This Sugared Pecan Maple Pumpkin Roll Recipe is a dream fall dessert if you happen to love maple syrup, sugared pecans and spiced pumpkin cake like I do. Such a pretty cake for the holiday table, make it with toasted pecans if you prefer.
Or skip the nuts altogether. This pumpkin roll is so moist and delicious. Perfectly spiced. The dreamy maple filling complements the pumpkin perfectly. And those sugared pecans…
(Need I say more?)
So one of the younger taste testers at my house devoured his pumpkin roll slice in record time today. Left a neat little pile of sugared pecans on his plate. Excuse me and WHAT?????
So I said, “What kind of a kid leaves a pile of sugared pecans on their plate?”
He says, “Oh, you didn’t tell me they were the sugared pecans. I thought they were just regular pecans.”
Guess I forgot to send the memo. Kids. Sigh.
I have a dear friend who makes pumpkin rolls in mass quantity at the holidays. Maybe ten or more. She wraps them well and freezes them. Later she adds a bow and gives them (frozen) as Christmas gifts.
Wish she lived a little closer, then I might get one! A pumpkin roll is a delicious, handmade gift to give or receive during the holidays, especially since they can be made ahead and frozen. It’s easy to make them in quantity since they bake for only 15 minutes.
There are just a few simple steps in this Sugared Pecan Maple Pumpkin Roll Recipe. (Not rocket science.) If you make it once, you’ll be a pro.
Bake cake in a parchment-lined jelly roll pan. Sprinkle powdered sugar on tin-foil, then turn the cake out on the foil. Peel off the parchment paper.
Roll it up (while still warm) in the foil.
When cool, unroll and spread with maple filling, then top with sugared or toasted pecans. Re-roll (without foil) and sprinkle top lightly with powdered sugar. Refrigerate.
Trim off both ends for a neat look to your amazing Sugared Pecan Maple Pumpkin Roll just before serving and garnish with a dollop of whipped dream and a dash of nutmeg if desired.
(Included below is a sugared pecan recipe that makes 2 pounds. You only need 1 cup of sugared pecans for this pumpkin roll recipe. Trust me: you’ll find many uses at the holidays for the extra sugared pecans. Snacking and gifting at the top of the list. The sugared pecan recipe is easy halved or quartered for smaller quantities.)
Sugared Pecan Maple Pumpkin Roll
Ingredients
Pumpkin Roll
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 3/4 cup self-rising flour
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 cup sugared or toasted chopped pecans (recipe below)
- maple filling recipe below
- powdered sugar
Maple Filling
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 teaspoon natural maple flavoring
Sugared Pecans
- 2 pounds shelled pecan halves
- 2 egg whites
- 2 teaspoons cold water
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions
Pumpkin Roll
- In a mixing bowl, beat eggs.
- Add sugar and lemon juice.
- Beat in self-rising flour
- Add cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and salt.
- Stir in canned pumpkin.
- Pour onto greased and floured or parchment lined jelly-roll pan.
- Bake at 375° for 15 minutes.
- Sprinkle tinfoil with powdered sugar and turn out pumpkin roll flat onto tinfoil.
- Roll tinfoil and cake together.
- Place in refrigerator to cool.
- Once cool, unroll pumpkin roll.
- Spread filling on one side.
- Sprinkle with sugared or toasted pecans.
- Re-roll pumpkin roll without the foil this time.
- Refrigerate.
- Just before serving, carefully trim a thin slice off each end. (Prettier this way and you get to sample!)
- Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream and a dash of nutmeg if desired.
Maple Filling
- In a separate mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter together 'til light and fluffy.
- Beat in powdered sugar and maple flavoring.
- Beat 'til smooth.
Sugared Pecans
- Place pecans in a large mixing bowl.
- Separately, froth egg whites and cold water together.
- Pour over pecans and mix thoroughly.
- Stir in remaining ingredients: sugar, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg.
- Transfer to a large baking or roasting pan.
- Bake at 225 degrees, uncovered for one and a half hours.
- Stir every thirty minutes.
- Cool, then store in an airtight container.
Notes
This recipe doubles and quadruples easily.
You may also like: Famous Brick Street Chocolate Cake
Manila Spoon (Abby) says
Oh, I will certainly not leave out the sugared pecans!!! This looks absolutely moist and scrumptious!!! Love a slice right now!
Christina @ Christina's Cucina says
I have to hurry up and make this with the sugared pecans before my daughter comes home! (allergic) It looks fabulous, Allie! No wonder your friend makes so many!
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says
Absolutely gorgeous! You’ll have to come teach me your rolling ways 😉 I want to tackle a cake roll!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
This dessert is stunning! I love pecans…and even better when they are sugared. Although…I think they would have a tough time making it into the cake. I tend to be a nibbler and before I know it, they are gone!
Jessica says
Ha, my husband probably would have done the exact same thing with the pecans! This looks really pretty, Allie. I’ve never tried a cake roll before, but I love that your friend freezes them for Christmas gifts. That’s perfect!!!
