Lamington facts for kids
A lamington is a yummy Australian cake. It's made from squares of soft cake, usually butter cake or sponge cake. These squares are dipped in chocolate sauce and then rolled in shredded coconut. The sauce soaks into the cake, giving it a special texture. Sometimes, two lamington halves are put together with cream or strawberry jam in the middle.
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Where Did Lamingtons Come From?
Historians believe lamingtons were named after Lord Lamington. He was the Governor of Queensland in Australia from 1896 to 1901. His wife, Lady Lamington, might also be the namesake. The earliest mention of the name "lamington" for the cake was in 1927.
Who Invented the Lamington?
Many stories say the cake was created by Lord Lamington's chef, Armand Galland. One day, unexpected guests arrived, and Galland needed to make a quick dessert. He used leftover vanilla sponge cake from the day before. He dipped the cake pieces in chocolate and rolled them in coconut. Coconut was not common in European cooking then. But Galland's wife was from Tahiti, where coconut was a regular ingredient. Lord Lamington's guests loved the new cake and asked for the recipe. Lady Lamington's own memories support this story.
Another idea is that Amy Schauer invented it. She was a cooking teacher in Brisbane from 1897 to 1938.
Where Was the First Lamington Made?
Some say the lamington was first served in Toowoomba. Lord Lamington and his group went there to escape the heat of Brisbane. Others claim it was made by Galland at Queensland's Government House in Brisbane. This was during a busy time before Australia became a federation in 1901.
One story suggests the chef accidentally dropped a piece of sponge cake into chocolate. Then, they found that sprinkling shredded coconut on top made the cakes even better.
Early Mentions of the Lamington Cake
The first known mention of "Lamington cake" was in an 1896 newspaper. It was about a "Lamington Function" in Laidley, Queensland. The event honored Lord Lamington. A recipe for "Lamington Cakes" was found in the Queensland Country Life newspaper in 1900. The recipe quickly spread. It appeared in a Sydney newspaper in 1901 and a New Zealand newspaper in 1902.
The New Zealand Prank
On April Fools' Day in 2014, a New Zealand newspaper played a prank. They wrote that the lamington was actually a New Zealand sweet called a "Wellington." This made some people believe it was true!
Lamingtons Today
Lamingtons are still very popular snacks in Australia and New Zealand. Australia even has a National Lamington Day on July 21st. Lamingtons are often sold at fundraisers for schools or charities. These events are sometimes called "lamington drives." Some Australians even shorten the name to "Lammo" or "Lammos."
Other Similar Desserts
- In South Africa, a similar but smaller cake is called ystervarkies (which means porcupines).
- In Cleveland, Ohio, they are known as coconut bars.
- Another similar dessert called čupavci is eaten in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Romania.
Awards and Recognition
In 2009, the lamington was named one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland. This was part of the Q150 celebrations. It was recognized for being an important "innovation and invention" from Queensland.
See also
In Spanish: Lamington para niños
