Chocolate-iced French toast slices coated in snowy desiccated coconut and finished with a glossy raspberry jam syrup make this Lamington Bread breakfast the kind of thing people talk about long after the plates are cleared. Inspired by Australia’s most loved cake, this recipe turns soft bread into something rich, nostalgic, and completely over the top in the best way.

It is also the very lamington bread recipe that won Australia’s Best Recipes Home Cook Hero Classic Australian Competition, which still makes me smile every time I think about it. Your Australia Day breakfast just got a serious upgrade. This Lamington Bread transforms into golden lamington toast with crisp edges, a soft custardy centre, and that iconic chocolate and coconut finish everyone loves.

Zoom in image of Lamington French Toast with Jam Syrup - 1
  • What Makes This Recipe So Good
  • What You Need To Make Lamington Bread
  • How To Make Lamington Bread
  • Tips For Making Lamington Bread
  • Recipe FAQ’s
  • Lamington French Toast with Raspberry Jam Syrup Recipe

What Makes This Recipe So Good

This Lamington Bread takes everything people love about the classic cake and turns it into something warm, golden, and far more indulgent. Instead of baked sponge, thick slices of bread soak up a rich custard, giving this lamington french toast a soft, almost pudding-like center that contrasts beautifully with the crisp edges. Once dipped in chocolate icing and coconut, it becomes a lamington bread recipe that feels familiar but tastes completely new.

What really makes this Lamington Bread stand out is how the flavors are layered. The cocoa icing adds deep chocolate richness, the coconut brings texture, and the raspberry jam syrup cuts through with just enough brightness to keep every bite balanced.

What You Need To Make Lamington Bread

Flat lay photo of ingredient shot of pure vanilla extract, day old bread, milk, desiccated coconut, raspberry jam, cocoa powder, icing sugar, eggs warm water - 2

This Lamington Bread uses a short list of everyday staples, but each one plays a specific role in recreating that classic chocolate, coconut, and jam flavour in French toast form.

  • Day-Old Bread: Slightly stale bread is essential for this lamington french toast because it absorbs the egg and milk mixture without turning soggy, giving you a soft center with crisp golden edges.
  • Eggs: Eggs create the custardy base that transforms simple slices into proper lamington toast, helping the bread hold its shape while staying tender inside.
  • Cocoa Powder: This is what gives the chocolate icing its deep, bittersweet flavour, turning the coating into the signature layer that defines Lamington Bread.
  • Desiccated Coconut: Finely shredded coconut clings to the icing beautifully, creating that iconic snowy coating that makes this dish instantly recognisable as a lamington bread recipe.

Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients with measurements.

How To Make Lamington Bread

In a wide, shallow dish, whisk the eggs and milk together until smooth - 3
  1. Whisk the Custard: In a wide, shallow dish, whisk the eggs and milk together until smooth, then dip each slice of bread into the mixture, coating both sides evenly.
Heat a buttered pan over medium and fry the soaked bread until golden on both sides - 4
  1. Cook French Toast: Heat a buttered pan over medium and fry the soaked bread until golden on both sides and cooked through, working in batches as needed.
In a shallow bowl, whisk the icing sugar and cocoa powder together - 5
  1. Mix the Chocolate Icing: In a shallow bowl, whisk the icing sugar and cocoa powder together, then add the warm water until a thick, smooth icing forms.
Dip each slice of Lamington Bread into the chocolate icing, let any excess drip away, then roll through the coconut until evenly coated. - 6
  1. Coat in Coconut: Dip each slice of Lamington Bread into the chocolate icing, let any excess drip away, then roll through the coconut until evenly coated.
Whisk the jam and hot water together in a small jug - 7
  1. Prepare the Jam Syrup: Whisk the jam and hot water together in a small jug until smooth and pourable, creating a glossy, lightly sweet syrup.
Plate the lamington french toast and drizzle generously with the jam syrup - 8
  1. Finish and Serve: Plate the lamington french toast and drizzle generously with the jam syrup, serving while warm so the icing stays soft and glossy.

A slice of Goats Cheese and Smoked Salmon English Muffin adds a savory, creamy contrast that cuts through the sweetness of the lamington french toast, making it ideal if you are serving this for brunch rather than dessert. Cream Cheese Scrambled Eggs bring a soft, comforting element that pairs naturally with the coconut and chocolate flavors without competing with them.

