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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Lamington, Finally...



Had my first Lamington in Sydney some fourteen years ago, and somehow despite the fading memory of it, I still keep the crave of its cocoa and coconut flavor and I once set out a promise to bake for myself someday.

It has been long long time, and amidst browsing through many food blogs last month, I was exposed to this cake again. Due to the vibes of celebrating Australia Day which fell on last 26th January, this iconic Australian cake became popular and appeared in many food blogs. I was once again tempted…



Some interesting findings from Wikipedia showed that Lamington has more than a decade history and was named after Charles Cochrane-Baillie who served as Governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901. Traditionally Lamington is popular as fund raisers for Australian youth groups such as Scouts, Guides and churches to the extent that such fund raisers are called "Lamington drives". Friday 21 July 2006 was designated as National Lamington Day in Australia. And in September 2006, the National Trust of Queensland named the Lamington one of Queensland's favourite icon.



Lamington is not difficult to bake and in fact very straight forward. Besides the conventional chocolate coating, I also made passionfruit curd. I was thinking of alternating them and serve Lamingtons like a chest board. It is fun and the flavor is very refreshing.



Try and see whether you like it?

LAMINGTONS
Makes thirty six 3.5cm Lamington cubes.



1. Sponge Cake

Ingredients:
- All purpose flour > 145grams
- Granulated sugar > 160 grams
- Eggs > 5
- Melted butter > 60 grams

Method:
- Prepare a 9 inch square baking tin lined with baking paper.
- Preheat oven to 175C.
- Beat eggs and granulated sugar until pale and light.
- Gently fold in all purpose flour, following by melted butter. Mix well.
- Pour batter into tin and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove from tin and cool on wire rack.
- Cut into 3.5cm squares. Will get 36.



2. Chocolate Coating

Ingredients:
- Cocoa powder > 30 grams
- Icing sugar > 100 grams
- Melted butter > 25 grams
- Hot water > 25ml
- Dessicated coconut > 50 grams
- Extra icing sugar and butter (at room temperature)



Method:
- Combine all ingredients together and mix well.
- Separate 18 cubes of sponge cake. Dip into chocolate coating and toss in dessicated coconut.
- Into the leftover chocolate coating add the same portion of icing sugar and butter. Stir until it reaches a thick and firm consistensy. Fill into a piping bag and pipe a rosette on top of Lamington.



3. Passionfruit Curd

Ingredients:
- Passionfruit pulp > 65 grams
- Granulated sugar > 40 grams
- Egg > 1
- Butter at room temperature > 30 grams
- Dessicated coconut > 50 grams
- Extra icing sugar and butter (at room temperature)



Method:
- Mix passionfruit pulp, sugar and egg in a bowl.
- Place the bowl on a double boiler.
- Stir constantly until sugar dissolves and batter becomes thick.
- Remove from heat and add butter. Stir well.
- Take 18 cubes of sponge cake. Dip into passionfruit curd and toss in dessicated coconut.
- Into the leftover passionfruit curd add the same portion of icing sugar and butter. Stir until it reaches a thick and firm consistensy. Fill into a piping bag and pipe a rosette on top of Lamington.

29 comments:

  1. That is a wonderful speciality! Your lamingtons look perfect and so pretty!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. What beautiful photos, wow! I've never had a lamington but they seem like a great tea-time treat!

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  3. This is so beautiful. I've heard of Lamingtons before and your recipe so easy to follow. Gonna bookmark it~ Thanks!

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  4. Oh, Kris you take gorgeous shots. They seem to be calling me=;) This is the first time i've heard of this cake. At first glance i thought they are petit fours. They look similar. I'm definetly trying this soon. I just got done making nanaimo bars. Nope, i'm not w/ the BC group, i don't think i can take on the challenges. Baking isn't my forte' but there are some BC challenges i want to make in my own time sans the due date he!he!he! Thanks for sharing this.

