Italian Cream Cake Old Family Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease three 9 inch round cake pans. In a small bowl, dissolve the baking soda in the buttermilk; set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together 1/2 cup butter, shortening and white sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs, buttermilk mixture, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 cup coconut, baking powder and flour. Stir until just combined. Pour batter into the prepared pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.
• To Make Frosting: In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, 1/2 cup butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla and confectioners' sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Mix in a small amount of cream to attain the desired consistency. Stir in chopped nuts and remaining flaked coconut. Spread between layers and on top and sides of cooled cake.

Steps:

• For Cake: HEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Spray three 9-inch round cake pans with no-stick cooking spray with flour. Beat shortening in large bowl at medium speed of electric mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar. Add egg yolks, one at a time; beat until blended after each addition. Add vanilla; beat until blended.
• COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt; stir well. Add to shortening mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in coconut and pecans.
• BEAT egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into batter. Pour batter into prepared baking pans. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.
• For Frosting: MIX cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and butter in large bowl at low speed of electric mixer until ingredients are well combined. Beat at high speed until light and fluffy. Spread frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake. Garnish top of cake, if desired, with coconut and pecans and sprinkle coconut around bottom of cake. Chill several hours or until serving time.

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and lightly flour three 9-inch cake pans.
• Sift the flour and baking soda together and set aside.
• With an electric mixer, cream the butter and shortening with the sugar until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well between each addition. With the mixer on medium speed, add the flour and buttermilk alternately, beginning and ending with buttermilk. Add the vanilla, coconut and nuts, and stir well to incorporate.
• In a separate bowl with clean beaters, whip the egg whites to stiff peaks. Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the batter, just until blended.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 25 minutes. Test for doneness by touching the top of the cake with your finger. The cake is done if it bounces back up. Cool the layers on wire racks sprayed with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
• For the frosting: With an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the butter on high speed until fluffy. Reduce the speed to medium and blend in the sugar and vanilla. Beat well until the frosting is smooth.
• When the cake is completely cool, spread the frosting between the layers and on the sides and top of the cake. Sprinkle on the nuts.