{{short description|Bread-based food}} {{Other uses}}{{Infobox prepared food | name = Bun | image = Sesame seed hamburger buns.jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = Sesame seed buns | alternate_name = bread roll | country = | region = | creator = | course = | type = Bread | served = | main_ingredient = Flour, milk, yeast, sesame seeds | variations = | calories = | other = }}

A '''bun''' is a type of bread that is round and small enough that it can generally be eaten hand-held. Whether a bun is considered sweetened or unsweetened differs between countries: it is considered sweetened in England, Scotland and Wales, a savory bread in Northern Ireland,<ref name=":0">{{Oed|term=bun|id=7869951780|access-date=18 March 2025}}</ref><ref name="cam">{{Cite Cambridge Dictionaries|bun|access-date=18 March 2025}}</ref> and either a sweet bread or a savory bread roll in the United States.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="cam" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mason |first=Laura |title=The Oxford Companion to Food |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2014 |isbn=9780191756276 |editor-last=Davidson |editor-first=Alan |editor-link=Alan Davidson (food writer) |edition=3rd |location=Oxford |chapter=Bun |editor-last2=Jaine |editor-first2=Tom |editor-link2=Tom Jaine}}</ref>

== Terminology == In England, Scotland and Wales, a bun is considered a type of sweet cake, understood as very rich, spiced and studded with fruit in Scotland, seen in the example of the currant bun.<ref name=":0" /> In the US, a bun is understood as a bread roll, particularly one that holds a burger, and is cut horizontally.<ref name="cam" /> Chinese 包子 baozi, with savory or sweet fillings, are often referred to as "buns" in English.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

== Composition == Buns are usually made from a dough of flour, milk, yeast and small amounts of sugar, butter, or oil.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Homemade Buns Recipe - Food.com |url=https://www.food.com/recipe/homemade-buns-58660 |access-date=2026-04-03 |website=www.food.com |language=en}}</ref> Sweet bun dough is distinguished from bread dough by the addition of sugar, butter and sometimes egg. Common sweet varieties contain small fruit or nuts, topped with icing or caramel, and filled with jam or cream.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Home |first=Valya's Taste of |date=2023-02-22 |title=The Tastiest Sweet Buns Recipe (with Creamy Filling) |url=https://www.valyastasteofhome.com/sweet-buns-with-farmers-cheese-and-raisins/ |access-date=2026-04-03 |website=Valya's Taste of Home |language=en-US}}</ref> Many types of buns are brushed with egg yolk to produce a golden appearance.<ref>{{cite book |last=Dodge |first=Jim |title=The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-19-931339-6 |editor-last=Goldstein |editor-first=Darra |editor-link=Darra Goldstein |location= |page=237 |chapter=Eggs}}</ref>

== History == The etymology of the word ''bun'' is unclear. The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' pins the earliest known use to 1371 in the ''Assize of Bread and Ale'', a law of Medieval Europe in the form "bunne" where they identify the meaning as "doubtful", understood from the context simply to refer to a type of "loaf or cake".<ref name=":0" /> As of the 14th century in Japan, steamed buns stuffed with vegetables or the sweet ''yōkan'' were eaten by Buddhists.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rath |first=Eric C |title=The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-19-931339-6 |editor-last=Goldstein |editor-first=Darra |editor-link=Darra Goldstein |location= |pages=371–372 |chapter=Japan}}</ref> By the 16th century in Europe, spiced buns, commonly served with sweetened wines or ale were consumed as part of funeral customs.<ref>{{cite book |last=Levi |first=Jane |title=The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-19-931339-6 |editor-last=Goldstein |editor-first=Darra |editor-link=Darra Goldstein |location= |page=289 |chapter=Funerals}}</ref>

== See also == {{portal|Food}} {{div col|colwidth=30em}} *List of buns * List of breads * List of bread dishes * List of cakes * List of pastries * List of sweet breads * Cheung Chau Bun Festival * Chinese bakery products

{{div col end}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{commons category-inline}}

{{Bread}}

Category:Buns Category:Quick breads Category:Sweet breads Category:Yeast breads