That's How I Roll

Well guys, we've officially embarked on this year's festive season. Time to dust off the old family recipes. My favorite? The Pumpkin Roll.

I stole the Pumpkin Roll from my Aunt. Every year she makes a killer Pumpkin Roll. So many of the best holiday traditions are passed down aren't they?

While I've been trying to come up with some new traditions of my own this year, it occurred to me that some things need not be reinvented. Creamy rich cream cheese filling wrapped up in a warm stodgy pumpkin spice cake and sprinkled with snow (powdered sugar of course).

Nope. I can't improve upon that one I'm afraid.

So here it is. I present to you, my Aunt's Holiday Pumpkin Roll recipe.

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Holiday Pumpkin Roll

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// Round up the following items:

Cake:
- 3 eggs
- 1 c. sugar
- 2/3 c. pumpkin
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- 3/4 c. flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp. ginger
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 c. chopped pecans (optional)

Filling:
- 1 c. powdered sugar
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 2 Tbsp. butter or oleo
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla


Beat eggs on high for 5 minutes.  Gradually beat in sugar.  Stir in pumpkin and lemon juice.  

Mix together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt.  Fold into pumpkin.  

Spread in well greased and floured 15 x 10 x 1 pan. I use the non-stick kind.

Cake will be thin. Sprinkle chopped pecans on top of cake (optional).  Bake at 375F for 15 minutes.  

Let the cake sit for 5 minutes before flipping it over onto a towel sprinkled with powdered sugar.  Start at narrow end and roll it up. Place it in the fridge for at least 45 minutes to cool.

While you're waiting, I highly recommend singing along to some of your favorite holiday tunes.

Somewhere along the way I started morphing into my Mom. 🎤 Singing to Huey Lewis & The News while in the kitchen... 😮

A photo posted by Life+1 (@mylifeplus1) on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:58am PST

Or you could crack on with making the filling.  Mix the filling ingredients together until smooth. Set aside until the cake has cooled. Unroll the cooled cake. Spread the filling on the cake leaving a 1/2 inch border so it doesn't ooze out the sides when you roll it up.

Roll it up in cling film and refrigerate until serving. Slice when ready to serve and dust with generous amounts of 'snow'.

Now I realize you lovely Brits don't often eat pumpkin but let me assure you, it is a fabulously tasty holiday flavor. If you can manage to find canned pumpkin at your local Tesco or Waitrose you should seriously give it a try. And post a piccie for me to see!

If pumpkin isn't your thing, maybe some Crumble Stuffed Baked Apples?

What's your favorite holiday food?