lamington

Lamingtons are believed to be named after either Lord Lamington, who served as Governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901, or his wife, Lady Lamington.{{cite book|last=French|first=Maurice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IPQ8lwEACAAJ|title=The Lamington Enigma: A Survey of the Evidence|publisher=Tabletop Publishing|year=2013|isbn=978-0-9874322-0-9|access-date=23 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315023151/https://books.google.com/books?id=IPQ8lwEACAAJ|archive-date=15 March 2017|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/australia-food-blog/2014/may/16/lamingtons-provenance-unproven-but-tastiness-unquestioned |title=Lamingtons – provenance unproven but tastiness unquestioned |last=Veenhuyzen |first=Max |date=15 May 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |department=Great Australian dishes |eissn=1756-3224 |access-date=21 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428071739/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/australia-food-blog/2014/may/16/lamingtons-provenance-unproven-but-tastiness-unquestioned |archive-date=28 April 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Martell |first=Ally |title=A slice of the action - the lamington demands recognition|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/food-wine/a-slice-of-the-action-the-lamington-demands-recognition/story-e6frg8jo-1226668996800 |access-date=10 September 2016 |newspaper=The Australian |publisher=News Corp Australia |issn=1038-8761 |date=25 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016164151/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/food-wine/a-slice-of-the-action-the-lamington-demands-recognition/story-e6frg8jo-1226668996800 |archive-date=16 October 2016}} Most sources incline to the former.{{cite book |editor-first=Darra |editor-last=Goldstein |editor-link=Darra Goldstein |title=The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jbi6BwAAQBAJ&pg=PA34 |year=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-931339-6 |page=34 |access-date=23 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315023141/https://books.google.com/books?id=jbi6BwAAQBAJ&pg=PA34 |archive-date=15 March 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite book |first=Alan |last=Davidson |author-link=Alan Davidson (food writer) |editor-first=Tom |editor-last=Jaine |editor-link=Tom Jaine |title=The Oxford Companion to Food |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bIIeBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA456 |date=2014 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-104072-6 |edition=3rd |page=456 |access-date=23 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314215055/https://books.google.com/books?id=bIIeBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA456 |archive-date=14 March 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite book |first=Barbara |last=Santich |title=Bold Palates: Australia's Gastronomic Heritage |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RkHKFAzc_5AC&pg=PA203 |year=2012 |publisher=Wakefield Press |location=Adelaide |isbn=978-1-74305-094-1 |page=203 |access-date=23 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314213953/https://books.google.com/books?id=RkHKFAzc_5AC&pg=PA203 |archive-date=14 March 2017 |url-status=live }} The earliest known reference to the naming of the lamington, from June 1927, links the cake to Lord Lamington.{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/169146899/16919776 |title=Some Special Recipes |newspaper=The Sydney Mail |publisher=John Fairfax & Sons |department=Women's World |date=29 June 1927 |access-date=1 February 2015 |pages=37–38 |via=Trove |archive-date=27 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227023826/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/169146899/16919776 |url-status=live }}

The identity of the recipe's inventor has also been debated. Most stories attribute its creation to Lord Lamington's chef, the French-born Armand Galland, who was called upon at short notice to feed unexpected guests. Using only the limited ingredients available, Galland cut up some left-over French vanilla sponge cake baked the day before, dipped the slices in chocolate and set them in coconut. Impressed by Galland's creation, Lamington's guests were said to have later asked for the recipe. This version of events is supported by Lady Lamington's memoirs.{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/galland-attempt-to-please-a-lady-takes-the-cake-20090605-bylq.html |first=Cosima |last=Marriner |title=Galland attempt to please a Lady takes the Cake |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |issn=0312-6315 |date=6 June 2009 |quote=Lady Lamington refers to the cake in memoirs she wrote for her children. "She makes the point the lamington was created by their French chef Armand Galland," curator Katie McConnel says. |access-date=27 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515041945/https://www.smh.com.au/national/galland-attempt-to-please-a-lady-takes-the-cake-20090605-bylq.html |archive-date=15 May 2018 |url-status=live }} Coconut was not widely used in European cooking at that time, but was known to Galland, whose wife was from Tahiti, where coconut was a common ingredient.

