1.
Swiss roll; roll cake; jelly roll
A sponge cake spread with cream or filling, rolled into a cylindrical shape, and sliced into rounds for serving. A popular pastry in Japan, sold at bakeries, convenience stores, and department store food halls.
A wasei-eigo compound of "roll" + "cake." In English this is called a "Swiss roll" (British) or "jelly roll" (American), not a "roll cake."
Usage
ロールケーキ is one of the most popular Western-style pastries in Japan. Convenience store chains compete to offer premium versions, and famous patisseries are known for their signature rolls. Unlike many Western versions that use jam, Japanese ロールケーキ almost always features whipped cream (生クリーム) as the primary filling. A whole uncut roll is counted with 本.
Common collocations
- 生クリームロールケーキ: fresh cream roll cake
- 抹茶ロールケーキ: matcha roll cake
- フルーツロールケーキ: fruit roll cake
- ロールケーキを切り分ける: to slice a roll cake into portions