Swiss roll

Homemade swiss roll, filled with lemon curd

A Swiss roll or jelly roll is a type of sponge cake roll. In other words, it is a type of cake. The thin cake is made of eggs, flour and sugar and baked in a very shallow rectangular baking tray, called a sheet pan. The cake is removed from the pan and spread with jam or butter cream, rolled up, and served in circular slices. It should not be confused with the Spring Roll which is of oriental origin and not really a 'confectionary' item at all.

The origins of the term "Swiss" roll are unclear and the cake originated in Central Europe and not Switzerland. It is a traditional 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.

Different countries

The Chinese swiss roll looks identical to its Western counterpart, except that it is much lighter in taste.

Austria

In Austria it is called Biskuitroulade.^[1]

Brazil

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

Chile

In Chile the Swiss roll is called Brazo de Reina and it is filled with manjar (Dulce de Leche).

Denmark

In Denmark the cake is called a roulade.

France

In France the cake is called "gâteau roulé".^[2]

Finland

In Finland it is called kääretorttu^[3] (wrap flan), and known in English as Sweet roll.

Germany

In Germany it is called Biskuitrolle.^[4]

Hungary

In Hungary the Swiss rolls are called Lekváros tekercs or Piskóta tekercs.^[5] It is usually filled with jam or butter cream.

Hong Kong

Chocolate Swiss Roll

The origin of this pastry is likely from the U.K., since Hong Kong was a British colony from the 19th to late 20th 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 popularising of western-style bakeries such as Maxim. There are several popular variations.

• The first is the Egg Roll version (Chinese: 瑞士卷 or 瑞士蛋糕). The roll is made of a standard recipe, and a whipped cream filling is standard.
• The second is the Chocolate Egg Roll version (Chinese: 朱古力瑞士卷). The roll is made of egg in combination with chocolate flavouring. It also has a whipped cream filling.
• Some bakeries offer their own variations, such as layers of egg and chocolate swirl. Other variations include strawberry, coffee and orange fillings.
• Another flavor popular in Hong Kong is the mango flavour. Which has a mango flavoured roll with a whipped cream filling.

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. It is commonly known as a "roll cake" and not recognized by the name swiss roll.

Malaysia

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

Norway

In Norway, a Swiss Roll Cake is called "rullekake".

Philippines

In the Philippines, the Swiss roll is known as "pianono", which is filled with margarine and the sponge cake is coated with granulated sugar. It is often sold in bakeries.

Spain

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

Sweden

In Sweden it is 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

Oddly, the Swiss roll is not widely eaten in Switzerland, where they are called Biscuitrolle or Roulade in Swiss German, Gâteau Roulé in French and Biscotto Arrotolato in Italian.

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 in a similar way to the United States.

United States

In the US a Swiss roll is referred to as a jelly roll, even when it does not contain jelly. The most common method of making a Swiss roll is to use a basic sponge cake recipe. Chocolate Swiss rolls called Ho Hos are made in the same way, but cocoa powder is substituted for some of the flour, and the cake is filled with either whipped cream or with butter cream, and sometimes flavoured with vanilla, chocolate, or a chocolate-flavoured liqueur. A chocolate Swiss roll is sometimes called a "chocolate log".

Venezuela

In Venezuela, it's called Brazo Gitano (the literal translation is "gypsy arm"). It's commonly filled with condensed milk or arequipe.

See also

• Bûche de Noël

References

1. ^ [http://lichtinsdunkel.orf.at/?Story=1483 Biskuitroulade
2. ^ Gâteau roulé
3. ^ Kääretorttu cake
4. ^ Biskuitrolle mit Marmelade
5. ^ Piskotatekercs cake

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