One account suggests that the lamington was first served in Toowoomba, when Lord Lamington took his entourage to Harlaxton House to escape the steamy heat of Brisbane,{{cite web |first=Ed |last=Halmagyi |url=http://www.fast-ed.com.au/a-brief-history-of-lamingtons/ |title=A brief history of lamingtons |date=6 July 2011 |website=www.fast-ed.com.au |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055930/http://www.fast-ed.com.au/a-brief-history-of-lamingtons/ |archive-date=21 September 2013 |df=dmy-all}} whereas another claims that it was created by Galland at Queensland's Government House in Brisbane during the busy period leading up to Federation in 1901. A further alternative claim is that Lord Lamington's cook, presumably Galland, accidentally dropped a block of sponge cake into a dish of chocolate. It was later discovered that desiccated coconut, sprinkled over the top, made the cakes more appealing.{{cite web | title=Lamington or Lemmington?: The Oz 'National Dish'|publisher=Australian National Dictionary Centre |date=May 1999 |work=Aussie Words | url=http://www.anu.edu.au/ANDC/pubs/ozwords/May_99/6._lamington.htm |access-date=11 October 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607040705/http://www.anu.edu.au/ANDC/pubs/ozwords/May_99/6._lamington.htm |archive-date=7 June 2008}}

The first known mention of "Lamington cake" appears in an 1896 newspaper account of a "Lamington Function" at Laidley in Queensland. The event was in honour of Lord Lamington (although it appears he did not attend) and also featured "Lamington Tea", "Lamington Soup" etc., so, in the absence of any description of the cake, the name of the cake might signify nothing more than the name of the event.{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/123358617 |title=Notes on the "Lamington Function". |newspaper=Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser |volume=XXXVII |issue=5469 |date=28 July 1896 |access-date=17 January 2015 |page=3 |via=Trove |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307020819/http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/123358617 |archive-date=7 March 2016 |url-status=live }} A 1900 recipe for Lamington Cakes has been found in the Queensland Country Life newspaper.{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/101452826 |title=Useful Recipes |newspaper=Queensland Country Life |location=Brisbane |date=17 December 1900 |volume=I |issue=10 |access-date=18 April 2014 |page=29 |via=Trove |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309183957/http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/101452826 |archive-date=9 March 2016 |url-status=live }} While the recipe originated in Queensland, it spread quickly, appearing in a Sydney newspaper in 1901{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/165233945 |title=The Ladies' Page |newspaper=Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser |date=12 October 1901 |access-date=17 January 2015 |page=938 |via=Trove |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724050402/http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/165233945 |archive-date=24 July 2016 |url-status=live }} and a New Zealand newspaper in 1902.{{cite news |title=The Table |department=Woman's World |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19020827.2.13 |access-date=17 January 2015 |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |location=Auckland |volume=XXXIX |issue=12055 |date=27 August 1902 |page=3 |via=Papers Past |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728205710/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19020827.2.13 |archive-date=28 July 2017 |url-status=live }} However, none of these recipes indicate the creator of the recipe nor the reason for its name.

A 2014 April Fools' Day story from Guardian Australia falsely claimed the lamington to have been based on a previously unknown New Zealand cake known as a "Wellington".{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/01/lamington-invented-in-new-zealand-new-research-proves-beyond-doubt |title=Lamington invented in New Zealand, new research proves 'beyond doubt' |last=Priol |first=Olaf |author-link=April Fools' Day |date=1 April 2014 |work=The Guardian |department=Australia news |access-date=1 December 2017 |eissn=1756-3224 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201182813/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/01/lamington-invented-in-new-zealand-new-research-proves-beyond-doubt |archive-date=1 December 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Go coco for lamingtons - it's World Lamington Day |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2019/07/19/go-coco-lamingtons-its-world-lamington-day |website=SBS |access-date=6 April 2020 |archive-date=21 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921114409/https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2019/07/19/go-coco-lamingtons-its-world-lamington-day |url-status=live }} This hoax origin story was later repeated by other sources.{{cite web |last1=Leeder |first1=Erin |title=Foods Australia And New Zealand Love To Bicker About |url=https://theculturetrip.com/pacific/australia/articles/5-foods-australia-and-new-zealand-love-to-bicker-about/ |website=Culture Trip |date=4 November 2015 |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116074245/https://theculturetrip.com/pacific/australia/articles/5-foods-australia-and-new-zealand-love-to-bicker-about/ |archive-date=16 November 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=10 things Australia have tried to steal from New Zealand and claim as their own |url=https://www.theedge.co.nz/home/sponsored/primo/10-things-australia-have-tried-to-steal-from-new-zealand-and-cla.html |website=The Edge |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914075717/https://www.theedge.co.nz/home/sponsored/primo/10-things-australia-have-tried-to-steal-from-new-zealand-and-cla.html |archive-date=14 September 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Bristow |first1=Mark |title=Food Fight – are pavlovas, lamingtons and flat whites Aussie or Kiwi? |url=https://www.appliancesonline.com.au/academy/ovens-cooking/food-fight-are-pavlovas-lamingtons-and-flat-whites-aussie-or-kiwi/ |website=Appliances Online |access-date=6 April 2020 |archive-date=20 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620124928/https://www.appliancesonline.com.au/academy/ovens-cooking/food-fight-are-pavlovas-lamingtons-and-flat-whites-aussie-or-kiwi/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=April Fools' Day jokes 2014 – the best on the web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/apr/01/april-fools-jokes-2014-best-web |website=The Guardian |date=April 2014 |access-date=21 April 2020 |archive-date=12 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112013614/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/apr/01/april-fools-jokes-2014-best-web |url-status=live |last1=Holpuch |first1=Amanda |last2=Howard |first2=Emma |last3=Walsh |first3=James }}

