What is a Lamington (Ystervarkie)?
The name translates from Afrikaans as “hedgehog” because the chocolate sauce dip and coconut coating makes the treat look spiky and hedgehog-like.
It’s a delicious treat that’s juicy and great for your sweet tooth. If you’re looking for a unique and good dessert recipe, try this one. I love trying new recipes. You might just love this one.
How can I enjoy them?
They work great for family and friend get-togethers. Eat them as a dessert or grab one straight out of the fridge as a snack.
They are wonderful served with either coffee or tea too! So, make some for your next coffee date.
How are they made?
You bake a regular vanilla sponge cake, dip it in warm chocolate sauce and roll it in coconut flakes! It doesn’t get easier than that.
The chocolate sauce makes the cake moist, and the coconut flakes gives it a nice crunch on the outside.
You can cut the pieces as big or as small as you would like. They are easier for on-the-go if they are cut into smaller cubes.
Is it easy to make?
Yes! Very easy! And it does not take a lot of your time either. The recipe is easy to follow, and it does not require a whole lot of effort. Sometimes, we just want to bake something on our lazy days that doesn’t require us to be master chefs! This is an easy sweet dessert recipe that’s worth your hour of “work”.
Steps to making Lamingtons
- Step 1 – Add your butter and sugar to your mixing bowl. Using a electric hand mixer, beat them until they’re creamy and light in color.
- Step 2 – Get your 4 eggs and add one by one, beating them after every egg that’s added.
- Step 3 – Sift your All-Purpose Flour, Baking Powder and salt in a separate mixing bowl and safe for later.
- Step 4 – Mix your milk into the butter mixture and then slowly add your all-purpose flour mixture into the batter. Beating it on low speed until everything is well incorporated.
- Step 5 – Add your batter to a greased baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Mine took a little longer because I used a smaller baking dish, so the cake was thicker.
- Step 6 – Prepare your chocolate sauce by adding all of the ingredient to your saucepan. Let it come to a boil and let it boil for about 3-5 minutes until it is hot and a bit thicker.
- Step 7 – When it is done, turn off the heat and let your chocolate sauce cool down a little.
- Step 8 – Dip your cake pieces in the chocolate sauce, roll it in coconut flakes and enjoy them!
Let’s get right to it!
South African Lamingtons (Ystervarkies)
Equipment
- 2 Bowls
- 1 Electrical hand mixer
- 1 Baking dish
- 1 Small Saucepan
Ingredients
Cake
- 200 g Unsalted Butter at room temperature
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 4 Eggs
- 2 cups All-purpose Flour
- 1 Tbsp Baking Powder
- 1 pinch of Salt
- 1/2 cups of Milk
Chocolate Sauce
- 2 cups of Granulated Sugar you can add more or less sugar, depending on how sweet you want it
- 1/2 cups of Cacao
- 1 cup of Water
Instructions
For the cake
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Add your butter and sugar to a mixing bowl and beat them together on medium speed until creamy and light in color with your electrical hand mixer.
- Beat in the eggs one by one until everything is well incorporated.
- Sift the All-Purpose Flour, Baking Powder and Salt together in a separate bowl and safe for later.
- Add the milk to the butter mixture and beat on low speed until everything is well combined.
- Slowly add the All-Purpose Flour mixture into your batter, beating it on low speed until everything is well incorporated and the batter looks creamy and thick.
- Add your cake batter to a greased baking dish. A rectangular 30cm x 20cm baking dish works best.
- Put it in the oven and bake for 35 minutes or until it is cooked through and a toothpick comes out clean.
- When it's done baking, take it out of the oven and leave it on the counter to cool down. It will take about 20 minutes. When it has cooled down, cut the cake into 3cm x 3cm pieces.
For the sauce
- Add all of the ingredients to a saucepan and let it come to a boil. Let it boil for about 3-5 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Wait until the sauce has cooled down enough for you to be able to dip the cake pieces in it. I did it by hand to get a better grip on it.
- Grab a plate and add some coconut flakes on it.
- Take your pieces and dip them one-by-one into your chocolate sauce, then roll them in your coconut flakes to get every side covered. You can then either put them back in your baking dish or put them in a container to put in the fridge.
- Enjoy your porcupines!
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