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Lamington Cupcakes with Whipped Vanilla Buttercream

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This recipe turns the classic Australian bakery treat into a spectacular, ultra-moist cupcake. A tender vanilla buttermilk sponge is soaked in a rich chocolate mirror glaze, rolled in sweet coconut, filled with tart raspberry jam, and topped with a mountain of cloud-like whipped buttercream.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cupcakes

  • 215g (1 ⅔ cups) All-purpose flour
  • 30g (¼ cup) Cornstarch
  • 267g (1 ⅓ cups) Granulated sugar
  • 1 ¾ tsps Baking powder
  • ¼ tsp Salt
  • 135g (5 oz) Unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
  • 3 Large eggs, room temperature
  • ¾ cup Buttermilk
  • 2 tsps Pure vanilla extract

For the Chocolate Coating

  • ¾ cup Desiccated coconut
  • ¾ cup Shredded coconut
  • 195g (1 ½ cups) Powdered sugar
  • 1 ½ tbsps Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ⅓ cup Light milk
  • 15g (1 tbsp) Unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup Raspberry jam

For the Whipped Buttercream

  • 226g (1 cup) Unsalted butter, perfectly softened
  • 260g (2 cups) Powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp Salt
  • 2 tbsps Heavy cream

Instructions

Bake the Cupcakes

  1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and grease a 12-cup silicone or metal muffin tray.
  2. Double-sift the flour and cornstarch into a large bowl, then whisk in the sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs until light and frothy.
  4. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the melted butter, frothy eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Gently fold with a spatula just until the flour disappears—do not overmix.
  5. Fill the muffin cups three-quarters full. Bake for 11 minutes, rotate the pan, and bake for another 11 to 13 minutes until the tops spring back when touched.
  6. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely. They must be cold before the next step.

Glaze and Coat

  1. Whisk the shredded and desiccated coconuts together in a shallow dish.
  2. In a separate bowl, sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powder together.
  3. Heat the milk and 15g of butter in a small saucepan until melted and steaming. Pour into the cocoa mixture and whisk into a smooth, glossy glaze.
  4. Peel the wrappers off your cold cupcakes. Using two forks, submerge each cake entirely into the warm chocolate glaze.
  5. Let the excess drip off, then roll the cake firmly in the coconut mixture. Place back on the rack and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to set.

Fill and Frost

  1. Use a cupcake corer or knife to cut a cylinder out of the center of each chilled cupcake, going halfway down.
  2. Drop 1 teaspoon of raspberry jam into the well. Slice the removed cake plug in half horizontally to make a flat lid, and press it back over the jam.
  3. Beat the 226g of softened butter on medium speed for a full 6 to 7 minutes until pale and incredibly fluffy.
  4. Lower the mixer speed and slowly add the powdered sugar one spoonful at a time. Add the vanilla, salt, and heavy cream, then whip on medium-high for another 5 minutes until it looks like marshmallow fluff.
  5. Pipe large, beautiful swirls over the jam-sealed cupcakes.

Notes

  • Pro-Tip for Coconut: Divide your coconut mixture into two bowls before coating. Use the first bowl for the first 6 cupcakes, and the second bowl for the rest. This keeps the coconut looking bright white and pristine rather than clumpy from chocolate drips.
  • Serving Suggestions: Pair these rich, decadent cupcakes with a hot, unsweetened beverage. They strike a perfect flavor balance when served alongside a strong black pour-over coffee, a hot Earl Grey tea, or a classic Australian flat white.
  • Storage & Reheating: Store assembled cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Because cold temperatures firm up the butter, always let them sit on the counter for 15 to 20 minutes before serving so the cake and frosting can soften back up to maximum fluffiness. Do not microwave or heat them, or the glaze and buttercream will melt.
  • Freezing Strategy: You can freeze the un-cored, chocolate-coconut glazed bases for up to 3 months. Wrap each base tightly in plastic wrap before freezing. Thaw on the counter for an hour, core, fill with fresh jam, and top with freshly whipped buttercream.