Raspberry Lamingtons Recipe
Introduction
Raspberry Lamingtons are a delightful twist on the classic Australian treat, featuring a light hot milk sponge cake coated in a luscious raspberry glaze and rolled in coconut. This recipe balances fluffy cake with vibrant berry flavor, perfect for teatime or a special dessert.

Ingredients
- 5 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar (400 grams)
- 2 cups cake flour (220 grams)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams)
- 1¼ cup water (divided)
- 10 ounces frozen raspberries (thawed)
- 2 cups powdered sugar (250 grams)
- ¼ teaspoon red food coloring (optional)
- 2 cups desiccated coconut
Instructions
- Step 1: Place eggs (still in shell) in a bowl of warm water to warm while preparing pans and ingredients. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8-inch square cake pans, lining the bottoms with parchment paper.
- Step 2: Heat milk and butter together in a saucepan over low heat until butter melts. Keep warm on the lowest heat setting.
- Step 3: Crack eggs into a large mixing bowl, add 2 cups granulated sugar, and beat on high speed for 8 to 15 minutes until the mixture triples in volume and turns pale yellow.
- Step 4: Sift cake flour, baking powder, and salt over the egg mixture. Gently fold in with a spatula until partially combined with some flour streaks visible.
- Step 5: Stir vanilla into warm milk and butter mixture, then pour it into the batter. Stir carefully by hand, scraping bowl sides and bottom to incorporate all flour.
- Step 6: Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and bake for 30-34 minutes, checking with a toothpick starting at 30 minutes. Let cakes cool in pans on wire racks.
- Step 7: For the raspberry glaze, sprinkle gelatin over ¼ cup water and let soften 5 minutes. Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 cup water with 1 cup sugar in a saucepan until sugar dissolves. Add thawed raspberries and cook 5-8 minutes.
- Step 8: Strain raspberry mixture through a fine sieve, pressing to extract liquid. Discard solids. Warm gelatin in microwave about 10 seconds until syrupy and whisk into raspberry syrup.
- Step 9: Sift powdered sugar into a bowl and whisk in raspberry syrup until smooth. Add red food coloring if using. Refrigerate 15-20 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Step 10: Trim cake edges and cut into 2-inch squares. Freeze squares for 30 minutes on a plate.
- Step 11: Prepare two bowls: one with raspberry glaze, the other with desiccated coconut. Remove cake squares from freezer.
- Step 12: Holding a cake square with a fork, spoon glaze over it completely and allow excess to drip off. Then coat all sides with coconut using a spoon. Place coated pieces on a wire rack over a lined baking sheet.
- Step 13: Refrigerate the coated lamingtons 20-30 minutes to set the glaze before serving.
Tips & Variations
- Warm the eggs slightly before beating to achieve a lighter, fluffier sponge cake.
- If fresh raspberries aren’t available, frozen ones work well when thawed completely.
- For extra flavor, add a teaspoon of lemon zest to the raspberry glaze mixture.
- Use natural red food coloring or omit it altogether if you prefer a more subtle glaze color.
- Lamingtons can be cut larger or smaller to suit your preference — just adjust glazing and coating accordingly.
Storage
Store raspberry lamingtons in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The glaze will soften the coconut coating over time, but the flavor remains delicious. For best texture, enjoy them the day they are made. Reheat is not recommended as the glaze may melt.
How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use a different fruit for the glaze?
Yes, you can substitute raspberries with strawberries, blueberries, or mixed berries, adjusting cooking time to soften the fruit and extract juices similarly.
Can I make these lamingtons ahead of time?
You can prepare the cakes and glaze in advance, but assemble and coat the lamingtons close to serving time to keep the sponge fresh and prevent the coconut from becoming soggy.
