In this gorgeous Carrot Cake Roll, moist, spiced carrot cake is rolled up with creamy and sweet cream cheese frosting. Everything you love about carrot cake, rolled up into a pretty swirled package!
Carrot Cake Roll
I love cake rolls because they look super fancy and fun, but they're no more difficult to make than your average cake. This equally tasty and gorgeous Carrot Cake Roll has all of the same flavors as your favorite carrot cake in a pretty swirled package, featuring a moist, spiced carrot cake filled with a velvety, creamy cream cheese frosting.
While we love frosting on top, like your typical cake and these fan-favorite carrot cake cupcakes, there's just something so elegant and fun about the frosting in the center. Each bite has the perfect amount of frosting swirled into it for maximum frosting distribution.
Can I Use Store-Bought Shredded Carrots?
Not unless you chop them down into smaller pieces. The cake for this cake roll is very thin and it has a short cook time. Using the chunky store-bought shredded carrots will result in crunchy, raw carrots in your cake, and you will be able to see it and taste it.
How to Keep Your Cake Roll from Cracking
The trick to making a perfect cake roll is to actually roll it up while it's still very hot so that it stays that way without cracking, even after you've filled it with frosting.
How to Cut Perfect Slices
To cut the perfect carrot cake roll slices without completely smushing it and ruining your beautiful work, it's easiest if you chill for at least 4 to 6 hours or freeze it. Then you can lay out your perfect slices on a serving plate and cover with foil or plastic wrap while they come to room temperature.
How to Serve Your Carrot Cake Roll
Cake rolls are usually served in slices. You can serve it alone, or you can serve it with vanilla ice cream or fresh fruit, like berries or pineapple.
You can also top the cake roll slice with a caramel drizzle and some chopped pecans just before serving to make it extra yummy and pretty.
Can I Freeze My Carrot Cake Roll?
Yes! This recipe freezes very well, making it a great make-ahead recipe for holidays and company!
Wrap prepared and frosted cake roll tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. Then freeze for up to 2 to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before slicing and serving.
More Spring Dessert Recipes You'll Love
- Strawberry Icebox Cake - no bake dessert recipe featuring layers of fresh strawberries and cream between softened cake-like graham crackers.
- Coconut Macaroons - Sweet and chewy, these are the perfect spring cookie, especially drizzled or dipped in chocolate!
- Strawberry Pretzel Salad - This fun dessert is a delightful salty-sweet combo with a salty pretzel crust, a creamy cheesecake center, and fresh strawberries on top.
- Coconut Cream Pie - creamy coconut custard filling in a flaky, buttery crust with light homemade whipped cream on top.
- No Bake Banana Pudding - This one's always a winner featuring fresh banana with vanilla wafers in an elevated but quick pudding and lots of fluffy whipped cream on top.
- Lemon Buttermilk Pound Cake - this beautiful lemon pound cake embodies fresh spring flavor with its zesty, moist lemon cake and lemon glaze.
Carrot Cake Roll Video
Carrot Cake Roll
Ingredients
- ¾ cup flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs
- ⅔ cups sugar
- 2 tablespoons oil (light tasting like avocado or light olive oil)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups finely grated carrots (about 2 medium carrots)
- ⅓ cup finely chopped pecans
- Powdered sugar for rolling
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a jelly roll (10"×15”) pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl, add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt, and whisk to combine. Set aside.¾ cup flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon salt
- In a separate large mixing bowl, add eggs and beat at high speed for 5 minutes, until frothy and dark yellow.3 large eggs
- Beat in sugar, oil, and vanilla extract.⅔ cups sugar, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and whisk to combine.
- Fold in carrots and pecans.2 cups finely grated carrots, ⅓ cup finely chopped pecans
- Spread in prepared pan. Batter will be in a very thin layer and you will need to use a spoon or spatula to spread it to all the corners of the pan.
- Bake in a 350° oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until cooked through.
- While cake is baking, lay out a large dish towel, and heavily coat in powdered sugar.Powdered sugar
- Flip baked cake onto towel while still hot. Working at the short end, fold the edge of the towel over the cake. Roll tightly, rolling up the cake into the towel.
- Allow to cool completely, at least 1 hour.
- While the cake is cooling, make the frosting. Beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla.8 ounces cream cheese, 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1½ cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Roll carrot cake roll back out very gently. Cover in cream cheese frosting, then roll back up again, without the towel this time.
- Cover and chill for at least an hour, until set.
- Cut into 16 slices and serve.
Notes
- Storage: Store leftover cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freezer Directions: Wrap prepared and frosted cake roll tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. Then freeze for up to 2 to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before slicing and serving.
Nutrition
UPDATE INFO: This recipe was originally published in March 2016. It was updated with new pictures, tips, and video and republished in March 2024.
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Michelle says
I think it would make my hubby's month if I made this for him! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Pam@over50feeling40 says
Now, I am longing for some dessert! This looks delicious! Thanks for sharing with the Thursday Blog Hop!
Stpehanie says
Can I leave out the pecans? Would I need to add extra of something else in its place ? Thanks!
Michelle says
You can leave them out. You can sub walnuts or just omit.