheese frosting. A fall dessert that is perfect for your Thanksgiving table but delicious all year round! The recipe includes step-by-step photos and lots of tips.
Egg-Free Pumpkin Roll Recipe Highlights
Roll cakes are a bit intimidating dessert, this is especially true when you cannot use eggs, but you can see in the step-by-step photos I’ve shared that this Eggless Pumpkin Roll recipe is really easy to make and turns out great every time.
The trick is just to use the proper size pan and read the recipe carefully before you get started! I have included lots of tips and tricks for you to succeed.
This Eggless Pumpkin Roll Cake is full of warm autumn flavor! It is the perfect dessert to share with family or guests, to take to a gathering, or to give as a yummy gift.
Let’s get baking!
Eggless Pumpkin Roll Ingredients Notes & Substitutions
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).
For the Cake:
- All-purpose flour: Standard all-purpose flour works best here; skip the cake flour, bread flour, and wheat flour. Make sure to measure accurately; a kitchen scale is the best way to measure your ingredients.
- Baking powder & Baking soda: Make sure they’re not expired or too old. To avoid a chemical aftertaste, make sure your baking powder is labeled aluminum free. I usually use the Clabber Girl brand, and though the ingredients state aluminum, I’ve never noticed an aluminum aftertaste.
- Spices: You’ll need ground cinnamon and Pumpkin pie spice. Pumpkin pie spice is a blend of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice.
- Salt: I prefer kosher or sea salt. If you only have table salt handy, I recommend reducing the amount to half.
- Evaporated milk: You don’t have evaporated milk? No problem!! Check out my post about How to Make Evaporated Milk at home.
- Pumpkin puree: It must be pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. I use and recommend Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin
- Brown sugar: I use light brown sugar, but dark will also work for this recipe.
- Granulated sugar: Also known as caster sugar.
- Pure vanilla extract: For optimal flavor, reach for pure vanilla instead of imitation. Even better, try homemade vanilla extract! If you are looking for non-alcoholic vanilla flavoring, I recommend Simply Organic Vanilla Flavoring.
- Confectioners’ sugar: Regular confectioners’ sugar, also known as powdered sugar.
For Cream Cheese Filling:
- Cream cheese: Make sure you use the full-fat version that comes in blocks.
- Unsalted butter: I prefer to use unsalted butter, but if you only have salted butter handy, you can use it.
- Confectioners’ sugar: Regular confectioners’ sugar, also known as powdered sugar.
Overview: Eggless Pumpkin Roll Cake Recipe Step by Step Photo Tutorial
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).
Step 1 – Preheat The Oven and Prepare The Baking Pan
We want an extremely nonstick surface for this eggless cake roll so make sure you spray/grease it very well.
Step 2 – Make the Batter
Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Combine wet ingredients in another large mixing bowl. Stir in flour mixture into the wet and mix until combined.
Step 3 – Spread Batter Evenly into The Prepared Baking Sheet
Step 4 – Bake
Step 5 – Prepare the Rolling Towel
Sprinkle a thin kitchen towel with powdered sugar.
Step 6 – Roll it
Turn the cake onto a prepared towel. Remove the parchment paper.
Roll the cake, starting with the narrow end. Once rolled, cool on the wire rack.
Step 7 – Make the Filling
I used homemade cream cheese frosting, but feel free to use any frosting you like, homemade or store-bought.
Step 8 – Unroll Cake, Spread Filling Over Cake & Reroll Cake
Step 9 – Wrap In Plastic Wrap and Refrigerate
Step 10 – Serve
Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.
Quick Baking Tips
Measure the ingredients correctly. I highly recommend using a kitchen scale.
Use room temperature ingredients. They bind better and rise better.
Make sure to spray/grease your baking pan very well, so the cake does not stick.
Preheat the oven for at least 15 minutes before getting started to give it plenty of time to reach the ideal recipe temperature.