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
What a perfect dessert! Not surprisingly, I’ve been on a pumpkin kick lately, haha 🙂
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom says
Allie, you are KILLING me with this–I love the addition of sugared pecans! And I can never have enough pumpkin roll.
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
I so need to brave the cold and come live next door to you cos I sue would LOVE one of these pumpkin rolls, Allie! I so so so love that maple filling with the sugared pecans scattered through! Your taste tester has great taste – he won’t eat plain pecans but he will eat yours – smart chap too! 🙂
Hope you have a wonderful weekend and if you take next week off – I hope you have a wonderful thanksgiving too! xoxo
Karen @ On the Banks of Salt Creek says
Mmmmm. I made my first pumpkin roll a few weeks ago. It was a hit. Really easy and fun to make. Love that you can freeze it.
I like the idea of adding the sugared pecans.
Have a great weekend,
Karen
Aunt Pinkie says
Oh, Allie – it looks marvelous! Perfect for Thanksgiving!
Catherine says
Dear Allie, I needn’t any more convincing. This looks fantastic! …you have the cutest little taste-testers! I absolutely love roll cakes. This would be a hit at my holiday table. I’m saving this to try! Have a beautiful weekend my dear friend. I hope all is well. xoxo, Catherine
Julia says
Pumpkin rolls are the best. I love that you did this one with pecan and maple. I would love a piece of this with my coffee.
Carina says
Your taste-tester story gave me a good chuckle! But who can blame him? Sugared pecans do change things, don’t they. 🙂 … and a cream cheese filling. I am letting Santa know I would like one of these. This recipe looks amazing, Allie. Xo
Susie Mandel says
Your taste tester with the affinity for sugared pecans, as opposed to plain pecans, is hilarious. 😀
Tracy says
If the name of this dessert roll doesn’t tempt you then those pictures most certainly will!! This looks and sounds so good I will not be able to get this out of my head until I cave in and make it. What a great idea to make this pumpkin roll as a gift. Love your ideas Allie!
Tina Sneed says
Pumpkin rolls are stashed in the freezer; now I need to sugar some pecans! I made a gluten-free one thus evening. It looks great; I’ll let you know how it tastes!
Allie says
Ha ha. You recognized yourself. This, folks… is the Pumpkin Roll Freezer Queen herself! 🙂 Love ya Tina, can’t wait to hear how the gluten-free one turns out.
Laura says
Just a quick question how much canned pumpkin do you put in? I have looked at other pumkin roll recipes and they said 2/3 cup? It doesn’t say anywhere in this recipe… Unless I completely overlooked it!
Allie says
Laura, my apologies, it somehow got left out. You are correct, it IS 2/3 cup pumpkin. Thank you for letting me know and I sincerely hope you did not wait long for this answer. Happy Thanksgiving!
Carmella says
I have always wanted to make one of these rolls but have always been too scared I would break it. This looks amazing!
lindsay Cotter says
i don’t think that roll would have made it rolled up in my house. I love maple filling!! WHOA!
David @ Cooking Chat says
looks like the perfect fall dessert! hope you had a great Thanksgiving.
Laura Dembowski says
Yes to everything about this cake! I’m not sure the sugared pecans would make it in though because I’d snack on them all 🙂
Judy says
This looks extra moist and delicious! I have two other rolled cakes in my treasure trove of recipes and, as you say, they are much easier to make than one might think. Wonder if you could substitute maple syrup for the natural maple flavoring, or if maybe it wouldn’t be strong enough? The pictures look so inviting!
Allie says
Hey Mom, thanks! I’m sure you could do that and cut down on the amount of powdered sugar. Haven’t tried it though. xo
Aunt Pinkie says
Still looks marvelous!
Kathy says
This looks stunningly delicious! Thanks for the great pics and detailed instructions!
Kristen Chidsey says
Allie, your friends are incredibly lucky to have you giving these stunning rolls out to them. This looks amazing–the sugared pecans are key~
Eva says
C’est juste irrésistible! Avec tout ses noix de pecans sucrés autour…moi j’aurais rien dit aux enfants comme ça j’aurais eu double portion des noix de pecans sucrés pour moi 😉 xxoxo
Catherine says
Dear Allie, what a perfect way to kick off November!! We’re already getting ready for Thanksgiving in my house and this roll cake sounds perfect. I’ve always loved roll cakes…they are a special holiday dessert in my house. Your Autumn version is beautiful! I wish I could share a slice with you. Hope all is well dear…you’ve been in my thoughts! xo Catherine
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Skip the nuts?!??!? Noooooooo way! Sugared pecans are the best! Seriously this pumpkin roll looks AMAZING, Allie!!! Boy’s favorite dessert for Thanksgiving is the pumpkin roll and we had a friend back in FL who would make him one every year. But, now that we live in NC, he hasn’t been getting his yearly pumpkin roll fix, and I’ve been meaning to correct that! Thanks to you, now I can!! I’ve seen a lot of pumpkin rolls, but this one has to be my favorite – I mean, sugared pecans and maple?! Heck yes!!!! I’m going to have to make 2 because I have a feeling we will each want our own. 😉 Pinned! Cheers, lovely!