Courtesy photo Jo Sims, a resident of Alpena, is seen making a pumpkin roll recipe that she makes every year for Christmas.

ALPENA — Some holiday traditions are experienced and others are made. Jo Sims, an Alpena resident, continues to make her family’s favorite pumpkin roll, a recipe that was given to her by a coworker.

That coworker has since passed away, but is still remembered every holiday season, through her recipe.

Sims said that when she used to work downstate for Blue Cross, her office would host an annual Christmas potluck. At the potluck, one of her coworkers brought a pumpkin roll to share. Sims got the recipe and now makes it every year for her family and friends.

“She was very specific about it,” Sims said.

Sims explained that to make the pumpkin roll, you bake a cake in a sheet pan that is lined with parchment paper. Once the cake is cool, you make a cream cheese filling to spread over the top. To complete the recipe, the cake has to be rolled up into a log shape, creating a spiral of cake and filling.

She added that it is important to keep rolling and unrolling to make the cake soft and flexible. She said the trick is to place the cake on a dishtowel, sprinkled with powdered sugar, and roll it up that way. She explained that it is also important to bake the cake in a sheet pan that is well greased and has a lip on the sides.

“I make it every year for Christmas,” Sims said. “We come downstate and I make it for our Aunt Sue for Christmas Eve.”

Sims said that she makes one to share with her side of the family on Christmas Day.

“Everyone looks forward to it,” Sims said. “They always ask, ‘You’re making a pumpkin roll, right?'”

“I’d get yelled at if I didn’t bring one!” she added.

Sims said that she adds more frosting to her pumpkin roll than “a typical store bought one.”

She explained that when she makes the pumpkin roll, she thinks of her coworker who gave her the recipe. Sims said she has since died in a car crash.

“She was a good friend,” Sims said. “Everytime I make it I think of her. We had a good relationship.”

Recently, Sims made the pumpkin roll for her neighbor because his wife has passed away. His wife always made Sims pies, so Sims wanted to make him her “specialty.”

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.