Bolo de Rolo - Brazilian Cake Roll

Bolo de Rolo ("roll cake") is an exquisite sweet delicacy from the Northeastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco.
 
While somewhat similar in appearance to Swiss Cake Roll, Bolo de Rolo is unique for its numerous fine layers made up of thin sheets of cake alternating with a luscious fruit filling. The cake is traditionally filled with a rich, melted guava paste and then sprinkled on top with a dusting of granulated sugar. In 2008, Pernambuco officially designated it in law as a cultural legacy of the state.
Bolo de rolo traces its origins way farther back. Portugueses developed it in the seventeenth century as an adaptation of a local dessert called "Colchão de Noiva" (bride's mattress), a type of sponge cake with an almond filling.
 
History alleges that the ladies newly arriving in Brazil from Portugal, despite having brought along their "Old World" cooking utensils, found some of the traditional ingredients for this cake missing from their new tropical homeland. So, they ingeniously substituted melted guava paste and sugar—both found in abundance in northeastern Brazil—in place of the traditional almond filling.
 
Over time, the cake underwent another peculiar alteration: The layers grew thinner and thinner until finally reaching around 16 layers. And the final form that the cake adopted was similar in shape to that of a rolling pin—hence the origin of the name, bolo de rolo ("bolo" means cake; "rolo" means rolling pin).
 
For many years, access to this cake was restricted, reserved for the exclusive indulgence of the sugarcane plantation magnates and later on, the governors of Pernambuco. In subsequent years, however, it gained immense popularity within the entire state of Pernambuco, and from there, its fame spread far and wide all over Brazil and other countries too, among them Portugal, England, France, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and the USA.
 
Although bolos de rolo may vary in the filling, such as dulce de leche, the thinness of the layers is its most immutable characteristic.
 
Bolo de rolo is a beloved fixture in Pernambuco on the menus of most cafés, bakeries, and restaurants. It can be savored as a dessert or snack all by itself, paired with cheese, or served warm with ice cream. It also happens to be the perfect companion for cafezinho, a small cup of strong coffee.
 
We worked hard to recreate to perfection the Brazilian Bolo de Rolo here in America. Don't miss out on the opportunity to taste this delicacy rich in flavor, history, and culture. 
 
Text Reference: food52.com

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Bolo de Rolo - Guava Jam

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