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Carrot Cake Roll Recipe

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★★★★

4 from 69 reviews

This Carrot Cake Roll is a delightful twist on traditional carrot cake, featuring a moist, spiced carrot cake baked in a thin sheet and rolled with a smooth, creamy cream cheese frosting. Perfectly balanced with warm spices and sweet cream cheese, this dessert is both visually impressive and deliciously satisfying, making it an ideal treat for special occasions or any time you crave a comforting sweet.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Carrot Cake:

  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour (stirred, spooned & leveled)
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ tsp ground cloves
  • 3 large eggs
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 Tbsp oil (canola or vegetable)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups shredded carrots (loosely packed)

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 8 oz brick cream cheese (cold)
  • 8 Tbsp butter (1 stick, room temperature)
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper. To keep the parchment paper securely in place, spray the pan lightly with cooking spray before placing the paper. Optionally, spray the parchment with Baker’s Joy to help prevent sticking.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Set this mixture aside.
  3. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the eggs thoroughly. Beat in the granulated sugar, oil, and vanilla extract until well combined and slightly fluffy.
  4. Combine Batter: Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet egg mixture until just combined. Gently fold in the shredded carrots, taking care not to overmix. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared jelly roll pan.
  5. Bake the Cake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 10 to 13 minutes. The cake is done when it springs back when lightly touched or a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  6. Roll Cake While Warm: Immediately after removing from the oven, gently roll the cake from the short end to the other short end while still inside the parchment paper. Let it cool in this rolled position for about 10 minutes.
  7. Make the Cream Cheese Frosting: In a large bowl, beat the cold cream cheese until smooth. Add the butter in 2-tablespoon increments, beating until the mixture is smooth after each addition. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract all at once, mixing until well combined and creamy.
  8. Unroll and Frost: Carefully unroll the cooled cake; minor cracking is normal—handle gently. If the cake remains slightly warm, leave it unrolled a few minutes longer to release heat and steam. Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the cake, leaving a 1-inch border on the edge you will roll towards.
  9. Reroll the Cake: Starting at the frosted end, tightly roll the cake towards the unfrosted edge. As you roll, gently loosen and remove the parchment paper. Discard the parchment.
  10. Chill the Cake Roll: Wrap the roll tightly in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator or freezer for at least 1 hour. Freezing is recommended for firmer slices.
  11. Slice and Serve: Use a hot knife to slice the cake roll for clean cuts. Run the knife under hot water before cutting; dry it if the cake is not frozen. Allow slices to thaw at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Spraying parchment paper with a flour-infused cooking spray like Baker’s Joy helps prevent sticking during baking and rolling.
  • Rolling the cake while warm is crucial to prevent cracking; allow it to cool rolled for 10 minutes before unrolling.
  • If the cake cracks slightly during unrolling, it is normal and won’t affect the final taste.
  • Chilling or freezing the cake roll makes slicing easier and cleaner.
  • Use a hot knife for cutting to ensure smooth, neat slices.
  • Leftover slices can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Keywords: carrot cake, carrot cake roll, cream cheese frosting, spiced cake, rolled cake, dessert recipe, holiday dessert, cream cheese roll

Find it online: https://foodiecara.com/carrot-cake-roll-recipe/