25 Jan IT’S LAMINGTON DAY! TRY OUR RECIPE

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie – Oi! Oi! Oi!

Okay, I’ve got that out of my system.

As a Sydney girl living in London, I always get a case of the warm and fuzzies on January 26. This is, of course, Australia Day, when all the Aussies who have found themselves in freezing London instead of on some glorious beach back home huddle in pubs to share precious body heat and get a little bit too jolly on Fosters.

But, for the antipodean abroad who doesn’t quite care for Fosters, Australia Day is officially LAMINGTON DAY, when one may eat as many chocolate-dipped, coconut-rolled cakes as physically possible – it’s a show of national pride.

I’ve made my lamingtons with a simple sponge recipe, and without jam. Feel free to halve your sponge and add liberal dollops of raspberry or strawberry sweet stuff. It WILL get messy. I’ve also followed Dan Lepard’s lead and enriched my chocolate sauce with melted dark chocolate. Fancy.

DARK CHOCOLATE-DIPPED LAMINGTONS
Makes 12 small lamingtons

Sponge
225g unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing
225g self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting
225g caster sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

Chocolate sauce
150g Green & Black’s 70% dark chocolate
3 1/2 tbsp cocoa
100g caster sugar
150ml milk
100g desiccated coconut

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a square or rectangular baking tin with baking parchment and grease and flour the sides.
2. Use an electric beater to cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add the eggs, one a time, making sure each one is well incorporated into the mixture before adding the next.
4. Stir in the vanilla extract and sift in the flour. Gently fold the flour into the mixture and pour it into the prepared tin. Use a spatula to level the cake batter.
5. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown. Test the cake with a skewer – if it comes out clean, the sponge is ready. If not, return the sponge to the oven and check again after 5 minutes.
6. Transfer the sponge to a wire rack and allow to cool. Once cool, use a serrated knife to level the top of the sponge and trim the edges. Slice into 12 small squares.

7. To make your chocolate sauce, break the chocolate into small pieces. Place the cocoa, sugar and milk in a saucepan and whisk to combine. Bring to the boil, then remove from the heat. Add the chocolate and stir until melted. Allow to cool, then transfer to a deep bowl.

8. Scatter a thick layer of desiccated coconut on a large plate and have it ready, next to your bowl of chocolate sauce. Line a tray with baking parchment for your completed lamingtons.
9. Working quickly, dip a slice of sponge in the chocolate sauce, coating all sides, and roll it in the desiccated coconut to coat. Transfer to the prepared tray. Repeat with remaining slices of sponge and allow the chocolate to set before scoffing them all.

Photography & styling (main & last image): Emma Scott-Child
Additional photography: Selina Altomonte