Every time I tell my husband I’ve made something sweet, I know he hopes I made Čupavci (or Lamingtons as they are called in English speaking countries). A soft moist cake dipped in a milky chocolate sauce and rolled in coconut flakes. The cake, although moist and delicious on its own, takes on a whole new personality when submerged in that luscious milky liquid.
The ultimate “something sweet” when having guests over, Čupavci are quick to make and disappear even quicker when on the table. Oh, and did I mention that they’re even better with some jam in the middle? Whether you go the traditional route and make them without a filling or you decide to add a special surprise, you can’t go wrong with this delicacy. No Balkan bakery or sweet shop is complete without them.
To make them with filling, simply slice each piece in half, spread with your jam of choice and press the ends together. Then continue with the dipping and rolling procedure.
Čupavci are a great recipe to begin with if you’re just starting out in the kitchen. Because they’re rolled in chocolate and then in coconut, any imperfections such as uneven cutting are hidden. 🙂
Čupavci / Lamingtons
Course: DessertsCuisine: Australian, Balkan20
minutes15
minutes16-32
Ingredients
- Cake:
2 large eggs
1 cup (250 g) granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups (300 ml) milk
1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
2 cups (300 g) flour
1/4 cup (50 g) melted butter
1 tablespoon (12 g) baking powder
- Chocolate Sauce:
2/3 cup (100 g) chocolate (milk or dark chocolate)
1 cup (200 ml) milk
2 tablespoons (50 g) granulated sugar
2 tablespoons (30 g) butter or margarine, room temperature
Optional – 1 tablespoon vanilla sugar (I use 1 packet)
- For Rolling
2 cups (150-200 g) unsweetened coconut flakes
Directions
- Preheat over to 375 F or 200 degrees. Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper, making sure it goes up the sides. Spray with baking spray and set aside.
- To make the cake:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and butter using a hand mixer. Once combined, add the milk. Lastly, stir in the flour and baking powder. Mix well until just combined.
- Transfer the cake mixture to the lined and sprayed baking dish and bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Once baked, let the cake cool completely.
- Once the cake has cooled, slice into squares. Size and shape is up to you.
- To make the chocolate sauce:
- Combine all sauce ingredients above into a medium saucepan and place over medium heat until the chocolate is melted, stirring constantly. When the mixture reaches a boil, remove from the heat and cool slightly so you don’t burn yourself.
- Roll and serve
- Using 2 forks, dip each cake piece into the chocolate mixture, turning to coat all sides. Transfer cake piece to a plate of coconut flakes. Turn the cake piece until all sides are covered. Let your Čupavci rest at room temperature for at least 1 hour, then serve and enjoy!
Notes
- When buying coconut flakes, make sure they are unsweetened and dry. They should not be moist and sticking together in the package. If they are moist they will not stick properly to your cupavci when you try to roll them.
- These are best when left to sit for an hour after making. This gives the chocolate sauce time to absorb into the cake so they are not too wet when trying to handle.
