Lamingtons

New African foods, continued:

Meet the Lamington.

Lamingtons are a reminder that our African country's white culture has tight ties with, among other previously British colonies/countries, Australia.  Australian in origin, these little desserts contain a square of sponge cake inside.  They are covered in a layer of chocolate frosting, then rolled in dessicated coconut.  In South Africa, they can be seen being sold by scouts, the way American scouts sell cookies. Here in our African country, they can be found most prevalently in coffee shops as a petite desert served during tea time.

Chocolate is expensive and special in our country (if you're sending us a package, don't forget the chocolate chips!), and we have found Lamingtons here to be a touch smaller than those in other countries possibly because of this. (The one above, pictured from a local cafe, is about 1 1/2" x 1 1/2".)

   

Occasionally Lamingtons have cream or jam spread through the middle.

Though they're not my favorite, one living here never turns down a special opportunity to have chocolate!