Add this mini Pumpkin Roll Cake with Chocolate Filling to your holiday dessert menu! This is an easy, small batch recipe for a tender pumpkin cake rolled with chocolate cream cheese filling and sprinkled with powdered sugar. A delicious dessert for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, Christmas, or any time in between!
Prep Time20 minutesmins
Cook Time8 minutesmins
Chill30 minutesmins
Total Time58 minutesmins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chocolate Cream Cheese Filling, Holiday Dessert, Mini Cake, Pumpkin Roll, Small Batch
Preheat oven to 375F degrees and adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Line the quarter baking sheet with parchment paper so that it sticks up at least an inch on all sides of the baking sheet. To make sure the paper sits on the bottom of the baking sheet, fold the paper in the corners. Lightly grease the paper.
Cake
In a small mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
In a medium mixing bowl, add the eggs and sugar. Using a hand held mixer on medium-high speed, beat the eggs until they are light, pale yellow, and the consistency of soft whipped cream. This make take 5 to 10 minutes. Add the pumpkin puree and vanilla extract and beat on medium-low speed until just combined.
Sprinkle 1/3 of the dry ingredients over the eggs. Using a spatula, gently fold the dry ingredients until no dry streaks remain. Repeat this two more times.
Pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking sheet. Gently smooth out with the spatula - making sure to get the batter even and into the corners.
Bake the cake for 8 to 10 minutes - a toothpick inserted in the middle should come out clean. The cake will be spongy and springy when gently touched with your finger. Do not overbake the cake!
Cool the cake in the pan set on a wire cooling rack for about 2 minutes. Then, use the parchment paper to carefully lift the cake out of the pan. The cake should still be warm - almost hot - but not too hot to handle.
Rolling the cake - while the cake is warm and with the parchment paper still on it - start rolling the cake at the shorter end. Set the cake roll on the wire cooling rack to cool completely. The cake needs to be rolled while it is warm so it rolls, un-rolls, and re-rolls without cracking.
Chocolate Cream Cheese Filling
While the cake is cooling, make the filling.
In a medium mixing bowl, add the cream cheese and butter. Using a hand held mixer beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Sprinkle the cocoa powder, salt, and vanilla extract over the cream mixture and continue to beat on medium speed until fully incorporated.
Turn the mixer on low and start adding the powdered sugar. I recommend adding a bit at a time so you don't spray powered sugar everywhere Beat the filling until it is smooth. Taste test after adding the 3/4 cup of powdered sugar and add more powered sugar a tablespoon at a time for a sweeter filling.
Assembling the Cake
Once the cake is cooled, gently un-roll it. Using an offset spatula or small spatula, spread the filling evenly onto the cake - leaving about 1/4 of an inch unfrosted around all of the edges of the cake.
Re-rolling the cake - re-roll the cake, and this time gently peel the parchment paper off the cake as you roll it. Wrap the filled and rolled cake in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes, or until ready to serve.
Dust the cake roll with powdered sugar (optional) before slicing and serving. I recommend refrigerating any leftovers because of the cream cheese in the filling. Enjoy!
Notes
Pumpkin – Depending on the brand, canned pumpkin can have different names, but is the same thing: Pumpkin Puree, Pure Pumpkin, 100% Pumpkin, Organic Pure Pumpkin. Just be sure it is not Pumpkin Pie Filling.
Leftover Pumpkin - You will have leftover pumpkin, regardless of the size can you use. Check out my other pumpkin recipes to make another batch of pumpkin treats!
Chocolate Filling - Sweeten the chocolate filling to taste. If you prefer a sweeter filling, you can add more powdered sugar a tablespoon at a time.