Pumpkin Rolls and A Birthday Wish

I made five of these pumpkin rolls the other day. I always make them ahead of time and then place them in the freezer until the holidays arrive. It just gives the flavors more time to mingle all together.
If you have never tried making homemade pumpkin rolls then you should give it a try. It's not hard...it just takes a little time! 
I make 5 of them at once because if you buy a large can of pumpkin that is what it will result in and you can always find takers on these. Trust me!

Pumpkin Rolls

3 eggs
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt

Filling:
8 oz. cream cheese
3 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar

In mixing bowl, beat eggs on high for 3 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients (not the filling ingredients)and mix well.
Pour into a WELL greased 15X10X1 jelly roll pan or cookie sheet.
Bake 15 minutes at 350°.

While that is baking, get your tea towel and lay it out flat.
Sprinkle a little powdered sugar over the top of the tea towel to prevent the roll from sticking to the towel.
When finished cooking, immediately flip the baked cake onto the towel.
Sprinkle (dust) a little more powdered sugar onto the top of the cake.
Roll the cake along with the towel into a jelly roll. This has to be done while it is hot so that it doesn't crack and break.

See that crack - not perfect but it will still be tasty!

Set aside to cool completely.
Once cooled you will combine all filling ingredients and whip it till it is soft and smooth.
Unroll the pumpkin roll and spread with the filling.

Reroll (without the towel) and wrap in cling wrap.

Refrigerate and ENJOY!
Oh, and before serving I always dust the tops of the rolls with more powdered sugar just to make them a bit prettier.
If you want to freeze these like I do then you will wrap each roll in cling wrap and then wrap in freezer paper or tin foil and then freeze.

 

*I have to add a few hints to this recipe from the mistakes that I have made in the past.*
1. Use the correct size pan.
2. Grease the pan heavily so that the cake will just fall out after it has been baked.
3. Accept the fact that not all of them come out perfectly. That is why my finished rolls are marked with stars. The stars indicate to me that the roll is perfect in appearance with no cracks. Those rolls will go out to friends, family and co-workers. The ones that are less than perfect will be enjoyed right here at home.

Here at home things have been busy.
Just the usual with schooling, cooking and errands to be run. My oven died the day after making all those pumpkin rolls. Actually, it didn't die but it is overheating to 550° so I will be on the hunt of a new one this weekend.
Typically I'd jump on the chance to go out to eat since the oven isn't working however I laid a turkey out to defrost earlier in the week so it must be cooked.
I borrowed my mother's roasting oven so it's now cooking on top of the counter. I've just got to figure out a way to make stuffing and the other sides in the roaster too!
Wish me luck!

Speaking of wishing...I've got a birthday wish for someone.

HAPPY 45th BIRTHDAY CHUCK!

I hope you enjoy your day!

and I hope everyone enjoys the weekend.