Traditional Lamington Recipe

2023-07-15

By Captain Cook

Australian Cuisine

Dessert

Lamingtons are a popular Australian sweet treat, made by coating sponge cake in chocolate icing and desiccated coconut. Whip up something delicious with this mouth-watering Lamington recipe!

Fluffy Sponge Cake

The cake itself is made of sponge cake that is cut into small, rectangular shapes and then dipped in a chocolate icing. The icing is usually made of cocoa powder, sugar, and milk, and is then topped with desiccated coconut.

The Fascinating History of the Australian Dessert - Lamington

Beverage Pairing

 The rich, chocolatey flavor of the Lamington is perfectly complemented by the bold and full-bodied taste of a Shiraz wine. The Victoria Bitter beer is a refreshing contrast to the sweetness of the cake.

Try making this classic recipe at home!

Pitfalls on Lamington

Moisture management: Lamingtons have a delicate balance between being soft and moist, but not too wet. Ensure your cake is perfectly baked and cooled before dipping it in the chocolate icing. This will prevent excessive moisture absorption.

 Handling the cake: Lamingtons can crumble easily, so handle them gently. Consider freezing the cake for a short while before cutting it into squares. It helps in maintaining the shape and reducing crumbling.

 Coating consistency: Achieving the right consistency for the chocolate icing is essential. Make sure it's not too thick, as it may not coat the lamingtons evenly. On the other hand, if it's too runny, the cake can become too soggy. Adjust the icing thickness by adding more cocoa or icing sugar as needed.

 Coconut coverage: Getting the coconut to adhere evenly to the chocolate-coated lamingtons can be a challenge. Try rolling the lamingtons lightly in the coconut instead of pressing too hard. You can also toast the coconut before using it, as it tends to stick better.

 Flavor experimentation: While traditional lamingtons are beloved, don't be afraid to experiment with different flavors. Consider incorporating fillings like jam or cream, or even adding extracts like vanilla or almond to the batter for a unique twist.

Ingredients

• 125g unsalted butter, softened

• 3/4 cup caster sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3 eggs

• 2 cups self-raising flour, sifted

• 1/2 cup milk

• 3 cups desiccated coconut

• 2 cups icing sugar mixture

• 1/3 cup cocoa powder, sifted

• 1/2 cup boiling water

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a 22cm square cake pan with baking paper.

2. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter, caster sugar and vanilla extract until light and fluffy.

3. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

4. Gradually add the self-raising flour and milk, folding gently until well combined.

5. Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake pan and smooth the surface with a spatula.

6. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

7. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

8. Cut the cake into 16 squares.

9. To make the icing, sift the icing sugar mixture and cocoa powder into a bowl. Add the boiling water and stir until well combined and smooth.

10. Place the desiccated coconut in a shallow bowl.

11. Use two forks to dip each cake square into the icing, shaking off any excess. Then, roll in the desiccated coconut until well coated. Repeat with all the squares.

12. Allow the icing to set before serving.

Preparation Time 30 min

Cook Time 30 min

Total time 1 hour

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 236

Fat: 11.2 g

Saturated Fat: 8.2 g

Carbohydrates: 33.4 g

Fiber: 2 g

Sugar: 23.7 g

Protein: 2.6 g

Regional Ingredients Variations of Lamington

Queensland Lamington: Also known as "Jam Lamington", this version has a layer of strawberry or raspberry jam between the sponge cake and coconut coating.

Western Australian Lamington: Called "Ganache Lamington", this version is coated with a layer of rich chocolate ganache and sometimes sprinkled with toasted almonds.

New South Wales Lamington: This traditional version with whipped cream filling and coconut coating is known as "Cream Lamington".

Northern Territory Lamington: Known as "Tropical Lamington", this version adds a tropical twist by using pineapple or mango in the sponge cake and rum in the icing.

South Australian Lamington: Called "Peanut Lamington", this version replaces the coconut coating with crushed peanuts and sometimes has a layer of peanut butter between the sponge cake.

Victoria Lamington: Known as "Berry Lamington", this lighter version uses a sponge cake made with almond flour, and the filling is a mix of whipped cream and fresh berries.

Tasmanian Lamington: Called "Oaty Lamington", this version uses rolled oats and desiccated coconut in the sponge cake and is coated in a mix of chocolate and peanut butter.

#Lamingtons #AustralianTreat #SpongeCake #ChocolateIcing #DesiccatedCoconut #ShirazWine #VictoriaBitterBeer #MoistureManagement #CakeHandling #CoatingConsistency #CoconutCoverage #FlavorExperimentation #JamFillings #VanillaExtract #AlmondExtract