rolls

Rolls is a term with several related meanings centered on cylindrical or rounded forms. In food, a roll is a small, individually sized loaf or pastry that is baked and eaten by itself or used for sandwiches. Bread rolls can be soft and airy, as in dinner rolls, or crusty, as with Kaiser or baguette rolls. Sweet rolls include cinnamon rolls and other enriched pastries that are rolled with fillings and often glazed or iced.

Most bread rolls are made from flour, water or milk, yeast, salt, and fat or oil. Enriched rolls may include eggs and sugar. The dough is mixed, allowed to rise, portioned, shaped, proofed again, and baked. The texture ranges from light and fluffy to dense and crusty, depending on ingredients and technique. Regional variations exist in shaping and naming, such as bap in parts of the United Kingdom or roll versus bun in different countries.

Rolls is also a surname of English origin. Notable individuals include Charles Rolls (1877–1910), cofounder of Rolls-Royce. The name is associated with the Rolls-Royce company, founded by Rolls and Henry Royce in 1906, renowned for luxury automobiles and aero engines. The term appears in various regional food terms and brand names beyond these uses.