Macadamia Chocolate Lamingtons

Macadamia Chocolate Lamingtons

Makes 15

Ingredients

125g butter, softened

1 cup caster sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 eggs

1 3/4 cup self raising flour, sifted

1 tablespoon dark cocoa powder

1/2 cup milk

2 cups shredded coconut

2 cups unsalted macadamias, roasted

Icing

6 cups icing sugar mixture

1/2 cup dark cocoa powder

2 tablespoons butter, softened

3/4 cup boiling water

Method

Preheat oven to 160°C fan-forced. Grease a 3cm-deep, 20 x 30cm (base) lamington pan. Line with non-stick baking paper, leaving a 2cm overhang on all sides.

Beat the butter, sugar and vanilla in an electric mixer until light and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Sift half the flour and cocoa over the butter mixture and stir until combined. Mix through half the milk and repeat with the remaining flour, cocoa and milk. Spoon into the prepared tin and smooth the top. Bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes then turn onto a wire rack and cool completely.

To make the icing, sift the icing sugar and cocoa into a bowl add the butter and boiling water and stir until smooth.

Cut cake into 15 pieces. Place the macadamia and coconut into a food processor and pulse to blend together, tip onto a dish. Use a fork and dip one piece of cake into the icing mixture, shake off any excess and toss in the macadamia and coconut. Place onto a wire rack over a baking tray. Repeat with remaining cake, icing, coconut and macadamias.

Australians are being urged to raise their forks to hardworking growers and celebrate the nation's day by filling their plates with local, seasonal produce like mouth-watering macadamias, the only native crop that has been developed and traded as a commercial food product.

Australia is the birthplace of macadamias and the story of our indigenous nut began thousands of years ago. Growing naturally in the rainforest, they were regarded by the Aboriginal people as something very special and were often used in ceremonial gifts. Today, they are grown in the same rich, fertile soils and have the natural advantage of being grown in their country of origin.