Italian Cream Cake

This is a cake I like to bake for special occasions, especially Valentine's Day❤️ It was both my father and mother-in-law's favorite cake (and mine too ;o) The combination of coconut, pecans and butter give this cake its unique flavor ~ and the cream cheese topping is "icing on the cake". Just a warning, though, make plenty copies of the recipe, because just about everyone who tastes your cake creation will want the recipe!

Oven: 350 degrees 30-35 minutes

Cake Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 2/3 cups sugar
• 6 eggs, separated
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups flour
• 3/4 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp butter flavoring
• 2 cups shredded unsweetened coconut
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup cherries, quartered
• 1/4 tsp cream of tartar

Frosting Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1-8ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp butter flavoring
• 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 3-9" pans and line bottoms with wax paper.

In large bowl, cream shortening, butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks and beat well. 

In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt; add to butter mixture, alternating with buttermilk; beat until blended after each addition. 

Add flavorings, coconut, pecans and cherries; stir until thoroughly combined.

Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until stiff.

Fold into cake mixture.

Pour batter evenly into prepared pans. 

Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes. While cake is baking, make frosting (see recipe below). 

Cool 10 minutes and then remove cake from pans. After completely cooled, place first cake layer on serving plate; tuck wax paper under the edges of the cake to catch any frosting drippings. Spread frosting on top. Repeat with other layers. Frost the sides. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of chopped pecans on top layer.  Remove wax paper. 

Frosting: 

Cream butter and cream cheese; add powdered sugar and flavorings and beat until creamy. 

~Kay Nypaver