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Home » Recipes » Snacks, desserts & condiments

Lamington whoopie pies

Modified: Apr 23, 2025 · Published: Jan 24, 2013 by Claire Cameron · This post may contain affiliate links · 12 Comments

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Lamington whoopie pies
Lamington whoopie pies

I have a friend who doesn't like macarons. Yes I still call her a friend despite her flaw (she makes up for it in other ways). According to her, macarons are boring, cupcakes are out and whoopie pies are the next big thing. She can't understand why the sweet cake sandwiches haven't taken off in Australia.

Even in New Zealand whoopie pie bakeries are popping up. Now if New Zealand has them then we must be backward and I can say that because I'm one quarter Kiwi. I have to say, there's not much not to love about a whoopie pie. My favourite part of a cupcake is the sometimes-a-little-crunchy top and basically, whoopie pies are two of these sandwiched together with icing.

Lamington whoopie pies
Lamington whoopie pies

Traditionally, the filling is more of a whipped marshmallow but I much prefer my version with sweet butter cream. They're not usually topped with icing either but I say why not? Seeing as it's Australia Day on Saturday, paying tribute to the humble lamington was in order.

Now after posting my coconut pannacotta lamingtons the other day, I had a few American readers comment that they'd never heard of, let alone tried a lamington. Oh the horror! So to all of you, a little bit of Australian history for you. There are a few stories of the origins of our Aussie treat but the one I like the most goes like this:

Lord Lamington's chef Gallad at Queensland's Government House (QLD is the state I live in!), was called upon at short notice to provide afternoon tea to feed unexpected guests during the busy period leading up to Federation in 1901. Gallad cut up some left-over sponge cake baked the day before, dipped the slices in chocolate and set them in coconut and so the lamington was born.

Making whoopie pies
Making whoopie pies

Ok history lesson over. My attempt, for you Amy, at giving whoopie pies a place in Australia is to pay tribute to our Aussie tread with lamington whoopie pies. I used brown sugar in the cake mix to give them a golden hue and rich molassesy flavour offset nicely by the coconut topping.

If you've never made a whoopie pie, the dough is a cross between cake and biscuits. Cake-like in consistency and biscuit-like in baking method. You can buy fancy whoopie pie baking tins to make them round and perfect but I think making them on a tray is easy enough. If you wanted to go OCD on them you could draw circles but you know that's too much effort for me.

Putting the lamington in
Putting the lamington in

To lamington-ify them, I dipped the tops of each half in melted chocolate and then gently pressed them into the bowl of shredded coconut then left them to set. While the chocolate was solidifying, I whipped up some plain buttercream icing for the filling.

Lamington whoopie pies
Lamington whoopie pies

Sandwich the halves together with icing and you're done.

Lamington whoopie pies
Lamington whoopie pies

To me, the best thing about a lamington is that they're icing in nearly every bite but the little bit in the middle is usually a choc-coconutless mouthful. That's not the case with whoopie pies. In every bite you'll get some light, fluffy cake, sweet buttercream, rich dark chocolate and chewy coconut. What's not to love? Enjoy!

What about you? What do you think of whoopie pies?

Half eaten lamington whoopie pie
Half eaten lamington whoopie pie

 

Recipe

Lamington whoopie pies

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Author: Claire Cameron

Ingredients

Cakes

  • 115 g butter softened
  • 200 g soft brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Queen vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 300 g white plain flour
  • 1¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
  • Pinch salt
  • 225 ml buttermilk

Icing

  • 3 tablespoon butter
  • 2 cups icing sugar
  • milk

Decoration

  • 200 g dark chocolate
  • 1 cup shredded coconut

Instructions

  • Pre-heat the oven to 170C fan-forced and line two baking trays with baking paper.
  • With an electric mixer, or hand-held mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until thick and creamy.
  • Add the egg and mix until combined.
  • Using a spoon, mix through the sifted flour, salt and bicarb soda then mix in the buttermilk.
  • Use an ice-cream scoop to spoon blobs of batter onto the baking trays making sure you leave a few centimetres between each blob.
  • Smooth out the tops with your finger (or use the back of a spoon) and even them out so they’re the same height all over.
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes or until they’re firm.
  • Cool on a wire rack.
  • Melt the chocolate in the microwave and place in a shallow bowl.
  • Pour the coconut in a bowl.
  • Dip the tops of the whoopie pies into the chocolate, shake off any excess then press into the coconut.
  • Place them back on the wire racks to set.
  • To make the filling, beat the butter until smooth, creamy and pale and then beat in the vanilla extract.
  • Gradually add the icing sugar and beat until mixed in.
  • Add a little milk to get the icing to spreadable consistency.
  • Spread half of the cakes with icing on the flat side and sandwich them together with an un-iced cake.
Have you made this recipe? I'd love to hear what you think. Tag me on Instagram @clairekcreations

 

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Comments

  1. Dina says

    January 26, 2013 at 11:26 am

    this is a great idea! i totally want to try these.

    Reply
  2. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says

    January 24, 2013 at 3:38 pm

    I've never really love whoopie pies but your version look so good I'd be willing to bet these are the ultimate ones! :D

    Reply
  3. Swah says

    January 24, 2013 at 11:11 am

    These look delicious! I am yet to attempt a whoopie pie but it's definitely high up on the "to-bake" list!

    Reply
    • Claire says

      January 24, 2013 at 12:30 pm

      Yes you must pust it up the list. They're so easy!

  4. Jessica says

    January 24, 2013 at 11:03 am

    How fun are these?! As an icing-lover, you've got me with these. Chocolate on both sides? Oh my.

    Reply
    • Claire says

      January 24, 2013 at 12:30 pm

      Oh yes Jessica triple icing!

  5. Kelly Senyei (Just a Taste) says

    January 24, 2013 at 10:58 am

    These look fantastic! I've never met a whoopie pie I didn't like, and I think I'd devour these!

    Reply
    • Claire says

      January 24, 2013 at 12:31 pm

      They're hard not to like aren't they?

  6. Amy says

    January 24, 2013 at 10:41 am

    World...prepare for the rise of the Whoopie Pie!! Yum Yum! Unfortunately not everyone shares my enthusiasm, apparently The Whoopie Pie Bakery in Camberwell, Melb has closed down :(
    Has to be said NZ has it covered!
    http://www.whoopie.co.nz/

    Reply
    • Claire says

      January 24, 2013 at 10:46 am

      Oh no! Don't worry I'm sure they'll take over one day!

  7. JJ @ 84thand3rd says

    January 24, 2013 at 10:39 am

    haha - brilliant mash up of cultures and cakes! I've been saying for ages as well that Whoopie Pies need to take off - they are the best bits of cupcakes and macarons in one ;) Great twist for Australia Day!

    Reply
    • Claire says

      January 24, 2013 at 10:46 am

      Totally JJ! I don't know what's not to like about them?!

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Claire headshot - Claire from Claire K Creations. 38 year old woman with short blonde hair holding a tea cup standing in a kitchen

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