Lamingtons are typically baked in a Lamington pan named for the cake.{{Cite web |title=Caramilk macadamia brownies |url=https://www.bhg.com.au/caramilk-macadamia-brownies |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=Better Homes and Gardens |date=8 September 2021 |language=en-us |archive-date=25 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825161646/https://www.bhg.com.au/caramilk-macadamia-brownies |url-status=live }}

File:NZ Lamington.jpg

Lamingtons remain a popular treat across Australia and New Zealand, and 21 July was designated as National Lamington Day in Australia.{{cite news |title=Australians celebrate National Lamington Day |url=http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/onairhighlights/australians-celebrate-national-lamington-day/983740 |access-date=10 September 2016 |work=Radio Australia |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=20 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916210057/http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/onairhighlights/australians-celebrate-national-lamington-day/983740 |archive-date=16 September 2016 |quote=21 July is National Lamington Day, celebrating the creation of a square piece of cake that's covered in chocolate, coated with desiccated coconut, and deeply ingrained in Australian culture.}} Lamingtons are often sold at fundraisers for schools or charity groups, known as "lamington drives".{{cite book |first=Joan |last=Hughes |title=Australian words and their origins |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B7tZAAAAMAAJ |year=1989 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=302 |isbn=978-0-19-553087-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314162455/https://books.google.com/books?id=B7tZAAAAMAAJ |archive-date=14 March 2017}} Some Australians shorten the name to "Lammo" (singular) or "Lammos" (plural).{{cite web |first=Annabel |last=Smith |title=The secret to baking a perfect lamington |url=https://www.goodfood.com.au/recipes/how-to/the-secret-to-baking-a-perfect-lamington-20140120-315ko |date=22 January 2018 |website=goodfood.com.au |publisher=Fairfax Media |quote=We asked expert bakers for their tips on how to tackle the humble "lammo". |access-date=27 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403080031/https://www.goodfood.com.au/recipes/how-to/the-secret-to-baking-a-perfect-lamington-20140120-315ko |archive-date=3 April 2019 |url-status=live }}

There are many variations on the basic lamington recipe, including different colours, flavours, and sizes.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-05-22 |title=20 lovely lamington recipes |url=https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/entertaining/lamington-recipes-1-31944/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Women's Weekly Food |language=en-US |archive-date=18 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118233523/https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/entertaining/lamington-recipes-1-31944/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Nissen |first1=Wendyl |date=8 March 2013 |title=Wendyl wants to know: Ernest Adams Raspberry Lamington |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/wendyl-wants-to-know-ernest-adams-raspberry-lamington/4KCHWAX5VDT7NFOL4IE2J5UYQU/ |access-date=20 September 2022 |work=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ |archive-date=20 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171434/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/wendyl-wants-to-know-ernest-adams-raspberry-lamington/4KCHWAX5VDT7NFOL4IE2J5UYQU/ |url-status=live }}

Hungary has a similar item is known as {{Lang|hu|kókuszkocka}}, or coconut squares.

Romanian cuisine calls the Lamington Prajitura tavalita cu cocos or "cake tumbled in coconut" and has a wide range of variations including different sauces and nuts and adding rum or orange or lemon zest to the cake.

South Africa has a similar but smaller-sized confection known as ystervarkies (little porcupines).

In the U.S. city of Cleveland, they are called coconut bars.

