The lamington is a square of sponge or butter cake dipped in chocolate and rolled in desiccated coconut, believed to be named after Lord Lamington, Governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901.

Lamingtons are believed to be named after Lord Lamington, Governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901, or his wife, and most sources favour him. Most stories credit his French-born chef Armand Galland, called on to feed unexpected guests; one account places the first lamington at Government House in Brisbane, another at Harlaxton House in Toowoomba. A recipe for Lamington Cakes appeared in the Queensland Country Life newspaper in 1900 and in a Sydney paper in 1901. 21 July is National Lamington Day in Australia.

Where to eat Lamington in Brisbane

The editor picks for Lamington in Brisbane are still in research. Meanwhile, see the Brisbane signature-dishes index or the Brisbane food guide.

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Make it at home

Serves 161 hr 30 minEasy

Ingredients

  • Sponge cake: 4 large eggs, 175g caster sugar, 175g self-raising flour
  • 60g unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • Chocolate icing: 500g icing sugar, 60g cocoa powder
  • 20g unsalted butter, melted
  • 250ml boiling water
  • 300g desiccated coconut for rolling

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Grease and line a 20cm square tin with baking paper.
  2. Beat eggs and sugar with electric mixer 8 minutes until pale, thick and tripled in volume.
  3. Sift in flour in three batches, folding very gently. Fold in cooled melted butter.
  4. Pour into prepared tin and bake 25 minutes until top springs back. Cool completely on rack, ideally overnight (firmer sponge dips better).
  5. Cut cake into 16 cubes (4x4cm). For icing, sift sugar and cocoa into a bowl, stir in butter and boiling water until smooth.
  6. Dip each cube briefly into chocolate icing using two forks, drain, then roll in desiccated coconut on a plate. Set aside on rack 1 hour to firm.

Editor tip. Day-old sponge cake holds its shape better than fresh. A common variation splits the lamington and fills it with cream or strawberry jam.

Common allergens: Gluten, Egg, Dairy.