Italian Cream Cake

My mother-in-law gave me this recipe when her son and I got married. It comes out great every time, even with minimal cake-baking experience! People who don't like coconut and cream cheese both have commented how surprised they are that they love this cake!

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 55 mins
• Calories: 781 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups white sugar
• ½ cup butter
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• ¼ cup butter
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• ½ cup lard
• 5 eggs, separated
• ½ cup chopped pecans, or to taste
• 1 (3.5 ounce) can sweetened flaked coconut
• 3 ½ cups confectioners' sugar, or more to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease three 9-inch round cake pans and line with waxed paper.

Step 2

Mix flour and baking soda together in a small bowl.

Step 3

Beat 1/2 cup butter and lard together in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Add sugar; beat until smooth. Add egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with buttermilk, beating batter briefly after each addition.

Step 4

Fold 1 cup pecans, coconut, and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract into the batter.

Step 5

Beat egg whites with clean beaters in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold into batter. Divide batter among prepared pans.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool in pans, about 5 minutes. Invert cakes onto cooling racks; let cool completely, 25 to 30 minutes.

Step 7

Beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup butter in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Add confectioners' sugar and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; beat frosting until smooth.

Step 8

Spread a thin layer of frosting between cooled cake layers. Frost sides and top of cake. Sprinkle 1/2 cup pecans on top.