This weekend is the Australia Day long weekend, which means a day off work, listening to the Triple J Hottest 100 while day-drinking and the bastardisation of Australian desserts. Which brings me to the Lamington Cake with Milo Icing.
Lamingtons are a well-know and loved Aussie treat that are traditionally made with old sponge cake that was cut up and dipped in a runny mixture of icing sugar, cocoa and milk and then rolled in desiccated coconut. Milo is an iconic chocolate and malt powder developed by Thomas Mayne in Sydney back in 1934 and sits in the pantry of most Australian households (I presume).
I wanted to create a sort of deconstructed lamington (how on trend!) in the form of a naked cake (ie that’s a cake without the sides iced, another trendy thing in baking at the moment). I baked 2 sponge cakes and horizontally sliced them into layers, then topped the slices of sponge cake with generous dollops of strawberry jam and cream. The final touch was an icing made out of Milo and sprinkled with coconut.
To get ultra patriotic, I also designed, printed and made my own Australia flag cake bunting – and you can make your own too! Scroll down to the bottom for the DIY printable and instructions to make your own.

Ingredients
Sponge Cake
- 225 g butter at room temperature
- 225 g caster sugar
- 4 eggs
- 225 g self-raising flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
Filling
- 250 ml thickened cream
- 200 g jam of your choice I used strawberry
Milo Icing
- 2 tbsp milo
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp icing sugar
- 2 tbsp boiling water or milk heated in the microwave
- Coconut to decorate
Instructions
Sponge Cake
- Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease 2 x deep, 20cm round cake tins.
- Beat butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until pale.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add in the flour and baking powder and beat until just combined.
- Divide the mixture between prepared tins and bake for 15-20 mins until lightly golden brown.
- Cool on a wire rack before assembling.
Milo Icing
- Put all the dry ingredients into a small bowl and stir together.
- Add in the boiling water or hot milk a little bit at a time, stirring well, until the mixture becomes a spreadable consistency.
- Set aside to cool while you start the assembly.
Assembly
- Whip the thickened cream until light and fluffy using electric beaters.
- Using a serrated knife, carefully slice each cake horizontally so you have 4 cakes.
- Place the first layer of cake on your cake stand and spread 2 tablespoons of jam evenly across the top, followed by 2 tablespoons of whipped cream. I find it easiest to use a butter knife to spread the jam, followed by an offset spatula for the cream.
- Put the next layer of cake on, and continue spreading the jam and cream between each layers.
- When the top layer has been placed, spread the cooled Milo icing over the top of the cake (it may drip over the sides, don't worry!) and finish with a sprinkle of coconut.
- Enjoy!
Make your own Australia Day cake bunting!
Step 1 – Download the free printable here and save to your computer.
Step 2 – Print out the file at 100% on paper slightly heavier than standard office paper. I used 100gsm.
Step 3 – Carefully cut out each flag using sharp scissors.
Step 4 – Fold each flag in half over a piece of twine. Secure each flag closed using either glue or double sided sticky tape (for a cleaner finish).
Step 5 – Make sure to trim off any overhanging tape on your flags, then tie each end of twine to a straw.
Step 6 – Voila! You have made your own cake bunting!
What are your plans for Australia Day?
45 Comments
that cake looks AMAZING! and very festive :)
Thank you! It’s a very festive and patriotic cake isn’t it ;)
Oh my. This sounds delicious. You had me at Milo.
Sometimes I’ll eat Milo straight out of the jar with a spoon. And when I say sometimes I mean all the time.
This looks sensational Swah and I love the bunting! Straight to my Australia Day Love Pinterest board! x
Thank you Kate!! x
Oh yum, milo icing! never thought about that. That cake looks lovely, and the bunting is cute :-)
Milo icing is my new favourite thing! Thanks for your sweet words Carmen :)
Gorgeous looking cake and a great very cute patriotic idea. Love a naked cake too.
I love naked cakes (and they’re also much easier and quicker to decorate!)
Milo! Perfect – Love that idea!
Thanks Kathy!!
Milo and Lamington…Gold!!!
I love the bunting too..so cute!
A very patriotic flavour combo I think! :)
OMG. I LOVEEE both milo and lamington, what a lovely idea! So making it this weekend :)
I hope you enjoy it Felicia!!
I absolutely adore lamingtons. I completely support your bastardisation with another Australian icon too- Milo icing! Why is this not a thing already. Well done you :)
Let’s make milo icing a thing! I want to put it on everything now
This is so lovely! What a perfect thing to make for Australia Day!
Thanks so much Lucy! :) xx
Great post! This cake looks amazing! Happy Australia Day. Chantal, Seek Dare Love
This is so cool. Will definitely be downloading that cake bunting template for my Australia Day picnic. Thanks so much!
You are very welcome, have a lovely picnic!!
OMG a lamington cake with Milo icing! Genius! And the Australia flag bunting. That is just to die for! Love it all so much! :)
WOW! this cake looks fantastic. Milo icing…. genius!
Thanks Bec!! I feel like I need to attempt Milo cupcakes now…
I was planning to make regular old lamingtons for Aus Day but this looks like a better idea! Maybe throw in some sliced strawberries to make it even more amazing? At least that way I can pretend I’m getting my fruit fix as well! Lily x
I like the way you think Lily! Pretty sure adding fruits negates the calories anyway ;)
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Oh wow! I love this lamington cake especially the way you finished it off with the milo icing. Bunting is a gorgeous touch too! Happy Australia Day for Monday!
Thank you so much!! Happy Australia Day to you too! :)
[…] How gorgeous is this Lamington cake with Milo icing? Seriously – I can’t stop looking at […]
I usually hate the store-bought lamingtons (so unpatriotic of me!), but I love milo and this could be a great way to enjoy a lamington!
I don’t blame you Jess, store-bought baked goods are never particularly appealing!
Love love love.
Love me a lamington… In a layered cake even better, with milo icing loosing my mind, with a stunning bunting… Mind officially blown!
Clever lady! Just fabulous. x
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I made the cake in a Australia shape
What a great idea!
[…] Get the recipe here. […]
Thank you for the recipe and wonderful decorations! We are making this to surprise my husband who is missing home here in the US. :) So sweet!
Aw that’s such a nice thing to do for your husband! Hope he enjoyed them x
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