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A cream filled lamington

Two traditional lamingtons

Lamingtons are a sponge cake (or more traditionally, butter cake) cubes, coated in a layer of traditionally chocolate icing then desiccated coconut. They are sometimes served as two halves with a layer of cream and/or strawberry jam between, and are commonly found in Australian outlets such as coffee lounges, lunch bars, bakeries, and supermarkets. The strawberry variety is more common in New Zealand, while a lemon variety has been encountered in Australia. ^[1] Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Lamington may refer to: Lamington, a type of sponge cake (or more traditionally, butter cake) squares Three small Scottish settlements called Lamington in Aberdeenshire, Highland and South Lanarkshire Lamington Hill, South Lanarkshire Lamington National Park, in Queensland, Australia Lamington and West Lamington, two settlements in Western Australia Lamington River, a... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (3888 × 2592 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (3888 × 2592 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see Sponge (disambiguation). ... A butter cake is a cake in which one of the main ingredients is butter. ... For other uses, see Chocolate (disambiguation). ... This cake has an icing made with sour cream. ... For other uses, see Coconut (disambiguation). ... For other uses of Cream, see Cream (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Strawberry (disambiguation). ... Jam from berries Jam (also known as jelly or preserves) is a type of sweet spread or condiment made with fruits or sometimes vegetables, sugar, and sometimes pectin if the fruits natural pectin content is insufficient to produce a thick product. ...

The chocolate coating is a thin mixture, into which cubes of sponge cake (one cookbook states 4 cm per side) are dipped, and the chocolate is absorbed into the outermost layers of the sponge where it sets. (Similarly, the strawberry jam or chocolate icing is absorbed into the sponge.) The cubes are then covered with coconut and left to set. For the 2005 Missy Elliott album, see The Cookbook. ...

They have traditionally been popular as fund raisers for Australian youth groups such as Scouts, Guides and churches. These annual events are termed "Lamington drives." They can be on a large scale with dozens of helpers. The cake is supplied by commercial bakeries in large slabs and cut into about 40mm cubes. Teams of volunteers work together, dipping the cake into the chocolate icing and rolling it in the coconut. Generally they are packaged up into one dozen lots for distribution within communities which have been solicited for orders ahead of time. Lamingtons often generate feelings of nostalgia. In the early twenty first century these type of community bonding events are becoming obstructed by food handling regulations. Commercial entrepreneurs have also produced "branded" alternatives. In Australia, they are seen as a typical Australia Day food. Anniversary Day redirects here. ...

Lamingtons are most likely named after Charles Cochrane-Baillie, 2nd Baron Lamington, who served as Governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901. However, the precise reasoning behind this is not known, and stories vary. According to one account, the dessert resembled the homburg hats favoured by Lord Lamington. Another tells of a banquet in Cloncurry during which the governor accidentally dropped a block of sponge cake into a dish of gravy, and then threw it over his shoulder, causing it to land in a bowl of desiccated coconut or peanut butter. A diner thought of replacing the gravy with chocolate and thusly created the lamington known today.^[2] Charles Wallace Alexander Napier Cochrane-Baillie, 2nd Baron Lamington, GCMG, GCIE (July 29, 1860 – September 16, 1940) was a British politician and colonial administrator who was Governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901, and Governor of Bombay from 1903 to 1907. ... List of Governors of Queensland See Governors of the Australian states for a description and history of the office of Governor. ... Year 1896 (MDCCCXCVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar). ... Year 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Homburg is a stiff felt hat very similar to the fedora with a passing glance, since both have a crease along the length of the crown. ... Location of Cloncurry in Queensland (red) Cloncurry () is a town and Local Government Area situated in north west Queensland, Australia, 770 kilometres west of the city of Townsville via the Flinders Highway. ... For other uses, see Gravy (disambiguation). ...

A 1981 report in the Brisbane Courier Mail states the following: A colleague ... swears this is really how the lamington came about. At one stage when Baron Lamington was Queensland Governor, there was a large amount of stale cake in the Government House kitchen. In an attempt to make it palatable, the cake was dipped in chocolate and then tossed in desiccated coconut. The parliamentarians liked this 'gateau' and ordered their cooks to obtain the recipe from the Government House cook.

Ironically, Lord Lamington was known to have hated the dessert that had been named in his honour, once referring to them as "those bloody poofy woolly biscuits".^[2]

Most of these reports amount to hearsay, and some border on the absurd. The most probable version of events surrounds the visit of Lord Lamington and his entourage to Toowoomba's Harlaxton House. An industrious cook, lacking some ingredients, came up with the "lamington". Tea and lamingtons are part of the festivities that follow Australian Citizenship ceremonies. Toowoomba (also known as the The Garden City) is a city in South East Queensland, Australia. ...

Friday 21 July 2006 was designated as National Lamington Day in Australia.

In September 2006, the National Trust of Queensland named the Lamington one of Queensland's favourite icons. Slogan or Nickname: Sunshine State, Smart State Motto(s): Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Quentin Bryce Premier Anna Bligh (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 28  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $158,506 (3rd...

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