Australian Lamingtons
Australia's national cake — soft vanilla sponge squares dipped in rich chocolate glaze and rolled in desiccated coconut. A beloved shearing-shed classic that takes less than an hour to assemble.
📅January 26, 2026
30mPrep
25mCook
16Servings
⭐ 4.8Rating
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Protein 7%Fat 37%Carbs 56%
220kcalCalories
4gProtein
9gFat
31gCarbs
2gFiber
Ingredients
👥16
- 240 gplain flour
- 8 gbaking powder
- 200 gcaster sugar
- 125 gbutter softened
- 3 wholeeggs
- 180 mlwhole milk
- 5 mlvanilla extract
- 300 gicing sugar
- 60 gDutch-process cocoa powder
- 120 mlboiling water
- 30 gbutter for glaze
- 250 gdesiccated coconut
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 °C. Grease and line a 20 × 30 cm baking tin. Beat the softened butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Sift in the flour and baking powder alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with flour. Stir in vanilla.
- Pour into the tin and bake 22–25 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. Cool in the tin 10 minutes, then turn onto a wire rack and cool completely. For easier dipping, refrigerate the sponge overnight.
- Trim any crust and cut the sponge into 16 even squares (approximately 5 × 5 cm).
- Make the chocolate glaze: sift icing sugar and cocoa into a bowl. Pour over the boiling water and add the butter. Stir vigorously until smooth and glossy — add a splash more water if too thick.
- Spread the desiccated coconut in a shallow tray.
- Working quickly, use two forks to dip each sponge square in the chocolate glaze, letting excess drip off. Roll immediately in the coconut until evenly coated on all sides.
- Place on a wire rack to set, about 30 minutes. Serve on their own or halved with a small spoonful of raspberry jam.
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