Don’t overmix the batter. Mix just until you’ve evenly distributed the ingredients throughout the batter.
Bake the batter as soon as it is ready.
Don’t open the oven door until your baked good has set. Leave the oven closed until the minimum time is stated in the recipe.
Every oven is different, so baking times must always be taken with a grain of salt. Oven thermostats can be wildly off, and that will all affect baking time, so keep an eye on yours.
It’s important to work quickly once the cake comes out of the oven. You want to get it rolled while it’s still hot to minimize the chances of cracking. The longer you leave it to sit, the harder it will be to roll it.
Don’t worry about the edges looking perfect, you can trim the log ends before serving.
Substitutions & Additions
GLUTEN-FREE: Substitute all-purpose flour for 1-to-1 Gluten-Free flour. This is my favorite brand. Just be sure to stir the batter longer than normal to help give the baked goods proper structure.
DAIRY-FREE: Use dairy-free evaporated milk or make your own.
NUTS: You can add 1 cup of chopped walnuts or pecan to the batter if you desire.
EVAPORATED MILK: I haven’t tested this recipe without evaporated milk, so I cannot suggest a substitute. If you don’t have evaporated milk available, you can make your own at home.
Storing & Freezing Instructions
STORE: The cake should be stored in the refrigerator. For a more tender and fluffy texture, you can let the slices rest for 15 – 20 minutes at room temperature before serving.
FREEZE: Wrap the roll in parchment paper and then with plastic wrap. Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Frequently Asked Questions
I haven’t tested this recipe without evaporated milk, so I cannot suggest a substitute. If you don’t have evaporated milk available, you can make your own at home. Check out my How to Make Evaporated Milk post.
The trick to rolling the cake without breaking it It’s to work quickly once the cake comes out of the oven. You want to get it rolled while it’s still hot to minimize the chances of cracking. The longer you leave it to sit, the harder it will be to roll it.
Yes, the pumpkin cake roll can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
More Egg-Free Pumpkin Recipes You’ll Love!
- Eggless Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Easy Eggless Pumpkin Pie
- Easy Pumpkin Pancakes (Egg-Free & Dairy-Free)
- Eggless Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
- Eggless Pumpkin Bread Recipe
- Best Eggless Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins
- Eggless Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Pumpkin Pie Milkshake Shots
- Browse more recipes…
Recipe Card 📖
Eggless Pumpkin Roll
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup (105 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup + 4 teaspoons (100 ml) evaporated milk
- 2/3 cup + 3 tablespoons (200 g) canned pure pumpkin pure
- 1/2 cup (100 g) brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (60 g) confectioners’ sugar (for rolling) (for rolling)
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 oz (226 g) full fat cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup (1 stick; 115 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 1/2 cups (300 g) confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Important
Don’t forget to check out the step-by-step photos above in the post—they’ll guide you through the process and make everything super clear!
Instructions
MAKE THE CAKE:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Spray a 10×15-inch (25 cm x 38 cm approx.) baking pan with nonstick spray so the parchment paper sticks. Then line it with parchment. Finally, spray or grease the parchment paper too. We want an extremely nonstick surface for this eggless cake roll.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the evaporated milk, pumpkin puree, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla together until combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until combined.
- Spread batter evenly into prepared pan. Make sure the batter is level and reaches the corners. Bake for 15 – 17 minutes or until the cake springs back when you poke it with a finger.
- Meanwhile, the cake is baking, lay a clean, thin, cotton kitchen towel flat on the counter. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of confectioners’ sugar.
ROLL THE CAKE:
- When the cake is ready, remove the cake from the oven and immediately run a knife around the edges to loosen. Next, invert the cake onto the powdered sugar-dusted towel. Carefully peel off the parchment paper and discard.
- Starting with the narrow end of the cake, gently roll up the cake with the towel to form a log. Place the cake, seam side down on a wire rack, and let cool completely in the towel, about 2 hours.
