Carrot Cake Roll with Cream Cheese Filling – Moist & Spiced
This Carrot Cake Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting Filling is a beautiful and delicious dessert perfect for spring or special occasions! A moist, spiced carrot cake is baked thin, rolled up with a luscious cream cheese frosting, and chilled to set. When sliced, it reveals gorgeous swirls of cake and creamy filling—just the right balance of sweet, tangy, and warmly spiced flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Carrot Cake:
- ¾ cup (95g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- ⅔ cup (135g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups (about 200g) finely grated carrots (peeled before grating)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans, optional
- Powdered sugar for dusting the towel
- For the Cream Cheese Filling:
- 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup (60g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
- Preheat Oven & Prepare Pan: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper and lightly grease it.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
- Make Batter: In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs, sugar, and vanilla until thick and pale (about 2–3 minutes). Mix in oil, then fold in grated carrots. Gradually fold in dry ingredients until just combined. Stir in nuts if using.
- Bake: Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake for 10–12 minutes or until the top springs back when lightly touched.
- Roll Cake: While the cake bakes, lay out a clean kitchen towel and dust generously with powdered sugar. Once baked, immediately invert cake onto the towel, peel off parchment, and gently roll up cake with the towel from the short end. Let it cool completely while rolled.
- Prepare Filling: Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until fluffy.
- Assemble: Carefully unroll the cooled cake. Spread filling evenly over the surface. Gently roll cake back up (without the towel). Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before slicing.
- Serve: Dust with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.
Notes
- Refrigerate the assembled cake roll for at least 1 hour before slicing.
- Walnuts or pecans are optional.