Australia Day - Lamingtons

Australia Day (previously known as Anniversary Day, Foundation Day, and ANA Day) is the official national day of Australia. Celebrated annually on the 26th of January, the date commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788 and the proclamation at that time of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of New Holland.

Although it was not known as Australia Day until over a century later, records of celebrations on 26 January date back to 1808, with the first official celebration of the formation of New South Wales held in 1818. It is presently an official public holiday in every state and territory of Australia and is marked by the presentation of the Australian of the Year Awards on Australia Day Eve, announcement of the Honours List for the Order of Australia and addresses from the Governor-General and Prime Minister. With community festivals, concerts and citizenship ceremonies the day is celebrated in large and small communities and cities around the nation. Australia Day has become the biggest annual civic event in Australia.

What better way to celebrate Australia Day tomorrow than with a lamington or two ;]

THE WORLD-FAMOUS AUSTRALIAN CULINARY ICON NAMED AFTER THE GOVERNOR OF QUEENSLAND (MY HOME STATE) - LORD LAMINGTON.

The world-famous Australian lamington was 100 years old on 19 December 2001.Despite some dubious claims from New Zealand, the lamington is as Australian as meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars, ranking alongside the other true Australian icons of the pavlova, peach melba and Vegemite.

This Australian culinary icon, which consists of sponge cake dipped in chocolate and liberally sprinkled with fine desiccated coconut, was created through an accident at work by a maid to Lord Lamington, the thoroughly-British eighth Governor of Queensland. The maid was working at Government House in Brisbane when she accidentally dropped the Governor's favourite sponge cake into some melted chocolate.

Lord Lamington was not a person of wasteful habits and suggested that it be dipped in coconut to cover the chocolate to avoid messy fingers. Lord Lamington devoured this new taste sensation with great delight and the maids error was proclaimed a magnificent success by all!


Homemade Lamingtons



You will need...

190g of unsalted butter - softened
1 cup of caster sugar
2 tsp of vanilla extract
3 free range eggs
2 1/3 cups of self raising flour - sifted
1 cup of milk
220g of dark chocolate
1 cup of thickened cream
1 cup of desiccated or shredded coconut

You then need to...

Preheat your oven to 170C. Grease and line a 20cm square cake tin. Process butter and sugar in a processor for 2 minutes until light. Add 1 tsp vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, pulsing after each until just combined. In 3 alternating batches, add flour and milk, pulsing to combine. Pour into tin and bake for 55-60 minutes until a skewer inserted in centre comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes, then turn onto a rack to cool completely. Cut into rectangles or squares.

Meanwhile, stir chocolate, cream and remaining vanilla in a heatproof bowl over simmering water until smooth (don't let the bowl touch the water). Chill for 20 minutes to thicken. Spread the icing over the cake portions, then sprinkle top, sides and bottom with the coconut until evenly coated.

Mmmmm try stopping at one :P