Lamingtons

A lamington is an Australian cake, made from squares of butter cake or sponge cake dipped in melted chocolate and coated in desiccated coconut. It is known as one of Australia's most loved desserts. My husband and son often request this to be made on Australia Day, on the 26th of January.

Ingredients

For the cake:

3 eggs at room temperature

130 gr caster sugar (extra fine for baking)

160 gr cake flour (or self raising flour. I prefer cake flour as it gives more spongy texture)

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

150 gr unsalted butter (melted)

100 ml milk

For the icing:

3 tbsp cocoa powder

50 ml warm milk

100 gr Lindt Chocolate 70%

175 ml boiling water

200 gr icing sugar

120 gr desiccated coconut

Method:

For the cake:

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degree celcius and grease a lamington tin.

In a bowl, beat the eggs and the sugar with mixer until pale and fluffy, around 8 minutes.

Sift in the flour, baking powder and salt, and fold gently.

Melt butter in a pan and put milk into the melted butter.

Add melted butter and milk to the mixture, stir well.

Pour the batter into the lamington tin and bake for about 30 minutes or until skewer comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool completely.

Best to keep it outside at room temperature for a few hours before cutting it, if you have enough time, else keep it in the fridge for an hour.

For the chocolate icing:

In a heatproof bowl, measure 3 tbsp of cocoa powder then pour the warm milk into the bowl. Whisk until smooth.

Add the hot boiling water into the bowl and whisk until combined.

Then add the chocolate pieces and whisk well until no more chocolate pieces.

Pour in the icing sugar and whisk until no more lumps.

Prepare the dessicated coconut in a shallow bowl.

Cut the cake into squares.

Starting with one square, dip it into the chocolate icing and gently toss it around until all sides are coated.

Using two forks, move it to the coconut bowl and toss it around gently until it is fully covered with the shredded coconut.

Then gently moving it to the wire rack to set.

Repeat this process with the remaining squares and leave them for at least an hour to set.

Happy Baking!