Lamingtons

This cake apparently goes by many names. I’m sure you’ve tried it before :). In Poland it’s known as “kudłacze”, sometimes as lamingtons… Whatever you call it, it’s simply delicious. I don’t think I’ve made it in years, so it was time to dig the recipe out of my old notebook. It’s a soft, delicate and slightly buttery cake, cut into small squares, dipped in a cocoa glaze and then coated in desiccated coconut. This makes the outside moist and intensely chocolatey, while the inside remains light and fluffy. It’s also really easy to make, and the finished squares look wonderfully impressive. If you enjoy classic homemade cakes that are simple to prepare yet absolutely delicious, you really should give this recipe a try. Highly recommended!

Ingredients for the cake:

• 250 g butter
• ¾ cup caster sugar
• 1 cup sour cream
• 16 g vanillin sugar

Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to the boil, just until the butter has melted. Leave to cool.

Also:

• 2½ cups plain flour
• 2 heaped tsp baking powder
• 3 eggs
• 2 egg yolks

All ingredients should be at room temperature.

Add the eggs and egg yolks to the cooled butter mixture and mix until smooth. Sift the flour and baking powder directly into the mixture, then fold with a spatula just until combined.

Line a 32 x 22 cm baking tin with baking paper and pour in the batter. Bake at 170°C for about 35–40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove from the oven, leave to cool, then cut the cake into squares.

Ingredients for the cocoa glaze:

• 125 g butter
• 1 cup sour cream
• 10 tbsp caster sugar
• 3–4 tbsp cocoa powder

Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring frequently, until the butter has melted and everything is well combined. The glaze should be smooth.

Note: I most often make the glaze using one and a half times the quantities given above.

Also:

• 300 g desiccated coconut

Dip each cake square into the glaze, preferably using cutlery to help – it can get quite messy ;). Then coat in desiccated coconut and place on a plate.

Enjoy!