Gingerbread Cake Roll with Cream Cheese Filling

This gingerbread cake roll is a showstopper for your holiday table. A soft, tender sponge flavored with molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves is rolled around a fluffy cream cheese filling, then dusted with powdered sugar and topped with sparkly sugared cranberries and rosemary.

If you have ever made a pumpkin roll, you already know the method. If not, do not worry: rolling the warm cake in a towel trains it to roll later without cracking.

If you love rolled cakes, try my homemade pumpkin roll. More gingerbread? Make this gingerbread cake or a no-bake gingerbread cheesecake.

JUMP TO

• Why You’ll Love This Gingerbread Cake Roll
• What Is Gingerbread Cake Roll?
• Ingredients
• Kitchen Equipment
• Ingredient Tips
• How to Make Gingerbread Cake Roll
• Expert Tips for Perfect Gingerbread Cake Roll
• Delicious Variations
• What to Serve with Gingerbread Cake Roll
• Storage Instructions
• Can You Make It Ahead?
• Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Estimated Nutrition
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Why You’ll Love This Gingerbread Cake Roll

It looks like it came from a bakery, but it is surprisingly simple.

Warm Holiday Spices

Ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and molasses.

Creamy Filling

Tangy cream cheese balances the spice.

Make-Ahead

It freezes beautifully.

Stunning Swirl

Every slice looks impressive.

Quick Bake

The cake bakes in just 12 minutes.

What Is Gingerbread Cake Roll?

A gingerbread cake roll, also called a gingerbread Swiss roll or roulade, is a thin sponge cake baked in a sheet pan, rolled while warm, then unrolled, filled, and rolled again.

The sponge gets its lift from whipped eggs and its deep color and flavor from molasses and spice. The result is light and moist, not dense like a gingerbread loaf.

It is a festive cousin of the pumpkin roll, made for December instead of October.

Ingredients

this Idea!

Gingerbread Sponge

Ingredient	Amount	Purpose
All-purpose flour	¾ cup	Structure
Baking powder	1 teaspoon	Lift
Salt	¼ teaspoon	Balance
Ground ginger	1½ teaspoons	Warm spice
Ground cinnamon	1 teaspoon	Spice
Ground cloves	¼ teaspoon	Spice
Ground nutmeg	¼ teaspoon	Spice
Large eggs, room temperature	3	Airy sponge
Packed dark brown sugar	½ cup	Moisture and flavor
Unsulphured molasses	¼ cup	Gingerbread flavor
Vanilla extract	1 teaspoon	Flavor
Unsalted butter, melted	2 tablespoons	Tenderness

Cream Cheese Filling

Ingredient	Amount	Purpose
Cream cheese, softened	8 ounces	Tangy base
Unsalted butter, softened	4 tablespoons	Richness
Powdered sugar	1¼ cups	Sweetness
Vanilla extract	1 teaspoon	Flavor
Ground cinnamon	Pinch	Warmth

Garnish

Ingredient	Amount	Purpose
Powdered sugar	¼ cup	For the towel and top
Sugared cranberries	½ cup	Festive topping
Small rosemary sprigs	2	Greenery

Kitchen Equipment

• 10×15-inch jelly roll pan
• Parchment paper
• Stand or hand mixer
• Thin clean kitchen towel
• Offset spatula
• Serrated knife

Ingredient Tips

Room Temperature Eggs

They whip to more volume.

Unsulphured Molasses

Blackstrap is too bitter.

Block Cream Cheese

Gives a thick, sliceable filling.

Fresh Spices

Old ginger tastes dusty.

Sugared Cranberries

Soak cranberries in simple syrup, then roll in sugar and dry 1 hour.

How to Make Gingerbread Cake Roll

Step 1: Prepare the Pan

Heat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 10×15-inch pan, line with parchment, and grease the parchment.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and spices.

Step 3: Whip the Eggs

Beat the eggs and brown sugar on high 5 minutes until thick and pale. Beat in the molasses, vanilla, and melted butter.

Step 4: Fold and Bake

Fold in the dry ingredients gently. Spread evenly in the pan and bake 10 to 12 minutes, until the top springs back.

Step 5: Roll Warm

Dust a towel with powdered sugar. Turn the hot cake onto it, peel off the parchment, and roll up from the short end with the towel. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

Step 6: Make the Filling

Beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon and beat until fluffy.

Step 7: Fill and Roll

Unroll the cake, spread the filling to within ½ inch of the edges, and roll up again without the towel.

Step 8: Chill and Garnish

Wrap and chill at least 1 hour. Dust with powdered sugar and top with sugared cranberries and rosemary before serving.

Expert Tips for Perfect Gingerbread Cake Roll

Roll While Hot

This is the secret to no cracks.

Do Not Overbake

A dry cake cracks.

Trim the Edges

Crisp edges can be trimmed before rolling.

Chill Before Slicing

For clean slices, use a serrated knife.

Seam Side Down

It keeps the roll tight.

Delicious Variations

Whipped Cream Filling

Fold whipped cream into the cream cheese for a lighter filling.

Eggnog Filling

Add 2 tablespoons eggnog and nutmeg.

White Chocolate

Add melted white chocolate to the filling.

Chocolate Drizzle

Drizzle dark chocolate over the top.

Mascarpone

Swap half the cream cheese for mascarpone.

What to Serve with Gingerbread Cake Roll

Slice into 1-inch rounds and serve chilled with coffee or hot cocoa.

Place it on a long platter with gingerbread men, sugared cranberries, and rosemary for a beautiful Christmas centerpiece.

It is a lighter alternative to heavy pies after a big holiday meal.

Storage Instructions

Storage Method	How Long	Best Practice
Refrigerator	4 days	Wrapped in plastic
Freezer	2 months	Wrapped in plastic and foil
Room Temperature	2 hours max	Cream cheese filling

Thaw frozen cake roll overnight in the fridge.

Add garnish just before serving.

Can You Make It Ahead?

Make the cake roll up to 2 days ahead.

Freeze for up to 2 months.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Cracked Cake

Overbaked or rolled cold.

Flat Sponge

Eggs not whipped enough or deflated.

Runny Filling

Cream cheese too soft or tub style.

Sticky Towel

Not enough powdered sugar.

Messy Slices

Not chilled.

Estimated Nutrition

Nutrient	Amount Per Serving
Calories	300
Carbohydrates	40g
Protein	4g
Fat	14g
Saturated Fat	8g
Fiber	0g
Sugar	31g
Sodium	190mg
Cholesterol	90mg

Estimate per slice, based on 10 slices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

This gingerbread cake roll brings warm spice, creamy filling, and a gorgeous swirl to your Christmas table.

Make it ahead and slice it for a dessert everyone will remember.

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