There is no cake more Australian than Lamingtons! A moist butter sponge dipped in chocolate then coated with coconut, this is The Cake sold at every suburban bakery and weekend fundraisers.
You’ll get coconut everywhere making them and eating them. But that’s all part of the Aussie experience. It’s how we do it Down Under! 🇦🇺
Lamingtons – an Australian classic!
A soft buttery sponge cake coated all over with chocolate icing and coconut.
Even if you’ve never heard of these before, you just know it’s going to be good. We Aussies know great tucker – and this is as Aussie as it gets!! (OK, OK, maybe as Aussie as Pavs, Anzac Biscuits, Sausage Rolls, Party Pies, weekend sausage sizzles and Sunday Roast Lamb😇)
How to make Lamingtons
On the face of it, it sounds simple enough:
make a buttery vanilla sponge cake
cut into squares, dip into chocolate icing, coat with coconut
The one little extra step I add that is going to make your Lamington making life a total breeze is to mostly freeze the cake before rolling in icing. A firm, semi frozen piece of cake is much easier to handle when coating in icing and rolling in coconut. Try doing it with fresh sponge, and you’ll be battling crumbling cake as you try to coat it. Been there, done that, multiple times!
The cake will thaw as the icing sets and the cake is as fresh as it was straight out of the oven.
Here’s a bit more background to explain why I freeze the cake before coating – to make sure I fully convince you so you don’t skip that step!
Why I Freeze The Cake before coating
Lamingtons are one of those cakes that recipes say are easy to make, but most are just downright lying to you. The first few times I made them involved screeches of frustration and serious foot stomping.😤 I emerged on the other side looking like I’d been in a mud-wrestle with a plate of something that barely resembled the neat squares you see in this post.
The challenge is this: The sponge has to be tender and moist enough to eat plain, but trying to roll such a delicate cake in icing is a disaster. The cake crumbles into the icing, making it thicker and impossible to work with.
And once the crumbling begins, imagine the mess when you try to roll it in coconut.
The solution offered by traditional recipes is to leave the cake out overnight, essentially letting the outside become a bit stale so it’s easier to handle. This works pretty well – but the cake is a bit drier than ideal.
The 21st century solution:
FREEZE THE CAKE.
It’s even easier to handle for coating, and the bonus is that the cake stays fresh and moist – no need to leave it out to dry out!
This will change your Lamington Life forever.
Butter Sponge Cake for Lamingtons
The sponge cake for Lamingtons is a terrific recipe that I use as a base for other recipes (strangely, none that I’ve shared here – yet). Simply made with pantry staples, it’s soft and buttery, and not too sweet which is what we want because we get extra sweetness from the chocolate icing.
The big debate:
Do Lamingtons have jam and cream?
Classic Lamingtons made the traditional old-school way do not have jam or cream sandwiched in the middle. But you’ll come across many Aussies who won’t have Lamingtons any other way (some RecipeTin family members included).
My view – Lamingtons should stand as a great cake without any filling. Jam and cream is optional – it should make it over the top good!
If you’re a Lamington fan, I think you’ll approve of this recipe! The butter cake is moist, tender and buttery. The chocolate coating is thick enough so you get a great hit of chocolate, but thin enough so it soaks into the sponge, a sticky enough to glue on plenty of coconut.
The added bonus is that using the little trick to freeze the cakes before coating, they are neat and tidy so they look as great as they taste! – Nagi x
PS It will be messy making these. And that’s totally ok. Because it’s part of the great Aussie tradition that you get coconut “everywhere” when you’re making them and eating them!
PPS When better to make Lamingtons than for Australia Day??
