Gorgeous Protein Pumpkin Roll with protein cream cheese filling swirled inside a low fat and sugar free pumpkin cake. An easy, healthy pumpkin roll cake recipe to please any crowd!
Jump to RecipeNot kidding, I thought this pumpkin cake roll would be quite hard, and the only reason I made it was because my husband asked for it. Turned out that it really is an easy recipe. All you need to do is work fast and it comes together really well.
My first attempt was a bit of a fail though, since the cake just cracked into two, but round 2 worked out for sure.
Ingredients for Protein Pumpkin Roll
This protein pumpkin roll cake is a healthy, low sugar and low fat recipe made with whole wheat pastry flour, only a little butter, and sweetened with protein powder!
- Pumpkin Puree
- Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
- Vanilla Protein Powder: For a pumpkin cake roll with no sugar; I used Quest Vanilla
- Unflavored Protein Powder to replace some of the flour in the original recipe, drop the carbs, and make this a high protein pumpkin roll. I use Quest Nutrition’s Multi-purpose Mix Whey-Casein protein powder.
- Pumpkin Cheesecake flavored Peanut Butter Powder (peanut powder), or regular
I used Pumpkin Cheesecake Flavored PB Co peanut powder.
For a regular version I’d recommend Lakanto (code HAYLSKITCHEN gives you a discount) or PbFit or PB2 too.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice
- Melted Butter
- Lemon Juice
- Hot Water
- Baking Soda
What is Pumpkin Roll filling made of?
The filling for this low fat and no sugar added pumpkin roll has just 3 simple ingredients:
- Non Fat Greek Yogurt for an extra high protein frosting recipe, but any other yogurt will also work
- Reduced Fat Cream Cheese
- Vanilla Protein Powder – this is what replaces the sugar here. I used Quest Vanilla again.
Tips for Protein Powder Pumpkin Roll Recipe
This protein powder pumpkin roll recipe is an easy one, but here’s some tips to get it just right!
- Use room temperature pumpkin puree;
This is so the wet ingredients and dry ingredients can mix well to give the perfect homemade pumpkin roll cake.
- Use melted butter so that it mixes well into the healthy pumpkin roll batter.
- Don’t over-mix the batter!
Make sure you gently fold the dry mix into the wet to combine them.
If you over-mix it, the protein powder will make the low calorie pumpkin roll cake tough, dense and gummy.
- Taste the batter and see if you need some extra sweetener. I’d recommend using stevia powder to maintain the consistency of the batter and have a no sugar added pumpkin roll.
- Don’t let the batter sit out too long; Pour immediately into baking pan and bake.
This is to avoid any reactions between the ingredients.
- Use softened cream cheese for frosting so it mixes smoothly with the yogurt and protein powder.
How to prevent protein pumpkin roll from cracking?
- Roll cake onto towel as soon as it comes out of oven to prevent cracking since the hot air will make sure it holds shape.
- Roll the cake tightly so it holds shape and gets those pretty spirals.
How long to cool pumpkin roll before filling?
- Let cake protein pumpkin cake cool completely before filling or the cream cheese filling will melt away.
How to store Homemade Pumpkin Roll?
These high protein pumpkin pie cake pops keep well for a meal prep dessert or post workout snack; Freezer friendly too!
Store healthy pumpkin protein powder cake pops at room temperature in an airtight container for 1-2 days or in the fridge for a week.
To freeze the pumpkin cake bites, individually wrap in plastic wrap and place in freezer-safe zipper bags or air tight container; They should keep for 2-3 months.
Alternatives for Healthy Pumpkin Roll Cake Recipe
For the perfect low fat, low calorie and healthy pumpkin roll cake recipe, I would highly suggest using the ingredients and brands I recommended; I do have some alternatives you can try. I haven’t testing them all, so I can’t say how yourpumpkin roll recipe might turn out.
- Whole Wheat Pastry Flour: All purpose flour or 1:1 Gluten Free Baking Flour in the same amount by weight not cups
- Flavored Peanut Butter Powder: Regular Peanut Butter Powder + ½ tsp Extra Pumpkin Pie Spice
Or 2 Tbsp Flour + ½ tsp Extra Pumpkin Pie Spice + Stevia/Sugar-free sweetener (taste batter to know how much) - Melted Butter: Melted Coconut Oil
- Lemon Juice: Apple Cider Vinegar or White Vinegar
Options for the Low Sugar Cream Cheese Filling for Pumpkin Roll
- Greek Yogurt: Coconut Yogurt
- Reduced Fat Cream Cheese: Regular or Vegan Cream Cheese
To make Easy Pumpkin Roll Vegan
This easy pumpkin roll recipe has no eggs or milk and can be made Vegan with a plant-based protein powder and dairy free butter or coconut oil.
