Lamingtons

Very Australian small cakes. A Lamington Drive is the quintessential fund raiser for schools and clubs. Lamingtons store well for up to 3 days. This version is not overly sweet so if you have a really sweet tooth you could add 1/2 cup icing sugar to the chocolate coating.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Yields: 32 little cakes

Ingredients

• 8  eggs
• 250  g caster sugar
• 250  g flour, sifted twice
• 30  g butter, unsalted, melted
• 1  teaspoon vanilla bean paste
• 400  g  shredded coconut

• Chocolate coating

• 600  g dark chocolate, chopped
• 300  ml  cream

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 190°C Line 2 20cm square baking tins.
2. Whisk eggs and sugar in a double boiler making sure the water does not touch the bowl. Beat for 5-10 mins or until warm, pale and frothy.
3. Transfer to an electric mixter adding vanilla paste and whisk on high speed for 8-10 mins or until mixture has tripled in volume.
4. Divide flour into 3 and gently fold each portion through the egg mix. After the second batch of flour add the melted butter then add the final batch of flour.
5. Divide between the 2 baking ins and bake for 20 minutes Remove from oven and leave to cool in tins for 10 mins before turning out onto cool rack.
6. For the chocolate coating combine the chocolate and cream in a double boiler and gently melt the chocolate, stirring to combine. Remove from heat.
7. Cut each sponge into 16 squares. Scatter coconut over a tray.
8. Using a fork dip the sponge into the warm chocolate, shake of excess and then roll in coconut. Place on cake rack and finish dipping remaining cakes.
9. If chocolate starts to thicken too much place on stove again and reheat slightly.
10. Let the Lamingtons sit for 1 hour to allow chocolate to set.
11. Alternative: Slice the whole cake in half horizontally, spread with a berry jam, sandwich back together, cut into squares then coat in chocolate and coconut.