Swiss roll

Swiss roll is a type of sponge cake baked in a very shallow rectangular baking tray, and then filled, rolled up, and served in circular slices.

The origins of the term "Swiss" roll are unclear, since the cake does not have its origins in Switzerland, nor is it widely consumed there. It's a German, Hungarian and probably Austrian type of cake. The shape of the Swiss roll has inspired usage of the term as a descriptive term in other fields, such as in optics.

Regional

Finland

In Finland it's called kääretorttu (wrap flan), and known in English as Sweet roll.

Hungary

In Hungary the Swiss rolls are called Lekváros tekercs. It is usually filled with jam or buttercream

Hong Kong

The origin of this pastry is likely from the U.K., since Hong Kong was a British colony in the 19th century. The cake is never packaged, as it is sold fresh daily in the Chinese bakeries. Overall, this cake has been sold next to other Chinese pastries well before the popularizing of western-style bakeries such as Maxim. There are a couple of popular variations.

• The first is the Egg Roll version (Chinese: 卷蛋糕 or 蛋卷). The roll is made of an egg recipe, and a light whip cream filling is standard.
• The second is the Chocolate Egg Roll version (Chinese: 朱古力蛋卷). The roll is made of egg in combination with chocolate flavoring. It also has a whip cream filling.
• Some bakeries offer their own variations, such as combo layer made of egg and chocolate swirl. Other variations include strawberry, coffee, and orange fillings.

Overseas Chinatowns

Most U.S. Chinatown bakeries sell the basic Hong Kong Egg Roll version. It essentially looks and taste identical to the one sold in Hong Kong.

India

In India Swiss rolls are called Jam Rolls.

Indonesia

In Indonesia, the Swiss Roll Cake is called "Bolu Gulung". Most bakeries sell Swiss Rolls daily, and they are filled with butter cream, cheese or fruit jam. It is also very common for the Swiss Rolls to be sold by the slice, but some shop sold by slice and roll.

Japan

Japan has green tea powder versions, such as matcha.

Philippines

Philippines uses purple yam and mango.

Malaysia

Varieties produced in Malaysia include coconut(kaya), pandan, blueberry, strawberry, and vanilla

Spain

In Spain it is called brazo de gitano (gypsy's arm) and is a popular dessert.

Sweden

In Sweden it's called rulltårta (Roll-cake). It is a popular accompaniment among older people when drinking coffee. The filling often consists of butter cream and strawberry jam. A chocolate version, made of potato flour instead of wheat flour, is also available and filled with butter cream, and is called Drömrulltårta (Dream roll-cake).

Switzerland

The swiss roll is not widely eaten in Switzerland, where they are called Biscuitrolle, Roulade or gâteau roulé

United Kingdom

In the U.K the "collapsed swiss roll" is a popular variety of this sponge dessert. Jam is used to fill the roll and sugar covers it on the outside. The chocolate swiss roll is made in Great Britain a similar way like in the United States.

United States

The most common method of making a swiss roll is to use a basic sponge cake recipe. A chocolate swiss roll called Ho Hos are made in the same way, but cocoa powder is substituted for some of the flour, and the cake is filled either with whipped cream or with buttercream, sometimes flavoured with vanilla, chocolate, or a chocolate-flavoured liqueur. A chocolate swiss roll is sometimes called a "chocolate log".

Brazil

Rocambole is the name given to swiss roll, and pão-de-ló to sponge cake.

See also

• HoHos

External links

• A Traditional Swiss Roll Recipe from 1970