From: Like Grandma Used to Make

The sponge cake will be firmer and easier to handle if you make it the day before you assemble the lamingtons. The finished lamingtons can be stored overnight, standing on baking paper, in airtight containers.

Lamingtons Ingredients

Preparation time: day 1, 15 minutes; day 2, 30 minutes
Cooking time:18 minutes
Makes 15 lamingtons

For the sponge cake
- 3 tablespoons self-raising flour
- 1/4 cup plain flour
- 2 tablespoons cornflour
- 3 eggs
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup caster sugar
- 3 teaspoons boiling water

For the chocolate icing
- 2 cups icing sugar
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 1 3/4 cups desiccated coconut

How to Cook the Lamingtons

1 Preheat the oven to 160°C. Lightly grease a deep 28 x 18 cm lamington pan with melted butter and line the base and sides of the pan with nonstick baking paper, allowing a 5 cm overhang (this makes it easier to remove the sponge from the pan).

2 Sift the two flours and cornflour together. Repeat the sifting process five times (this will aerate the flour thoroughly).

3 Using an electric mixer, whisk the eggs and salt in a large mixing bowl for 6 minutes, or until pale and thick. Gradually add the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking until the mixture is thick and the sugar is dissolved.

4 Sift the combined flour mixture over the egg mixture. Add the boiling water and gently fold in until the batter is just combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for 15–18 minutes, or until cooked through when tested with a skewer. Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan. Cover with foil and stand overnight.

5 Lift the cake from the pan. Trim the edges and cut the sponge into 5 cm squares.

To make the chocolate icing, sift the icing sugar and cocoa powder into a medium heatproof bowl. Stir in the boiling water and mix well to combine.

6 Place the coconut in a medium bowl. Using two forks, dip the sponge squares, one at a time, into the warm icing and then roll in the coconut. (If the icing begins to thicken, place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and stir until it is warm and thin again.)

7 Place the lamingtons on a wire rack lined with nonstick baking paper for 1 hour to set.