Apple Streusel Lamingtons

When I was a child and didn't really know what I wanted to be when I grew up (aside from Columbia in the Rocky Horror show, which has not yet happened, though there is still time), I toyed briefly with the idea of becoming an international pop superstar, and writing songs about the things that mattered to me. Songs that would empower their listeners. Songs that would change the world.

I would give interviews about the songs. Explain their lyrics, and talk about artistic decisions that went into their making. Interviews like this one that Madonna did, which I remembered watching when thinking about today's post. Strange what you remember late at night. Her hair is quite memorable in this though, I suppose.

Looking back, I am glad it hasn't happened I wouldn't be a very convincing chanteur, and nobody wants to hear my songs. What would I sing about? But that interview leads us nicely into the lamingtons of today. No, not the bit about 'getting the right cat' (really, Madonna?) - the bit at the end, about expressing yourself. You ask, you get. Simple.

So to all the people who requested Katherine's amazing Apple Streusel Lamington recipe: here you are. Thank you for expressing yourselves. You are no longer chained down by your inability to say what you feel or go after what you want.

Over to Katherine:

For my entry, I made apple streusel lamingtons. My husband and son hovered until the pictures were finished, then ate everything. I used a half batch of your lamington cake base, and filled it with 2 green apples, diced, boiled in two cups of water ten minutes, until tender and translucent, then drained. 2 tbsp brown sugar 2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp vanilla dash nutmeg Mixed well and cooled. Then I dipped the cakes in 8 oz cream cheese, heated until melty and beaten with 1 c white sugar 1 tsp vanilla Then rolled the cakes in streusel 1 c brown sugar 1/2 c flour 4 tbsp butter 1 tsp cinnamon I placed the finished cakes on parchment and baked them in a 300F oven for 2 minutes, just long enough to make them slightly crusty.

Re-Inventing the Lamington 2011 - The Winners!

One word.

And... he's back!

Now, let me tell you, it has been a major relief to have been able to pass the lamington judging duties over to some other blogger types for this year. I would not have relished being the destroyer of lamington dreams. It's just not my thing.

On that, I'd just like to say that I was interviewed about Re-Inventing the Lamington last week for the Afternoon Show on 666 ABC Canberra. You can read a little bit about it on the show's blog here (though they mis-credit last years winner - it was Sanjana! I forgive you ABC), but basically, they asked Chris Tarlington, who is the chief steward of cooking and jam at the Royal Canberra Show (gulp!), about the lamingtons I have been featuring on Delicious Delicious Delicious, and she was quite definite in her response: not lamingtons.

I know: how crushing. But fear not. I think they are all lamingtons, and so are all the fantastic entries I received from you this year. And it gives me great pleasure to announce this years winners!

To re-cap, and you can get further details about what each judge liked about the individual entires that they selected on their blogs, here is the shortlist:

Mary, The Food Librarian chose:

• Rehrücken Lamingtons
• O Canada Lamingtons
• Maraschino Cherry Lamingtons

Stef, Cupcake Project chose:

• Apple Streusel Lamingtons
• Rehrücken Lamingtons
• S'mores Lamingtons

Ms. Humble, Not So Humble Pie chose:

• Rehrücken Lamingtons
• S'mores Lamingtons
• The n00bington

Edd, He-Eats.com chose:

• Apple Streusel Lamingtons
• Alfajore Lamingtons
• Pumpkin Lamingtons

I am no analyst, but with three votes, I think that makes Accro, creator of the Rehrücken Lamingtons, the clear winner. Congratulations Accro! I knew your spiky little filled lamingtons were going to win this! Please get in touch, so that I can send you your prize! I hope that Rose gets you baking even more often than you do already.

But we're not quite finished yet. We have a second prize to award, and it is a Kewpie. I wanted so badly to photograph it for the blog, but the deal with the little dolls is that they come in a sealed box. You never know which one you are going to get. I'd hate to ruin it for the winner!

And who is this second prize winner? Well, I am actually going to choose this one myself, and happily, three of the other judges seem to agree with my choice, even though they chose different entries from the same person. I am awarding the Kewpie to Curtis of Wannabe Culinarian. My favourites were the S'mores Lamingtons, but with three entries, it's not like Curtis was aiming to appeal to only my tastes. You can take your pick! Curtis - please send me an address for your Kewpie to be sent to.

Second place has never been so delicious...

A big thank you to all the bakers who took part in Re-Inventing the Lamington 2011, and to all of you who have followed the craziness and taken time to comment.

But it's not over yet! Come back soon for another lamington treat!

Re-Inventing the Lamington 2011 - The Round-Up!

I remember thinking after the first Re-Inventing the Lamington craziness (which was last year) that I could not believe how many people had been persuaded by my madness to get baking, dipping, rolling, coating and generally dirtying their kitchens. This year, even more people have done so. It has made me unspeakably happy.

Before we get to the entries for 2011's Re-Inventing the Lamington, I'm just going to run you through how I'll be judging this year. Basically, I'm not. I have enlisted the help of some fantastic bloggers, people whose blogs I read every day myself, and convinced them to do it for me. They'll each choose three entries that they think are the best, and with any luck, this will present a clear winner. I am going to choose the second prize Kewpie-winner myself though, so don't call me a cop out.

The judges of Re-Inventing the Lamington 2011, then, are:

Mary, The Food Librarian
I've never actually met Mary, but I think we'd get on really well, since we have so much in common. We both work with trollies (hers for books, mine for airline meals), we both the prefer cake to the frosting, and we both go on crazy baking marathons from time to time. Mary loves Sing-Along-A-Sound of Music; you'd get on with her too.

