Prep 40min (+ 40min cooling and 20min chilling time)
Bake 20minMakes 9

Gluten-free cakes are sometimes hard to come by. Moist and flavoursome, these lamingtons won’t disappoint. Those with gluten or wheat intolerances and sensitivities won’t ever have to compromise if wanting to enjoy this Australian classic.

Ingredients

80ml (⅓ cup) thickened cream, whisked to firm peaks
180g (2 cups) desiccated coconut, to coat

Gluten-free buttercake

175g (1¼ cups) purchased gluten-free plain flour mix
2½ teaspoons gluten-free baking powder
165g (¾ cup) caster sugar
125g unsalted butter, cubed, softened
2 eggs, at room temperature
80ml (⅓ cup) milk
2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract or essence

Chocolate icing

465g (3¾ cups) pure icing sugar
55g (½ cup) cocoa powder
150ml boiling water
1½ teaspoons vanilla essence

Method

1. To make the gluten-free buttercake, preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a 20 x 30cm (base measurement) shallow cake tin and line the base and two longs sides with one piece of baking paper.
2. Put the flour, baking powder, sugar, butter, eggs, milk and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer to beat on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 3 minutes or until the mixture is well combined and very pale in colour. Spoon the mixture into the lined tin and spread evenly using the back of a spoon. Lightly tap the tin on the bench 3 times to get rid of any excess air bubbles.
3. Bake for 20 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer. Cool for 5 minutes in the tin, then turn onto a wire rack to cool completely (this will take about 40 minutes).
4. To make the Chocolate Icing, sift the icing sugar and cocoa powder into a medium bowl. Add the boiling water and vanilla and stir until smooth (it should be the consistency of pouring cream).
5. Trim the edges of the cooled cake and then cut in half to form two layers about 20 x 15cm. Spread one half of the cake with a little of the Chocolate Icing and then spread whipped cream. Top with the remaining cake half. Chill for 20 minutes or until the cream is firm enough to cut the cake.
6. Use a sharp serrated knife to cut the layered cake into 9 portions (about 6.5 x 4.5cm each). Run a palette knife around the cut surface of each lamington to remove any excess cream.
7. Spread the coconut on a tray or plate. Rest a cake portion on a fork, dip into the chocolate icing and then and spoon the icing over the top and sides to completely coat. Allow any extra icing to drip off. Roll the cake in the coconut to coat evenly. Place on a wire rack. Repeat with the remaining cake portions, icing and coconut.

This recipe is from Anneka's SBS Food online column Bakeproof: Lamingtons. CLICK HERE for more Bakeproof recipes.

Photography by Alan Benson.