Also be sure to use dairy-free cream cheese and coconut yogurt for the filling.
I haven’t tried pea protein or other plant based ones, so I can’t say how those would work.
More Healthy Pumpkin Protein Recipes:
- Pumpkin Protein Scones
- Chocolate Lava Pumpkin Protein Cookie for One
- Protein Pumpkin French Toast Bake
- Pumpkin Protein Cinnamon Rolls
- Chocolate Pumpkin Protein Cupcakes
- Pumpkin Protein Cookies
- Fat-Free Protein Pumpkin Bread
Protein Pumpkin Roll – Easy, Healthy, Sugar Free!
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour, 90g, see post for sub
- ⅔ cup Vanilla Protein Powder (Whey-casein), 60g
- ⅓ cup Unflavored Protein Powder (Whey-casein), 30g
- ¼ cup Flavored Peanut Butter Powder, 24g, Recommendation below
- 2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- ¾ cup Hot Water, 180ml
- ¾ cup Pumpkin Puree, 180g
- 2 tsp Melted Butter, 10g
- 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice, 15ml
- Zero Calorie 1:1 Powdered Sugar Substitute, for dusting and sprinkling
Filling:
- 3 oz Non-fat Greek Yogurt, 85g
- 3 oz Reduced Fat Cream Cheese, Softened, 85g
- ¼ cup Vanilla Protein Powder, Whey-casein, 22g
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9×13” baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk flour, vanilla protein powder, unflavored protein powder, peanut butter powder, pumpkin spice and baking soda.
- In a large bowl, whisk together hot water, pumpkin puree, butter and lemon juice.
- Add dry mix to wet, and whisk until just combined.DO NOT OVER-MIX or protein powder will make the cake dense.
- Pour batter into pan immediately, spread evenly.Don’t let the batter sit out.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes.Toothpick inserted into the center should come out dry.
- Place tea towel on cooling rack, and sprinkle with (zero calorie) powdered sugar.
- Remove cake from oven, lift out using parchment paper, invert onto tea towel.Peel off parchment paper and roll tightly (from short end).Let cool completely.
Filling:
- In a bowl, combine all the ingredients – Greek yogurt, softened Cream Cheese (microwave 5 seconds if out of fridge) and vanilla protein powder.
- Unroll cake, place frosting in middle and spread evenly.
- Roll cake back up, wrap in plastic wrap and chill in fridge for 1 hour.Sift powdered sugar on top, and slice into 12 slices.
Notes
- Nutrition details are calculated using products recommended below.
- See post for alternate ingredients, tips and storage options.
- Quest Nutrition Vanilla Whey-Casein Protein Powder
- Quest Nutrition Multi-purpose Mix (Unflavored) Whey-Casein Protein Powder
- Flavored PB Co Flavored Peanut Butter Powder
- Servings: 12 slices | Serving size: 1
- Calories: 102kcal
- Fat: 2.4g | Saturated fat: 1.3g
- Carbohydrates: 9.9g | Fiber: 1.4g | Sugar: 1.6g
- Protein: 9.9g
I made the pumpkin log and accidentally let the cake cool before rolling so it cracked but it tasted DELICIOUS. I also did 45% AP flour + rest oat fiber(zero calories) and it had no difference in taste or texture. Going to attempt the chocolate log recipe this weekend!
So glad you liked it and it turned out well!
Looks amazing, can’t wait to try! Noticed you’re no longer on IG, was a great way to keep up with your new recipes so I’ll just have to be better about checking your blog periodically!
Hi Andrea, thanks for the concern! IG had actually accidentally banned my account and it took forever for them to unblock it. I’m back on it now so you can keep in touch there for sure!
You’ve done it again! Pumpkin rolls are the quintessential Thanksgiving dessert! The texture looks like the fluffy pillows I will crash on after many a holiday dinner. Wish me luck in making this vegan! I’ll try Orgain vanilla bean flavor, as that is my gold standard. That FROSTING, though! I can already taste the richness! The hot water trick is genius and one that my mom employed in her cakes back in the day. While I haven’t whipped this up yet, none of your recipes have ever failed me so I’ll rate it in advance;) Referring your site to all of my health-conscious friends.
You are on your way to recreating every sweet treat, gourmet or casual, in the book.
Oh my gosh you are too kind! Thanks for all the support! Hoping this one turned out great for you 🙂