The British Overseas Territory of St Helena Island has a similar variation called coconut fingers, made traditionally for special occasions such as weddings and birthdays.{{Cite web|title=Coconut Fingers recipe - The greatest, best cake in the world!|url=https://www.saintcooks.com/coconut_fingers/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=The Saint Cooks|language=en-GB|archive-date=13 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813174339/https://www.saintcooks.com/coconut_fingers/|url-status=live}}

In Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, the čupavci is a similar cake.{{cite web | url=https://www.196flavors.com/croatia-cupavci/ | title=Čupavci | date=14 September 2019 }}https://bakingwithsibella.com/2012/11/30/choco-coconut-squares-cupavci/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}} Čupavci are one of the most popular Christmas desserts in Croatia.{{Cite web|date=2019-12-31|title=Croatian Cooking: Čupavci Recipe|url=https://www.chasingthedonkey.com/croatian-cooking-cupavci-recipe-australian-lamingtons/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Chasing the Donkey|language=en-US|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112034720/https://www.chasingthedonkey.com/croatian-cooking-cupavci-recipe-australian-lamingtons/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Recipe for Cupavci: a sweet that takes you back to childhood|url=https://travelhonestly.com/cupavci/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=travelhonestly.com|language=en-US|archive-date=24 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124201514/https://travelhonestly.com/cupavci/|url-status=live}} Slovenia, Romania and Hungary have similar cakes.

In Mauritius, there is a dessert which is a variant of the Lamington cake; It is called the "red Lamington cake", also known as "gato carré rouge" (lit. "red cube cake" or "red square cake" in English and {{Lang|fr|gâteau carré rouge}} in French) or "gato Francis" (lit. "Francis cake" in English or {{Lang|fr|gâteau Francis}} in French).{{Cite web|date=2019-01-22|title=Gâteau Carré Rouge - Red Lamington Cake|url=http://www.cuizinemaurice.com/2019/01/gateau-carre-rouge-red-lamington-cake/|access-date=2021-04-26|website=Cuizine Maurice|language=en-US|archive-date=26 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426223617/http://www.cuizinemaurice.com/2019/01/gateau-carre-rouge-red-lamington-cake/|url-status=live |author1=Dada }}{{Cite web|title=Gato Carre Rouge (Gato Francis) {{!}} Recipes - Shelina Permalloo|url=http://shelinacooks.com/recipes/details/gato-carre-rouge-gato-francis|access-date=2021-04-26|website=shelinacooks.com|archive-date=26 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426223615/http://shelinacooks.com/recipes/details/gato-carre-rouge-gato-francis|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2017-07-27|title="Gateau Carre Rouge" – Red Lamington Cake|url=https://brindabungaroo.com/recipes/sweets-treats/gateau-carre-rouge-red-lamington-cake/|access-date=2021-04-26|website=Brinda Bungaroo|language=en|archive-date=26 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426223615/https://brindabungaroo.com/recipes/sweets-treats/gateau-carre-rouge-red-lamington-cake/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Crunch|first=Culture|date=2019-08-09|title=RED SQUARE CAKE FROM MAURITIUS: the easy recipe|url=https://culture-crunch.com/en/2019/08/09/gateau-carre-rouge-de-lile-maurice-la-recette-facile/|access-date=2021-04-26|website=CULTURE CRUNCH|language=en|archive-date=26 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426223615/https://culture-crunch.com/en/2019/08/09/gateau-carre-rouge-de-lile-maurice-la-recette-facile/|url-status=live}} Red dye is used to give the cake its red colour; square pieces of the cake are soaked in the red dye completely and then coated with desiccated coconut, and whipped cream is applied on the top surface of the cake. A half candied cherry or half a strawberry can also be applied on top of the cream as topping. The cake is sometimes strawberry flavoured.{{Cite news|title=Le Gâteau Francis|url=https://www.ebox.mu/daily/recipe/le-gateau-quot;francisquot;.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-26|website=eBox|language=french|archive-date=26 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426223616/https://www.ebox.mu/daily/recipe/le-gateau-quot;francisquot;.html}}

In 2009, as part of the Q150 celebrations, the lamington was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for its role as an iconic "innovation and invention".{{Cite web|url=http://statements.qld.gov.au/statement/id/64301|title=PREMIER UNVEILS QUEENSLAND'S 150 ICONS|last=Bligh|first=Anna|author-link=Anna Bligh|date=10 June 2009|publisher=Queensland Government|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524033717/http://statements.qld.gov.au/statement/id/64301|archive-date=24 May 2017|access-date=24 May 2017}}

{{portal|Food|Australia}}

• Australian cuisine
• Coconut cake
• List of desserts

{{Reflist}}

{{Cakes}}

{{Australian cuisine}}

Category:Australian cakes

Category:Cakes

Category:Culture of Cleveland

Category:Queensland cuisine

Category:Foods containing coconut

Category:Mauritian cuisine

Category:New Zealand desserts