Coconut lamingtons

Method

• step 1

  Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and line the base and sides of a rectangular 20 x 30cm cake tin with baking paper. Put the butter, sugar, flour, baking powder, custard powder, 3 tbsp cornflour, xanthan gum, eggs, advocaat and vanilla into a food processor and whizz to a smooth batter or using electric beaters in a large bowl. Pour the batter into the tin and smooth the top, then bake for 22-25 minutes or until a skewer poked into the middle of the sponge comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a sheet of baking paper that’s been lightly greased with coconut oil – so the cake cools upside down.

• step 2

  While the cake bakes, mix a little of the custard into the remaining 1 tbsp of cornflour to make a smooth paste in a small saucepan. Gradually stir in the rest of the custard, then heat gently, stirring constantly, until it thickens to the consistency of softly whipped cream.

• step 3

  Once the cake is completely cool, turn the right way up and halve into two 20 x 15cm pieces – use a ruler – accuracy is important if you want neat lamingtons at the end! Use a skewer to poke holes all over both sides (but don’t push the skewer all the way through) – this helps the filling settle. Spread the custard over one half of the sponge, then gently sandwich the other on top so the outsides of the sandwich are exposed.

• step 4

  Trim any brown edges to neaten until you have an 18 x 12cm cake. Cut this into 6 x 6cm square mini cakes.

• step 5

  Put the white chocolate and coconut oil in a heatproof bowl over a pan of water. Heat gently until the chocolate has melted, then stir to incorporate the oil. Spread the desiccated coconut over a tray. Use a pastry brush to paint the sides of each lamington with the melted chocolate, then roll in the coconut to coat. Sit on a wire rack to set, and repeat with the other 5 cakes. Once the white chocolate is firm-ish again, they’re ready to demolish.