Ingredients

COCONUT CAKE
60g soft butter
120g sugar
3 egg whites
100g flour (gluten free, if desired)
¾ teaspoon baking powder
30g desiccated coconut
90g coconut cream
RASPBERRY COMPOTE
1½ sheets gelatine
160g seedless raspberry purée (see Note)
¼ teaspoon vanilla bean paste
40g sugar
1½ teaspoons pectin
¼ teaspoon citric acid
RASPBERRY MOUSSE
2½ sheets gelatine
200g seedless raspberry purée (see Note)
20g sugar
200g cream
WHIPPED COCONUT CREAM
100g cream
50g coconut cream
20g icing sugar
¼ teaspoon vanilla bean paste
TO FINISH
200g desiccated coconut
whipped coconut cream
freeze-dried raspberries, crushed

A sponge with a raspberry jam centre, covered with a raspberry soak and desiccated coconut, the lamington is a real classic Kiwi treat. I’ve tried to add my touch to it by turning it into a petit gâteau while still focusing on the raspberry and coconut flavours. The white desiccated coconut on the outside of the gâteau looks beautiful, but you can also toast it for a golden-brown colour and flavour if you prefer.

View the recipe collection here

Instructions

1.COCONUT CAKE
2.Preheat the oven to 170°C and line a tin 16cm x 26cm and 3.5cm deep.
3.In a bowl, whisk the butter and sugar together until smooth.
4.Whisk in the egg whites until fully combined.
5.Add the flour, baking powder and desiccated coconut and whisk until smooth, followed by the coconut cream.
6.Pour into the lined tin and bake for 10-12 minutes, until the cake is just set to the touch, but not yet starting to get any colour on it.
7.Leave to cool while you make the compote.
8.RASPBERRY COMPOTE
9.Soak the gelatine sheets in cold water until soft. Drain and set aside.
10.Bring the raspberry purée and vanilla to a boil.
11.In a bowl, whisk the sugar, pectin and citric acid together.
12.Whisk this into the boiling purée and continue to cook for 1 minute, whisking constantly.
13.Remove from the heat and whisk in the gelatine.
14.Pour over the coconut cake and level off with a palette knife.
15.Freeze for at least an hour before making the raspberry mousse.
16.RASPBERRY MOUSSE
17.Soak the gelatine sheets in cold water until soft.
18.Drain and put in a small pot with 20g of raspberry purée and the sugar.
19.Cook over a low heat, stirring constantly until the gelatine has completely melted into the purée.
20.Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining purée.
21.Whip the cream to medium peaks.
22.Once the raspberry base has cooled to about 30°C, or body temperature, fold in the cream until just combined. Pour over the frozen compote and level off with a palette knife.
23.Freeze overnight, or until solid.
24.PORTIONING
25.See Techniques section (here)) on how to portion your petit gâteau.
26.Portion the gâteau into 24 pieces that are 4 x 4cm squares and store frozen until ready to finish.
27.WHIPPED COCONUT CREAM
28.Whisk everything together until it forms stiff peaks.
29.Use immediately to finish the gâteaux, as below.
30.TO FINISH
31.Place the coconut in a shallow tray or bowl.
32.Leave the portioned frozen gâteaux out at room temperature for 5 minutes.
33.Press each side of the gâteaux and the top into the coconut to coat the mousse.
34.Use a teaspoon to create a quenelle of cream to add on top of each gâteau.
35.Top with a few pieces of crushed freeze-dried raspberry and allow to defrost fully before serving.

Pâtisserie Made Simple:
The Art of Petits Gâteaux,
by Maxine Scheckter,
photography by Amber-
Jayne Bain, published
by Bateman Books,
RRP $69.99. Release
date March 2025.