Stef, Cupcake Project
Stef made lamington cupcakes last year, and taught me how to make the best frosting in the world - ever - before that. You would think she'd have run out of cupcake ideas by now since she posts pretty much weekly, but no. She is literally never going to stop making cupcakes. And that makes me supremely happy.

Ms. Humble, Not So Humble Pie
Ms. Humble's blog has, since its inception, taught me how to temper chocolate, bake macarons and recognise the difference between male and female Drosophila melanogaster. I like to think that my life is a lot better for it.

Edd Kimber, He Eats
Edd won The Great British Bake-Off! He's amazing, and I hanker after his Buckingham Palace apron. I think if he were even half decent, he'd send it to me in the post, but since I know that probably won't happen, I'll settle for his generously donated judging skills.

So that's them. Be sure to check out their blogs!

And now, without further ado, I give you the 2011 lamington hit parade! They're listed in the order I received them. Who would alphabetise cakes?


Sanjana of Ko Rasoi entered twice this year, and I am just blown away by how deliciously beautiful her lamingtons are. She writes one of those blogs where you just want to eat everything anyway, but these really are special. Look at the pistachio glass candy! I mean, say it. OH. MY. GOD.

Turkish Delight Lamingtons


Dark Chocolate Pandan Lamingtons with Pistachio and Salted Caramel Glass



Accro came up with these fantasic little lamingtons that look like chocolate bombs. I'd eat any of the lamingtons on this page, but you have to admit these ones are rather special. I appreciate the Errol Flynn photographs in the post too. Don't you?

Rehrücken Lamingtons


Diana posted some lamingtons for those who like to spike their cocoa with liqueur (read: all of us). The fudginess of these is particularly appealing. I want to bite into that chocolatey cake right now!

Bailey's Irish Cream Hot Chocolate Lamington


Katherine doesn't have a blog, but she made these babies and actually used my lamington base recipe for them, so she gets extra cool points from me. The apple filled cakes are rolled in warm cream cheese frosting and then a home made streusel before being baked again to make the coating crisp. Katherine ended her email with the words 'I hope you like my idea!'

My God woman! We're talking twice-baked apple streusel lamingtons. I LOVE THE IDEA!

Apple Streusel Lamingtons


Cakelaw made the first re-invented lamingtons I received that retained the coconut. I love a lady that respects tradition, but doesn't mind playing with it. One question though: if she really is a lawyer, how does she find all this time to bake?

Chocolate Caramel Lamingtons


This year we had two entries from Jana. They have a German theme, and I want them both. Especially the second one. But Mr. Other P would rather the first. Jana - have you got the number for Fed-Ex handy?

Black Forest Lamingtons

Baumkuchen Lamingtons

When I saw the lamingtons that follow for the first time, I nearly screamed. They don't involve much baking (well, actually, no baking whatsoever), but they are some of my absolute favourites. We have Sticky Penguin to thank for them.

TimTamingtons
The Australian theme continues with this lamington-themed desert from Katren. I have never made a pavlova. Can you believe that? I think it won't be long coming, having seen this.

The Rolled Laminglova


Dom promised himself and his mister that he wouldn't bake for the whole of January. I say two things. One: New Year's Resolutions are there for the breaking. Two: lamingtons are worth it. Especially when you make three kinds! Thanks, Dom.

Broken Promise Lamingtons

Beetroot Chocolate Lamingtons and Victoria Sponge Lamingtons



These lamingtons have BACON in them. Seriously. Meg even makes cookies with bacon in. I want to go to her house for dinner.

O Canada Lamingtons


Chocolate Cookie and Jutta both re-invented. Look at the green filling in the chocolate bar garnish on these lamingtons! Tell me you don't want a bite.

Kryptonite Lamingtons


El Coco Lemingtons



I don't even know what to say about this one. I ♥love♥ it. But I don't know that it would be my first choice to eat. Hilarious post though!

The 'n00bington'


I bet these lamingtons were so tasty that it actually makes me quite cross that I wasn't able to taste them. Mardi - you've done it again. Please move to South Wales so I can eat your food for real.

Pumpkin Lamingtons

Curtis blogs at Wannabe Culinarian, and entered THREE times. This in itself deserves respect (and the third set are sensational-looking). But in addition to the lamingtons, I want to draw attention to the cuteness of Curtis' profile picture and the fact that his blog has a bloody amazing music box thing that means you can clean up the lamington mess you made in the kitchen while dancing to Natalie Cole. Yes. Really.

Sacher Lamingtons


Alfajore Lamingtons


S'mores Lamingtons

Brownieville Girl likes my Kewpies. I can tell. I feel like I should take them round so they can play with Homer. These lamingtons use a variation of my bizcocho recipe. I like.

Chestnut Coffee Lamingtons


I'm going to gush a little now. Kaitlin - yes, the Whisk Kid herself - entered this year. Do you know how often I look at her blog, and drool, and wish I could make just one thing that was even half as beautiful as what she does? Love these ones. LOVE. Even though I hate maraschino cherries.

Maraschino Cherry Lamingtons


You have to love a lamington that comes with dinosaurs. Top notch, CeeCee!

Mt. Lamington
Last, but not in the least bit least, Nightwyrm re-invented twice this year! I want her cocktail parrots. Badly.

Pavlova Lamingtons
Pina Colada Lamingtons