Lamington cakes are delicious cubes of sponge cake with a chocolate coating and rolled in dessicated coconut, usually served with whipped cream and the afternoon tea. They were named after Lord Lamington, a popular governor of that colony. The chocolate icing keeps the cake moist. Lamingtons are a typical part of every Australian’s childhood. The little sponge cake is dipped in chocolate icing and then rolled in desiccated coconut. These little treats are sold at school fairs and bake sales around the country.

Ingredients:

• 450 gm all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp of baking powder
• 1/4 tsp of kosher salt
• 2 large eggs
• 120 gm room temperature butter
• 3/4 cup of white sugar
• 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract
• 120 ml milk
• 450 gm icing sugar
• 1/3 cup of cocoa powder
• 3 tbs of butter
• 120 ml milk
• Whipped cream for serving

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350F (180C).
• Lightly butter an 8 inch square cake tin. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• In a separate bowl, use an electric beater to cream the butter and sugar mixture together until pale and fluffy.
• Add the eggs one at a time to the butter/sugar mixture. Beat well after adding each egg.
• Add the vanilla to the mixture and mix well to combine.
• Next, use a spatula to alternately add the flour mixture and milk, in three additions, starting and finishing with the flour.
• Spread the batter into the cake tin, making sure it’s evenly spread.
• Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes. Test the center of the cake with a toothpick and make sure it comes out clean.
• Cool the cake in the tin for about 5 minutes and then invert it onto a wire rack to cool.
• Once the cake has cooled cut it into squares of a desired size and place them in an airtight container. Pop the container in the fridge for at least 2 hours or even overnight.
• Now for the icing. Place the icing sugar, cocoa powder, butter and milk in a heat proof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water.
• Stir the mixture until it is smooth but still a bit thick. You don’t want the liquid to get too thin otherwise the sponge cake won’t absorb the coating.
• Now it’s time to assemble the Lamingtons. Put out some newspaper under wire racks to catch any mess. Place the cake pieces on the racks and have your chocolate icing and desiccated coconut ready.
• Quickly coat the sponge cake on all sides in the icing mixture and then gently roll the cake in the coconut. Repeat the process.
• The Lamingtons can be stored in an airtight container for 5 days.

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