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  5. OMG!!! do we have a same feeling ? ^_^ yesterday I made this too, but yours so beautiful and I was so embarassed to take a pict. and thought ok, i will make another batch next .. but you already show how pretty lamington is.. hahahah...

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  6. ups..forget to say, that is pretty purple header. *somebody in love :) *

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  7. Thankyou for introducing me to lamingtons, this is the first time i've heard of them. Your recipe seems simple enough and i can't believe such cute furry desserts require such little work! And the passion fruit coating looks especially intriguing, i'll keep this recipe in mind on my next baking expedition.

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  8. This looks fantastic! I really want to have a bite! (maybe more)

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  9. OMG - I would be delighted to try your Lamingtons (especially that I didn't have them before at all!). They look so delicious and they remind me of little, fluffy clouds...

    Cheers from cold and rainy Ireland! Anula.

    P.S. Love your cakestand :] I have to finally buy one for myself...

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  10. I had never heard of these... They look so cute! The passion fruit and coconut must be a wonderful combination!

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  11. They are gorgeous!! Passion fruit curd sounds good {I am not a huge chocolate fan.. so the fruit really appeals!}

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  12. I've never heard of this cake! What gorgeous photos (as always). I love the sound of cocoa and coconut!

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  13. GORGEOUS lamingtons!!!!!! I adore them, so easy yet so elegant!!!

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  14. I have never even heard of lamington, but that's another neat thing about blogging friends from all over the world:) I must say these look so daintily cute and sound delicious! I will try one someday! Beautiful photos!!!

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  15. Despite the fact that I had only vaguely heard something about lamingtons before; they look absolutely delicious!! Gorgeous gorgeous photos as always!

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  16. Ahh was just in Australia last month and made it a mission to try a few Lamingtons. I loved them, and am so surprised they haven't spread in popularity! I feel the same drive to make them at home now, so thanks for sharing your recipes. The orange color of the passion fruit flavor is such a gorgeous contrast to the dark chocolate.

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  17. I love how you've placed them on your pretty white trays like little presents just waiting to be given!

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  18. I want to try lamingtons now more than ever! Though I'd never be able to find ones with fruit curd like your lovely ones. The checkerboard photograph is great, as well as all your others of course.

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  19. Adding that extra dose of passionfruit curd just ups the Aussie factor by 100%! I always love passionfruit on my pavlova, so it's such a nice thought to be able to combine the two! You make me miss Australia in so many ways. :)

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  20. Those look beautiful. I have heard of but haven't made lamingtons. Maybe now would be a good time to give them a go.
    Mimi

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  21. Kris - you outdid yourself yet again on this one. I lovvvveeee lamingtons and yours are the best! Can you fedex some please????

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  22. I love your take on the lamington! Very lovely indeed. My boyfriend LOVES passionfruit so I'll definately give the passionfruit one a try someday. Thanks for the recipe. Your photos are gorgeous!

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  23. I've never heard about Lamingtons before! But they look so good! Your foods are always lovely.

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  24. Hi Kris, sorry I've been MIA. Hope you had a wonderful Valentines. I've never heard about Lamingtons too...but they look like some yummy tea time treats. Beautiful photos!

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  25. Kris, the lamingtons look awafully gorgeous. I had my 1st lamington recently when my boss who is Australian baked some for the office for Australia Day. It was pretty good - the combination of pound cake with chocolate and dessicated coconut. Your photos are gorgeous as always.

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  26. Beautiful. I've heard of lamingtons but have never had one. The passion fruit curd sounds divine! I love passion fruit and think it's the perfect foil in a sweet dessert.

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  27. Wow! I've never made or tried lamingtons, but they look absolutely delicious =D.

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  28. Hi, Kris! I finally made these and they were so good! Thanks for the share! I've blogged my version, so if you have the time pls. come and check it out!! http://bisayajudkaayo.blogspot.com/2010/07/lamingtons.html

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