14 Jan Chocolate Lamingtons

It’s 26 January and you’re by the pool with your loved ones, chilled bevvie in hand, but you can’t quite shake the feeling that something’s missing. These coconutty, chocolatey lamingtons will make your Australia Day complete. Don’t forget the vanilla cream.

Makes: 12 small cakes

Ingredients

300g (2 cups) self-raising flour
40g (⅓ cup) cornflour (cornstarch)
340g butter, softened
330g (1½ cups) caster (superfine) sugar
1 teaspoon natural vanilla extract 6 eggs, at room temperature
100ml milk

Lamington Dip

160g (1½ cups) dark cocoa powder
500g (4 cups) icing sugar
100g (⅔ cup) chopped dark chocolate
500ml (2 cups) boiling water
320g (1 cup) raspberry jam
350g (5⅓ cups) thread (shredded) coconut, for coating
1 quantity vanilla whipped cream, to serve

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Lightly grease a 12-hole standard 250ml (1 cup) muffin tin. Sift together the flour and cornflour, and set aside. Use an electric mixer with a beater attachment to beat the butter and caster sugar until pale and creamy.

Add the vanilla and then beat in the eggs one at a time. If the mix starts to curdle, add a tablespoon of the sifted flour.

Fold in the rest of the sifted dry ingredients, then add the milk and mix until just incorporated. Spoon the batter into the prepared tins.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the sponge springs back when gently pressed on top. Cool in the tins before turning out.

For the lamington dip

Sift the cocoa powder and icing sugar into a medium bowl. Add the chopped dark chocolate and pour over the boiling water.

Whisk until combined and the chocolate has melted. Strain through a sieve to remove any lumps and allow to cool.

To assemble: Cut each sponge in half and sandwich together with the raspberry jam.

Carefully dip each one into the lamington dip, drain off any excess chocolate and roll in the coconut threads to coat. Place on a wire rack to dry.

Serve with vanilla whipped cream.

Note: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 to 3 days.

Raspberry Jam

Ingredients

1 vanilla bean
1kg (8 cups) raspberries, fresh or frozen
495 g (2¼ cups) caster (superfine) sugar
juice of 1 lemon

Method

Split the vanilla bean in half lengthways, then scrape the seeds from the halves using the tip of a sharp knife. In a heavy-based saucepan, put the raspberries, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla bean and seeds, and 125ml (½ cup) water.

Stir constantly over low heat until the sugar is dissolved, approximately 5 minutes. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for approximately 20 to 25 minutes until the mixture will jell when tested on a cold saucer.

Discard the vanilla bean. Stand the jam for 10 minutes to settle before pouring into hot sterilised jars.

Note: Store in a cool, dark place for up to 12 months. Once opened, keep in the fridge and use within 1 month.

Vanilla Whipped Cream

Ingredients

½ vanilla bean 300ml thin (pouring) cream
1 tablespoon caster (superfine) sugar

Method

Split the half vanilla bean lengthways, then scrape the seeds using the tip of a sharp knife.

Combine the cream, vanilla seeds and sugar in a bowl and use an electric mixer with a whisk attachment to whisk the cream until it forms soft peaks.

This recipe is from The Cook and Baker by Cherie Bevan & Tass Tauroa, published by Murdoch Books.