- MAKE THE FROSTING:
- In a large bowl, beat with an electric mixer the cream cheese for 1 minute on high speed until completely smooth and creamy. Beat in the butter until combined. Add the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla and beat on medium-high speed until combined and creamy.
UNROLL, FILL & RE-ROLL:
- Very gently and slowly unroll the cooled cake.
- Spread frosting evenly on top, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around the cake.
- Gently and slowly, re-roll the cake without the towel.
- Cover the roll with plastic wrap. Transfer it, seam side down, to a serving platter. Chill at least 2 hours or up to overnight before slicing and serving—dust with more confectioners’ sugar just before serving, if desired.
- Measure the ingredients correctly. I highly recommend using a kitchen scale.
- Use room temperature ingredients. They bind better and rise better.
- Make sure to spray/grease your baking pan very well so the cake does not stick.
- Preheat the oven for at least 15 minutes before getting started to give it plenty of time to reach the ideal recipe temperature.
- Don’t overmix the batter. Mix just until you’ve evenly distributed the ingredients throughout the batter.
- Bake the batter as soon as it is ready.
- Don’t open the oven door until your baked good has set. Leave the oven closed until the minimum time is stated in the recipe.
- Every oven is different, so baking times must always be taken with a grain of salt. Oven thermostats can be wildly off, and that will all affect baking time, so keep an eye on yours.
- It’s important to work quickly once the cake comes out of the oven. You want to get it rolled while it’s still hot to minimize the chances of cracking. The longer you leave it to sit, the harder it will be to roll it.
- Don’t worry about the edges looking perfect; you can trim the log’s ends before serving.
I appreciate your feedback, and it helps others, too!
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Eggless Baking Frequently Asked Questions
You’ve asked, and I’ve answered! Read on for a handful of answers to the most frequently asked questions about eggless baking.
This recipe was originally published on October 2021. The recipe remains the same, but more notes, tips, photos, and information have been added to the post in September 2022 to make it as helpful as possible!
I’m so bummed. My cake is gummy and cracked. I don’t think there is any way I can salvage it at this point. I’m so sorry this did not work for me. Oh well…..
Hello Cynthia! I’m so sorry to hear that your cake didn’t not work for you. Baking can sometimes be a little tricky, especially with egg-free recipes, and I totally understand your frustration. If you’d like, I can help troubleshoot what might have gone wrong — sometimes a small tweak in the ingredients or technique can make all the difference! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to give it another go. I’m here to help!
Everyone loved it! Although I can’t seem to get the cake to unroll without cracking…This was only my third time making a roll cake so I will keep trying until I get it right!
Hello Lida! I’m so glad everyone loved it! 🎉 Roll cakes can be a little tricky, but you’re doing great! Cracking is totally normal, especially in the beginning, and you’ll get the hang of it with practice. One tip that might help: try unrolling it very gently and go slow – sometimes that helps keep things intact. Keep going, and I have no doubt you’ll master it in no time! 😊 Thanks so much for sharing your experience!
Is there anything you can substitute for the pumpkin? I can’t eat pumpkin. I love cake rolls and would love to make an eggless one!
Hello Jennifer! Can you eat sweet potato? Sweet potato puree could be a good substitute (https://amzn.to/3RtN3iR) I hope this help!
Hello Jennifer! Can you eat sweet potatoes. Sweet Potato puree could be a good substitute ( aff – https://amzn.to/3RtN3iR). Thanks for your interest in my recipe. Please come back and let me know how you like it =)
I will try that, thanks!
Hello Oriana,
Finally, a cake roll recipe! This one’s seems like another yummy one – and perfectly timed for the holiday season! We will certainly try this soon. Also, looking forward to other flavors – specifically, eggless chocolate cake roll. Hope to see the chocolate version and others soon.
Thanks
Andy.
Hello Andy! the chocolate version is on my to-do list =) Hope you give this recipe a try soon….it’s delish!