Lamingtons
Light vanilla sponge squares dipped in glossy chocolate icing and rolled in desiccated coconut. A classic Australian afternoon tea favourite.
- Prep
- 35 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Total
- 60 min
- Servings
- 16
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 245 kcal
Equipment
- •20 cm square cake tin
- •electric hand mixer
- •wire cooling rack
- •heatproof mixing bowl
Nutrition
Per serving, approximate
- Calories
- 245 kcal
- fat
- 9 g
- carbs
- 38 g
- fibre
- 2 g
- protein
- 3 g
- calories
- 245 kcal
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a 20 cm square cake tin with baking paper.
- 2
Beat the eggs, caster sugar, and vanilla in a bowl until pale and thick.
- 3
Gently fold in the sifted plain flour and baking powder using a metal spoon.
- 4
Combine the melted butter and milk, then gently fold into the batter.
- 5
Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 25 minutes until springy to touch.
- 6
Cool the sponge completely in the tin, then slice into 16 equal squares.
- 7
Whisk the icing sugar, cocoa, extra butter, and boiling water in a bowl until smooth.
- 8
Place the desiccated coconut into a wide shallow dish.
- 9
Dip each cake square into the chocolate icing using two forks to coat.
- 10
Roll the coated cake immediately in the coconut until covered on all sides.
- 11
Transfer the finished lamingtons to a wire rack for 30 minutes to set.
Chef's tips
Bake the sponge a day ahead and chill it in the fridge so it sheds fewer crumbs when dipped. Keep the chocolate icing over a bowl of warm water if it starts to thicken too much while coating.
Ingredient substitutions
- plain flour and baking powder → 150 g self-raising flour
- desiccated coconut → finely shredded coconut
Storage
Store in an airtight container at room temperature in a cool place for up to 4 days.
Reheating
Lamingtons are served at room temperature and do not require reheating.
Common mistakes to avoid
- •Dipping fresh warm sponge which causes the cake to crumble into the icing.
- •Making the icing too thick which pulls chunks out of the delicate cake.
- •Leaving the iced cake too long before rolling in coconut, causing the icing to set prematurely.
Serving suggestions
Cooked Lamingtons?
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