Lamingtons
Watch how to make it
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Lamingtons
Ingredients
Butter Sponge
- 125 g / 4.5 oz unsalted butter , softened
- 1 cup (220g) caster sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 eggs , room temperature
- 1 3/4 cups (260g) flour , plain/all purpose, sifted (Note 1)
- 3.5 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup (125 ml) milk (low or full fat)
Icing
- 4 cups (480g) icing sugar (confectionary sugar), sifted
- 1/3 cup (22g) cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp (15g) unsalted butter
- 150ml (1/2 cup + 2 tbsp) boiling water
Coating
- 3 – 4 cups desiccated coconut
Optional: Jam and Cream
- Strawberry jam
- 1 cup (250 ml) cream
- 1 tbsp white sugar
Instructions
Butter Sponge
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F (or fan forced 160C/320F).
- Sift flour and baking powder together.
- Grease a 20 cm x 30 cm / 8″ x 12″ cake pan. Line with baking paper (parchment paper), leaving an overhang on all sides (to make it easy to remove).
- Beat butter, sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium high speed until light and fluffy – about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
- Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition so the batter is smooth, not curdled.
- Add half the flour and gently fold to combine, then stir in half the milk. Repeat with remaining flour and milk.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
- Stand for 5 minutes then use the overhang baking paper to lift the cake out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
Prepare Cake to Coat
- Cut cake into 15 squares (5 x 3), or 18 rectangles. Freeze for 1 to 1.5 hours. (Note 2)
Icing
- Combine the Icing ingredients in a heat proof bowl and mix until smooth. Should be a syrup consistency, but not watery. (Note 2)
Coating
- Place coconut in a shallow bowl or pan with a largish surface area (Note 3).
- Place a piece of cake in the icing and roll to coat using 2 forks. Transfer it into the coconut and quickly roll to coat all over in coconut. Transfer to tray.
- Repeat with remaining sponges.
- Stand for 1 to 2 hours, or until set. Then serve with tea and coffee!
Optional: Jam and Cream
- Beat cream and sugar until firm peaks form.
- Cut coated Lamington in half horizontally. Spread with jam then pipe or dollop on cream. Top with lid, keep refrigerated.
Recipe Notes:
No cream: Store in airtight container for 3 to 4 days, or freeze for 2 – 3 months then thaw before serving.
Cream: Store in refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. 5. Nutrition per serving.
Barely adapted from this recipe from taste.com.au. Ingredients the same, the main thing I changed is the process (especially the coating process, to make it easier!)Nutrition Information:
Originally published 2014. Post refreshed with better photos, recipe video and process steps added. No change to recipe!
More Aussie Tucker favourites
- Pavlova – Meringue cake with marshmallow centre topped with cream and berries
- Sausage Rolls – Juicy pork filling encased in puff pastry. We think ours rivals Bourke St Bakery!
- Party Pies – Mini pies filled with slow cooked beef
- Scones – One of the best things the English brought to our shores!
- Caramel Slice – chocolate, caramel and shortbread. Home run!
- Sunday Roast Lamb with Gravy – also try this amazing Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb!
- Big bucket of fresh cooked prawns with dipping sauces – a summer favourite!
- Browse the Australia Day recipes collection!
Life of Dozer
You think it’s hard making recipe videos? Trying make them with THIS in your line of sight….
I’ve made laminations 5 times using this excellent recipe and its bomb-proof. fantastic tips and excellent recipe. thanks Nagi.
Can I prepare the cake in advance and freeze it for more x amount of days
Hi,
If I were to bake this in a 22 cm pan as a cake, how long would I bake it for?
Hi Christine, it should take about the same time in the oven. N x
Hi. excellent recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much Sheila! N x
Hi Nagi! If I only have a 9×9 inch pan and a 9″x13 inch pan, which do you suggest I use and would I need to adjust the baking time? Thanks!
Hi Caroline, if you use the 9 x 13 they will just be slightly skinnier – cook as per the recipe. I hope you love them!! N x
First of many recipes I’ll be making from here! My Mum,, Sister, Boyfriend and Dad all approve ✅✅✅
Wahoo, thanks so much Britney – N x
It was my first time with lamingtons and they came out amazing. My whole family absolutely loved it. Thank you Nagi!!!