PrintRaspberry Lamingtons Recipe
Raspberry Lamingtons are a delightful twist on the classic Australian treat, featuring light and airy hot milk sponge cake squares dipped in a sweet, tangy raspberry glaze and then coated in desiccated coconut. This recipe combines the richness of a soft sponge with the vibrant flavor of fresh raspberries, creating a perfect balance of textures and tastes. Ideal for afternoon tea or a special dessert, these lamingtons offer a fruity and colorful alternative to the traditional chocolate version.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 34 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 16 pieces 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Australian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
For the Hot Milk Sponge Cake:
- 5 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar (400 grams)
- 2 cups cake flour (220 grams)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
For the Raspberry Glaze and Coconut Coating:
- 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams)
- 1¼ cup water (divided, 1¼ cups total – ¼ cup and 1 cup)
- 10 ounces frozen raspberries (thawed)
- 2 cups powdered sugar (250 grams)
- ¼ teaspoon red food coloring (optional)
- 2 cups desiccated coconut
Instructions
- Warm the Eggs: Place the eggs in their shells into a bowl of warm water. This gentle warming helps the eggs whip to a higher volume later. Let them sit while preparing the pans and other ingredients.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch square cake pans, then line the bottoms with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Heat Milk and Butter: In a saucepan over low heat, combine the milk and butter. Warm until the butter melts completely. Keep this mixture on the lowest heat to stay warm while beating the eggs.
- Beat Eggs and Sugar: Crack the warmed eggs into a large mixing bowl. Add the 2 cups of granulated sugar. Using a mixer on high speed, beat for 8 to 15 minutes until the mixture triples in volume and becomes pale yellow.
- Sift and Fold Dry Ingredients: Sift the cake flour, baking powder, and salt over the egg mixture. Gently fold with a spatula just until combined; some flour streaks may remain.
- Add Vanilla and Warm Milk: Stir the vanilla extract into the warm milk mixture. Pour this slowly into the batter, stirring gently by hand to combine and incorporate all flour from the bowl’s sides and bottom.
- Divide and Bake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans. Bake for 30 to 34 minutes, checking at 30 minutes with a toothpick; it should come out clean when done.
- Cool Cakes: After baking, place the pans on a wire rack and allow the cakes to cool completely in the pans.
- Soften Gelatin: Sprinkle the gelatin powder over ¼ cup of water in a small dish. Let it soften for 5 minutes.
- Prepare Raspberry Syrup: Heat 1 cup of water with 1 cup granulated sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add thawed raspberries and cook for 5 to 8 minutes.
- Strain Raspberry Mixture: Pour the stirring mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl, pressing to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids left in the strainer.
- Incorporate Gelatin: Microwave the softened gelatin for about 10 seconds until syrupy. Whisk this into the strained raspberry syrup until fully dissolved.
- Mix with Powdered Sugar: Sift powdered sugar into a bowl. Pour raspberry syrup over it and whisk until smooth. Add red food coloring, if using. Refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Trim and Chill Cake: Trim the edges of the cooled cake and cut into 2-inch squares. Place squares on a plate and freeze for 30 minutes to firm up.
- Set up Dredging Station: Place raspberry glaze in one bowl and desiccated coconut in another for coating the lamingtons.
- Coat Cake Squares: Remove cake squares from the freezer. Holding one with a fork, spoon glaze over it, turning to coat fully, letting excess drip back. Then spoon coconut onto all sides while holding over the coconut bowl. Place coated lamington on a wire rack.
- Chill to Set: Once all lamingtons are coated, place the wire rack over a baking sheet and refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes to allow the glaze to set.
Notes
- Warming the eggs before beating helps achieve a higher volume and lighter sponge texture.
- Do not overmix the flour into the egg mixture; some streaks are okay to keep the cake light and airy.
- Freezing the cake squares before coating helps the glaze stick better and makes coating easier.
- Using fresh or thawed frozen raspberries provides the best flavor for the glaze.
- If red food coloring is not desired, omit it; the raspberry color will still provide a lovely hue.
Keywords: Raspberry Lamingtons, Australian dessert, hot milk sponge cake, raspberry glaze, coconut coating, teatime sweets, fruity lamingtons