To round things out with something lightly sweet but not overpowering, Honey Lime Fruit Salad gives you freshness and acidity that brightens each bite of lamington toast, helping the richness of this lamington bread recipe feel indulgent but not heavy.

Tips For Making Lamington Bread

  • If your bread feels too soft, let it sit out for a few hours or lightly toast it first so it can soak up the custard without falling apart.
  • I like using a non stick pan for this because the chocolate coated Lamington Bread can be a little sticky once it hits the heat.
  • Let the chocolate icing thicken slightly before dipping so it clings better to the lamington french toast instead of sliding off.
  • If you are making this lamington bread recipe for guests, keep the cooked slices warm in a low oven while you finish coating the rest so everything hits the table at the same time.

Yes, but fresh bread is softer and can fall apart when soaked. If that is all you have, lightly toast it first so it holds up better when making this Lamington Bread.

This usually happens if too much water is added. Whisk in a little extra icing sugar until the coating is thick enough to cling to the lamington french toast.

Raspberry is traditional, but strawberry or mixed berry also work well. Choose a jam with a good balance of sweetness and tang to cut through the chocolate and coconut.

Fork pierced into piece of Lamington French Toast with Jam Syrup - 9 Karina in a white and black dress with her hair blowing back, standing in front of her cooktop, cooking salmon in a pan - 10

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IngredientsUSMetric1x2x3x

French Toasts:

  • ▢ 2 large eggs
  • ▢ 1/2 cup milk of choice
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ▢ 4 slices day-old bread of choice

Chocolate Icing:

  • ▢ 2/3 cups icing/powdered sugar
  • ▢ 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • ▢ 1/4 cup of warm/boiling water

Raspberry/Strawberry Syrup:

  • ▢ 1/4 cup Raspberry or Strawberry Jam
  • ▢ 3 tablespoons boiling water

Additional Ingredient:

  • ▢ 1/2 cup desiccated/finely shredded coconut (you won’t use it all, but it helps to have this quantity to evenly coat the french toasts)

Instructions

  • Whisk eggs and milk together in a wide shallow dish. Add one piece of bread at a time to soak in the egg mix.
  • Heat a lightly buttered pan over medium heat. Fry each bread until golden on each side and cooked through. Repeat with each slice.
  • To Make the Chocolate Icing: In another shallow dish, whisk together the icing sugar and cocoa powder. Add the warm/boiling water and mix until a thick chocolate sauce-like icing forms.
  • Prepare a separate shallow dish with the coconut and set aside. Dip each french toast into the chocolate icing until all sides are evenly covered; allow any excess icing to drip off, then place each chocolate covered french toast into the bowl of coconut; turning to evenly cover. (Sprinkle coconut over the top to get a good coating.)
  • To Make the Jam Syrup: combine the jam and water in a serving jug, and whisk until a syrup forms.
  • Drizzle the jam syrup over the top to serve!

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Lamington French Toast with Raspberry Jam Syrup in a bowl - 11

Lamington French Toast with Raspberry Jam Syrup

Ingredients

French Toasts:

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk of choice
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 4 slices day-old bread of choice

Chocolate Icing:

  • 2/3 cups icing/powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup of warm/boiling water

Raspberry/Strawberry Syrup:

  • 1/4 cup Raspberry or Strawberry Jam
  • 3 tablespoons boiling water

Additional Ingredient:

  • 1/2 cup desiccated/finely shredded coconut (you won’t use it all, but it helps to have this quantity to evenly coat the french toasts)

Instructions

  • Whisk eggs and milk together in a wide shallow dish. Add one piece of bread at a time to soak in the egg mix.
  • Heat a lightly buttered pan over medium heat. Fry each bread until golden on each side and cooked through. Repeat with each slice.
  • To Make the Chocolate Icing: In another shallow dish, whisk together the icing sugar and cocoa powder. Add the warm/boiling water and mix until a thick chocolate sauce-like icing forms.
  • Prepare a separate shallow dish with the coconut and set aside. Dip each french toast into the chocolate icing until all sides are evenly covered; allow any excess icing to drip off, then place each chocolate covered french toast into the bowl of coconut; turning to evenly cover. (Sprinkle coconut over the top to get a good coating.)
  • To Make the Jam Syrup: combine the jam and water in a serving jug, and whisk until a syrup forms.
  • Drizzle the jam syrup over the top to serve!

Nutrition

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