Bolillo

A bolillo ( in Mexico) or pan francés (in Central America, meaning "French bread") is a type of savory bread made in Mexico and Central America. It is a variation of the baguette, but shorter in length, and is often baked in a stone oven. Brought to Mexico City in the 1860s by Emperor Maximilian's troupe of cooks, its use quickly spread throughout the country.

It is roughly 15 cm long, in the shape of an ovoid (similar to an American football), with a crunchy crust and a soft inside known as migajón (, literally "big crumb"). It is the main ingredient for tortas and molletes. It has a slash on top made with a slashing tool or bread lame, which permits the exhaust of steam and the expansion of bread without stressing its skin. Other variations include bolillos made of alternate ingredients such as whole wheat, wheat germ, or flax.