Tried this recipe for the first time and it was absolute perfection! Your sponge recipe made the best sponge I’ve ever tasted, honestly! The freezing the sponge tip was also amazing: I’m not the tidiest baker but this made the finished product look so pretty! Thank you!
This was delicious and so decadent! I also love that it makes cake squares so that I can sample my baking before serving it to guests 🙂 I er.. might’ve sampled an extra square just to be safe. Next recipe to tackle: pavlova! Thanks Nagi!
I’m so happy you love them Pan! N x
Hey,
Great recipe! Especially with all the conversions between metric and imperial. (I’ve found measuring takes longer than the mixing!)
What if you were to freeze the cake longer and do dipping following day? Is that ok? Or will it mess with the cake?
Also when freezing would you recommend just sticking it back in the tin that you did the bake in (after cutting that is)? Or would you separate the pieces and then freeze?
Thanks in advance
When you say freeze do you mean refrigerate? I can’t wait to make this! Love your recipes x
Hi Rimz – no you freeze them here to make them solid and keep their shape. N x
I’m American and grew up getting these from an Italian market in my hometown – never knowing what they were called (I just called them coconut bars). I googled “moist chocolate cake bar covered in coconut” to get here. They had ones with vanilla and chocolate sponge cake. I was wondering if you had any idea how to tweak the recipe to make it a chocolate sponge cake?
To make a chocolate sponge you have to reduce the amount of flour and replace with Cocoa. So if you use 1/4 cup of cocoa, reduce your flour by 1/4 cup.
Hi Ellyce – it would be a different recipe all together, feel free to pop it on my recipe request page 🙂 N x
Just made them. The glaze is waaaaay too sweet. Next time I will use the same sponge, but definitely a different icing recipe. Even my sweet tooth husband could not eat more than one and simply said “Too sweet”.
I feel like I wasted the ingredients, but at least I learned that putting 4 cups of powdered sugar into the icing is a BAD idea.
Hi Lana, sorry you found them too sweet – did you adjust the recipe by any chance? They definitely aren’t overly sweet, did you use unsweetened cocoa powder? N x
Hi Nagi! Thanks again for yet another superb recipe. My homesick Melbourne hubs was craving lamingtons, so I thought anything from your website would not disappoint and I was correct…. waiting for three more hours before we can have this for iftar.
Love from Penang.
I’m so glad you love them Amy! N x
Thank you Nagi, great recipe, I love it, followed your note and it came out fabulous..
keep it up💜
My family loved these!!. My hubby loves lamingtons and now my 4yr old is a convert. The buttery cake sponge alone is beautiful. My first attempt at making lamingtons and I was super impressed, great recipe and so much better than the store bought ones. Thank you Nagi x
I’m so glad they were a hit Dani!! N x
Hi Nagi,
Would love to try this recipe. If I use self raising flour, do I still add the baking powder please? Thanks
Hi Luana, yes – I make it using both and it works fine 🙂 N x
Second time making them…. 3 words… De-Lic-ious!!!! And an easy to follow recipe. I’ve never made lamingtons before so thought i should give it a go, so much better than preservative laden store bought. Will definitely keep making them, this recipe… a firm favourite in our house!! Ps. Recipe Tin Eats is my go to for cooking, keep up the awesome work, love it.
here’s a little trivia, The popular origin story claims a maidservant of Lord Lamington, the governor of Queensland in 1901, accidentally dropped a sponge into some melted chocolate. Rather than waste the cake, Lord Lamington suggested she cover it in coconut and the lamington was born. and it became a favoured treat of his lordship and the nation ever since
i love lammies have sold thousands of them as fundraisers for youth groups over the years.
we had the whole family and friends selling for us, it was rare we didn’t sell the most.
a dozen for 5 dollars.
mum spent hrs helping make & package them
Oh I love this story!!! N xx
Made these today. They were delicious! Better than the storebought version thats for sure! Also the idea to freeze the lamings for 1 hour is brilliant. How are you so creative?!